Introducing the Ci Combination-Sensor: Solving the Toughest Problem in Sugar Crystallization

When juice purity shifts, Brix alone doesn’t tell the whole story — Inmec’s newest sensor solves that.

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The Challenge: Why Brix Alone Isn’t Always Enough

Sugar juice contains far more than sucrose. Purity is defined as sucrose expressed as a percentage of total dissolved solids — and those total dissolved solids also include ionically active components such as K⁺, Na⁺, Cl⁻, and organic acid salts.

Microwave-based °Bx measurement typically provides accurate, stable readings for process control when juice purity remains consistent. But as soon as incoming juice purity fluctuates, the °Bx reading may shift — leading to off-point seeding and reducing control efficiency in the crystallizer pan. Seeding executed exactly at the target supersaturation point is essential for efficient crystallization, which means purity variation isn’t just a measurement footnote — it has a direct line to crystallization performance.

Introducing the Ci Combination-Sensor

Inmec’s newly developed Ci Combination-Sensor provides a comprehensive view of sugar juice properties entering evaporation and crystallization. The sensor integrates multiple measurement principles into a single device — combining the microwave °Bx reading with a measurement of ionic activity, rather than relying on °Bx alone.

How It Works

The new i-Detector is integrated into the sensor structure, with its signals connected to the °Bx sensor processor. A sophisticated multivariable algorithm then provides an enhanced °Bx value along with a purity estimate — giving operators visibility into both concentration and purity from a single measurement point.

All data processing is executed within the sensor software, making the overall solution robust and self-contained. No additional processing units or model tuning are required from the user.

Why This Matters for Crystallization Control

For process engineers running vacuum pan crystallization, the practical impact comes down to seeding accuracy. When purity is known alongside Brix, seeding can be executed closer to the actual target supersaturation point — even as incoming juice purity varies — supporting more consistent crystal quality and pan control efficiency across the campaign.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between Brix and purity? Brix reflects total dissolved solids in the juice. Purity is a separate measure — the percentage of those dissolved solids that is actually sucrose, as opposed to other dissolved components like ionic salts and organic acids. Two juice streams can share the same °Bx reading while having different purity, which is exactly the scenario the Ci Combination-Sensor is designed to resolve.

Does the Ci Combination-Sensor require separate processing hardware? No. All data processing — including the multivariable algorithm that produces the enhanced °Bx and purity estimate — runs within the sensor’s own software, with no additional processing units or manual model tuning required.

What does the i-Detector measure? The i-Detector measures ionic activity in the juice, which the sensor’s algorithm combines with the microwave °Bx reading to produce a purity estimate alongside the standard concentration measurement.