Temperature in lime production!

The Tinytag Ultra 2 thermocouple data logger recently launched by Gemini Data Loggers is suitable for accurate temperature monitoring in a range of manufacturing applications across a variety of industries.

The versatile logger has proved to be an effective solution for lime manufacturer and supplier Singleton Birch for detailed research into lime production.

The Lincolnshire-based (GB) company extracts the raw material – calcium carbonate – from their quarry and then burns it in kilns to make lime – calcium oxide. Their product range includes quicklime, hydrated lime, natural hydraulic lime, graded chalk, aggregates and other specialist products and services. The thermocouple logger is used in the laboratory to gather information as part of research and development work to monitor the temperature rise of calcium oxide when water is added. The rise in temperature needs to be accurately measured as this indicates how reactive the lime is at different stages, which means it can then be determined for what final application the lime can be used. The temperatures need to be logged at different intervals throughout the process. In order to gather as much data as possible, continuous monitoring is required with data downloaded after every test.

The thermocouple logger is ideally suited to the demands of the process. The temperatures being monitored start at 20°C and peak at about 80°C: as soon as the lime is added to the water the temperature rises rapidly and needs to be measured. Matt Austin, a Chemist with Singleton Birch comments “I chose the Tinytag thermocouple logger as it is compact and easy to use with the Tinytag Explorer software provided. I can easily configure the unit at the parameters I have chosen through the software and then download the data when needed. It has proved to be reliable and user friendly.”

The Tinytag Ultra 2 Thermocouple data logger supports the most popular thermocouples types – K, J, T and N –providing monitoring for temperature ranges from -270°C to 1370°C, depending on the type being used. This makes it suitable for a wide range of manufacturing and processing applications, including the extremes of temperature experienced in hot industrial processes such as smelting, right through to conditions experienced in freezers.

Thermocouples are available either as bare wire, offering lower cost and faster response times, or built into probes designed for specific uses depending on their type of construction or insulation material used. The logger has a built-in temperature channel allowing the particular process and the ambient air temperature to be monitored simultaneously and a connection that supports both standard and miniature thermocouple plugs. The logger features burn-out response and like all Tinytag products it is compatible with the easy to use Tinytag Explorer software for viewing and management of data, which is downloaded to a PC via a USB connection.

• TinyTag data loggers are marketed in Ireland through Manotherm!