Vaisala at Lisco Analytical
Lisco Analytical offers Vaisala inline refractometers for companies that require precise and continuous measurement of Brix, concentration and dissolved substances directly in the process.
Vaisala refractometers are used in industries such as food, beverage, dairy, brewery and pharma, where liquid concentration, sugar content, dry solids and process stability have a direct impact on quality, yield and operation.
Lisco Analytical specifically highlights the Vaisala Polaris™ series for precise inline measurement of Brix and other concentrations in real time.
This makes the solutions relevant for production environments where manual samples and delayed laboratory results are not enough. Measurement must take place where the process is actually developing: in the pipe, tank, mixer, cooker or production line.
From laboratory measurement to process control
Brix measurement is often associated with sugar content, but in practice, refractometry is used far more broadly. The technology can be used to measure liquid concentration in a range of process media where dissolved substances affect the refractive index.
An inline refractometer measures how light is refracted in the liquid. When the concentration changes, the refractive index changes as well. This is converted into a process value that can be used for monitoring, control, alarm limits and documentation.
The advantage of inline measurement is that data is not only generated after manual sampling. The operator can monitor the process continuously and respond when the product or medium moves outside the desired range.
Inline Brix measurement for food and beverage production
In food and beverage production, small variations in concentration can have a significant impact. They can affect taste, consistency, yield, batch quality, energy optimisation and the uniformity of the final product.
According to Vaisala’s own documentation, the Vaisala Polaris PR53AP is developed for customers in the food, beverage, dairy and brewery industries, as well as OEMs, where it measures liquid concentrations such as Brix in applications including jam cookers and mixing tanks.
This makes the technology relevant in applications such as:
- sugar solutions and syrup
- juice, squash and concentrates
- dairy and brewery processes
- mixing and dosing
- evaporation and concentration
- CIP and cleaning processes
- quality control of liquid products
- OEM-integration in process equipment
Here, inline Brix measurement makes it possible to monitor the process in real time and reduce dependence on manual control points.
Vaisala Polaris™ – developed for inline refractometry
Vaisala Polaris™ is a series of process refractometers designed for inline measurement of liquid concentration. The series includes models for hygienic process environments, pipeline installations, tanks, cookers and applications requiring robust measurement during operation.
On Lisco Analytical’s own Vaisala page, PR53AC and PR53AP are listed as products for Brix measurement. PR53AC is aimed at food, beverage, dairy, brewery and pharma applications, while PR53AP is intended for the food and beverage industry and OEMs. Both are used to measure Brix and other concentrations inline, precisely and in real time.
Vaisala’s former K-PATENTS series also has a long history within process refractometry. Vaisala’s PR-43-A sanitary refractometer is documented with a measuring range of 0–100 Brix and can provide signals such as Ethernet or 4–20 mA proportional to the temperature-compensated Brix value for real-time process control.
More stable processes and less dependence on manual operation
Manual sampling is still important in many production environments. However, it is slow, operator-dependent and only provides a snapshot.
Inline refractometry provides a different basis. Measurement takes place continuously and directly in the process. This can be valuable when the concentration changes quickly, or when the production line must be kept within narrow limits.
For companies, Vaisala inline refractometers can contribute to:
- more consistent product quality
- faster response to process changes
- less waste and fewer errors
- bedre control over concentration, mixing and dosing
- reduced need for manual testing
- more efficient CIP monitoring
- better documentation of process flows
- more stable production across shifts
This is particularly relevant in production environments where concentration is a critical parameter, and where delayed measurements can quickly have financial consequences.
Hygienic design for demanding production
In the food, beverage, dairy and pharma industries, measurement technology must not only be precise. It must also fit into hygienic production environments.
Vaisala has models developed for sanitary applications. The PR-43-AP, for example, is described as a sanitary probe refractometer for inline Brix measurement in cookers, tanks and large pipelines. Other Polaris models, such as the PR53AC, are developed for hygienic applications in industries including food, beverage, dairy and brewery.
This makes the solutions relevant in environments where cleaning, product contact, stable operation and correct installation are critical to both measurement quality and food safety.
From Brix to broader concentration measurement
Although Brix is a key application, Vaisala’s refractometers are not limited to sugar-based products. Inline refractometry can be used in many processes where liquid concentration or dissolved substances need to be monitored.
This may be relevant in areas such as:
- food production
- beverages and brewery
- dairy
- pharma and biotech
- chemical industry
- sugar industry
- OEM and process equipment
- cleaning and CIP systems
For Lisco Analytical’s customers, this means the technology can be used both as a quality tool and as an active process instrument. It can support real-time decisions and create better coherence between measurement, control and documentation.
Vaisala inline refractometers at Lisco Analytical
With Vaisala products, Lisco Analytical can offer strong solutions for inline refractometry and Brix measurement in demanding production environments.
The programme is relevant for companies that want to move concentration measurement closer to production, reduce dependence on manual sampling, and gain better control of quality, yield and process stability.
Contact Lisco Analytical to learn more about Vaisala inline refractometers and the possibilities for inline Brix measurement in your process.
