Application Solutions of the Inline Refractometer CRN50/52/56 in the Food and Beverage Industry

In traditional food and beverage production, quality control relies on manual periodic sampling followed by laboratory testing. This approach has two fatal drawbacks: first, detection results are delayed, and when abnormalities are identified, non-conforming products have already been continuously produced; second, manual operation errors are significant, and test results from different operators or different sampling times often vary.
 

1. A Quality Revolution from the Laboratory to the Production Line
 

The CRN50/52/56 series Inline Refractometer shifts quality control nodes from the laboratory to the production line through real-time monitoring technology. Installed on production pipelines, the device can monitor key indicators such as refractive index and concentration continuously for 24 hours, with a data sampling frequency of up to once per second, truly achieving real-time quality monitoring.
 

2. How Hygienic Design Meets Strict Standards
 

The food and beverage industry has extremely stringent hygiene requirements for production equipment. The CRN series Inline Refractometer is designed with this need fully in mind, using a 316L stainless steel body, with the surface roughness of material-contacting parts reaching Ra ≤ 0.8 μm, in compliance with FDA and EHEDG hygiene standards. The device’s sealing structure avoids hygienic dead corners found in traditional testing instruments and can withstand 121°C high-temperature steam sterilization, compatible with CIP (clean-in-place) processes.
 

3. Production Value Created by Installation Flexibility
 

Food and beverage production lines often have limited space and complex equipment layouts. The CRN series Inline Refractometer adopts a modular design and offers multiple installation methods: pipeline flange installation, hygienic clamp installation, bypass installation, etc., suitable for different pipe diameters and installation positions. The device weighs only 5.8 kg, making it easy to install even in space-constrained production lines.
 

4. A New Paradigm of Data-Driven Intelligent Production
 

The CRN series Inline Refractometer is not just a detection device, but also the “smart brain” of the production process. Equipped with a 4.3-inch touchscreen, it can display real-time detection data and trend curves. It also supports 4–20 mA analog signals and RS485 digital signal output, allowing easy integration into DCS or MES systems. Through data analysis, production managers can accurately understand material variation patterns and optimize process parameters.
 

5. Stable Performance Under Complex Working Conditions

In food and beverage production, material properties vary and temperatures fluctuate greatly, posing high demands on detection equipment stability. The CRN series Inline Refractometer uses advanced optical compensation technology to maintain measurement accuracy within the temperature range of −10°C to 150°C. The prism is made of sapphire, with a Mohs hardness of 9, ensuring it remains unworn even during long-term detection of materials containing fine particles.

As competition intensifies in the food and beverage industry and consumer expectations for product quality continue to rise, the CRN50/52/56 series Inline Refractometer has become standard equipment on modern production lines. It not only solves the efficiency and accuracy issues of traditional detection methods but also empowers enterprises through data to shift from passive quality control to proactive process optimization. Under the trend of smart manufacturing, this type of innovative technology that integrates quality control into the production process will undoubtedly become the key for food and beverage enterprises to enhance their core competitiveness.