PERIODIC AND CONTINUOUS MEASUREMENT OF WATER-CONTENT OF POTATO STARCH

Application of fast electric methods of measurement of potato starch w ater content has been carried out. Preliminary studies showed that the optimal method for the estimation of water content of potato starch w as the measurement of sample conductivity. The relation between the te mperature, pouring density of sample and the content of electrolytes i n the starch sample, was evaluated prior to the present study. The res ults obtained from those experiments were used for designing of the el ectronic system of water content estimation by means of the measuremen t of sample conductivity. The laboratory measuring system has been bui lt, which enabled the measurement.of starch water content from 15 to 2 5 %. The industrial sensor system for continuous measurement of starch water content has also been built and tested in the factory system of automatic control of starch drying process. The water content of the product leaving dryer was automatically controlled by the quantitative dosing of wet starch of known water content to the dryer.