Ash analysis using scattered and fluorescence radiation

The Texas Nuclear Ash Analyzer is a simple to use, portable ash analysis system incorporating state of the art microprocessor control and data reduction. It provides for on-site customer calibration, several different precision levels, and three different analysis modes. Use of the RS-232 port facilitates permanent record keeping. As with any radiation based technique for measuring ash, a correction for iron content will be needed if the iron concentration in the coal varies significantly. The measurement of iron fluorescent x-rays is an effective way to make such a correction. The Texas Nuclear Ash Analyzer an automatic correction feature is compensate for changes in the iron content of the mineral fraction. Using the Texas Nuclear Ash Analyzer, precision of +-0.1 to 0.25% can be obtained with measurement times as short as three seconds. Typical accuracies, as measured by the observed standard deviation between lab assays and Ash Analyzer results are +-0.3% to +-0.5% in low ash (5 - 20%) samples and +-1.5 to +-3% in high ash samples