Unit Operation: Drying Monitoring - Fluid Bed and Pan Driers

The ePAT642 Fluid Bed Drier is a real time, continuous PAT analyzer developed specifically for the pharmaceutical industry. The system accurately monitors and allows for optimization of the drying rate by predicting moisture loss to a consistent endpoint.

The instrument is capable of measuring samples through a site glass window located on the bowl of the fluid bed drier.

The ePAT642 Fluid bed Drier Monitor also comprises an on-board computer and a remote measuring head. The system communicates with a remote base station computer, so that measurements can be viewed and recorded in real time.

The measuring head is configured for convenient, non-contact analysis with a nominal 30mm measurement area and a standard focal distance of 18mm for site glass windows less than 12mm thick and an optional measurement head with a focal distance of 38 mm for windows greater than 12mm thick.

The system contains a Diode Array based NIR spectrometer with InGaAs Diode Array Detector. The measuring head connected to the spectrometer via a fiber optic.

Measuring Head

A key component of the ePAT642 Fluid Bed Drier monitoring system is the Non-Contact measuring heads. There are two options, both with a 30 mm diameter collection area:

• Option 1: 38 mm working distance for OMK 23 head (> 12 mm thick windows)
• Option2: 18 mm working distance for OMK 45 head (< 12 mm thick windows)

Fiber Optic

Standard fiber optic length is 1.8 m, but lengths of up to 5 m can be configured. The separation of spectrometer and head via a fiber optic length allows flexibility in implementing the ePAT642 on the widest range of fluid bed driers possible.