CASE STUDIES using Moist///Scan Process Moisture Sensors

SLN - New Caledonia
Profile:
Société Le Nickel (SLN) is a subsidiary of the French company
Eramet, the world’s largest producer of ferronickel (an alloy used to make stainless steel). SLN operates four nickel mines in New Caledonia and one smelter located at Doniambo near the city of Noumea.

The Doniambo smelter processes approximately three(3) million tonnes of crude ore each year, making it the world’s largest FerroNickel producing plant.

SLN have purchased a total of five Moist///Scans. 2 x MA-500 and 2 x MA-500HD moisture sensors were installed to measure the moisture content of nickel ore as it enters and exits the drying kilns. This information is used for process control. The Moist///Scan® units were proven using a program of stop belt samples. The 1 min rolling average of the Moist///Scan™ was recorded, the belt then stopped and a series of increments of ore taken from the belt to make a single sample.
One of the process moisture sensors was installed following a vacuum filter to monitor the performance of the filter.