iTEST17 ACM-LBRIX02 Online Refractometer for Sucrose & Honey Brix Monitoring
| Brand | iTEST17 |
|---|---|
| Origin | Guangdong, China |
| Manufacturer Type | Manufacturer |
| Product Category | Domestic |
| Model | ACM-LBRIX02 |
| Price Range | USD 4,200 – 7,000 |
| Brix Range Options | 0.00–35.00%, 0.00–80.00%, or 0.00–100.00% (selectable) |
| Accuracy Options | ±0.5%, ±0.1%, or ±0.05% Brix (selectable) |
| Operating Temperature | up to 100 °C |
| Max Process Pressure | 1.0 MPa |
| Temp Measurement Range | 0–100 °C |
| Process Temp Tolerance | −30 to +150 °C |
| Auto Temp Compensation Range | 5–100 °C |
| Wetted Materials | SUS 316L stainless steel & sapphire optical interface |
| Installation | Clamp, flange, or threaded |
| Output Signals | 4–20 mA, 0–10 V, relay, RS485 (Modbus RTU) |
| Display | High-resolution touchscreen HMI |
| Control Logic | Integrated PID, high/low limit control, programmable cleaning cycles, alarm logic, data logging with power-fail retention |
| Power Supply | 110/220 VAC, 50/60 Hz, ≤100 W |
| Ambient Operating Temp | 0–50 °C |
Overview
The iTEST17 ACM-LBRIX02 Online Refractometer is an industrial-grade process analytical instrument engineered for continuous, real-time measurement of soluble solids concentration—expressed as Brix (%)—in liquid streams containing sucrose, honey, syrups, fruit juices, and other aqueous sugar solutions. It operates on the physical principle of refractometry: light passing through a process fluid undergoes angular deviation (refraction) proportional to the fluid’s refractive index, which correlates directly with dissolved solids concentration under controlled temperature conditions. The system integrates a high-stability, sapphire-windowed optical sensor with built-in automatic temperature compensation (ATC) across 5–100 °C, eliminating manual calibration drift and ensuring metrological consistency in dynamic production environments. Designed for seamless integration into beverage, confectionery, dairy, and functional food manufacturing lines, the ACM-LBRIX02 delivers traceable, repeatable Brix data at line speed—enabling closed-loop feedback control of sugar dosing, dissolution, blending, and standardization processes without offline sampling.
Key Features
- Optical core based on precision sapphire prism interface and high-accuracy photodiode array detection, ensuring long-term stability and resistance to abrasion, corrosion, and thermal shock.
- Factory-calibrated with NIST-traceable sucrose standards; zero field recalibration required due to integrated ATC and dual-point validation capability.
- Selectably configurable Brix ranges (0–35%, 0–80%, or 0–100%) and accuracy grades (±0.5%, ±0.1%, or ±0.05% Brix) to match application criticality and regulatory expectations.
- Full-process compatibility: rated for continuous operation at up to 100 °C and 1.0 MPa pressure, with wetted parts constructed exclusively from electropolished SUS 316L stainless steel and sapphire—meeting FDA 21 CFR Part 11 and EHEDG hygienic design guidelines.
- Embedded control unit with PID algorithm, programmable setpoints, hysteresis-based valve actuation logic, and configurable alarm thresholds with latching/non-latching behavior.
- Automated CIP-compatible cleaning sequence with user-defined interval, duration, and chemical agent selection—minimizing fouling-induced drift and extending maintenance intervals.
- Real-time trend visualization via integrated 7-inch capacitive touchscreen HMI, supporting historical curve replay, event tagging, and export-ready CSV data dumps.
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
The ACM-LBRIX02 is validated for use with low-viscosity to moderately viscous aqueous sugar solutions, including raw cane syrup, inverted sugar, honey blends, fruit puree dilutions, and post-pasteurization beverage bases. It is not intended for opaque suspensions, emulsions, or highly aerated streams where light scattering compromises refractive index fidelity. The instrument complies with IEC 61000-6-2 (EMC immunity) and IEC 61000-6-4 (EMC emissions), carries CE marking per Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, and meets IP67 ingress protection when installed with appropriate cable glands. Its analog and digital outputs support integration into DCS, SCADA, and MES platforms compliant with ISA-88 and ISA-95 frameworks. Data integrity features—including timestamped audit trails, write-protected memory, and cyclic redundancy checksums—facilitate adherence to GLP, GMP, and ISO 22000 quality management requirements.
Software & Data Management
The onboard firmware supports Modbus RTU over RS485 for bidirectional communication with PLCs or supervisory systems, enabling remote parameter configuration, live value polling, and alarm status interrogation. All measured Brix and temperature values are logged internally with millisecond-level timestamps; data persists across power cycles via non-volatile flash memory (≥1 million write cycles). The HMI provides intuitive access to calibration history, diagnostic logs (e.g., signal-to-noise ratio, prism contamination index, ATC deviation), and firmware versioning. Optional cloud gateway modules allow secure MQTT-based telemetry to AWS IoT Core or Azure IoT Hub for centralized analytics, predictive maintenance modeling, and batch traceability reporting aligned with FSMA 204 compliance objectives.
Applications
- Real-time monitoring and automated control of sugar dissolution tanks in carbonated soft drink and RTD tea production.
- Consistency assurance during honey blending and standardization prior to bottling or ingredient dosing.
- Inline verification of syrup concentration in confectionery cookers and caramelization reactors.
- Feedback regulation of sweetener addition in dairy-based nutritional beverages and plant-milk formulations.
- Process validation during cleaning-in-place (CIP) rinse phase via refractive index decay profiling.
- Batch release testing support for QC laboratories requiring rapid, non-destructive Brix screening of incoming raw materials.
FAQ
Does the ACM-LBRIX02 require periodic recalibration in-situ?
No. The sensor is factory-calibrated against certified sucrose reference standards and employs real-time ATC; only annual verification using traceable check standards is recommended per ISO 8655-7.
Can it measure Brix in high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) or invert sugar solutions?
Yes—provided the solution composition remains stable and homogeneous; however, users must apply appropriate correlation curves if significant fructose:glucose ratio variation exists.
Is the system compatible with sanitary tri-clamp piping systems?
Yes. Clamp-type mounting kits conforming to ISO 2852 and DIN 11851 standards are available as optional accessories.
What cybersecurity safeguards are implemented for remote data access?
Firmware v3.2+ supports TLS 1.2 encrypted MQTT sessions, role-based HMI access control, and disabled default credentials—aligned with IEC 62443-3-3 SL1 requirements.
How does the system handle air bubbles or particulate interference in the flow stream?
The optical path design includes flow conditioning geometry and signal averaging algorithms; installation downstream of degassing stages and upstream of filters is strongly advised for optimal performance.
