Gamma-metrics

Other

Thermo Fisher Scientific Gmbh

Raymond J Proctor

Thomas L Atwell

Michael J Hurwitz

Siaka Yusuf

Clinton LaMar Lingren

James Francis Miller

Chris A Isaacson

Chaur-Ming Shyu

James P Stronski

Andrew H Smith

Anton Mario Lucchin

Thomas Leland Atwell

Kim-Chinh Tran

Scott C Christensen

Mark Rudy Chiesman

Richard L, Conwell

Craig A Griebel

A bulk material analyzer (FIG.) is variably constructed from an assembly of components The analyzer (FIG.) is the type that is used to analyze bulk material () transported on a conveyor belt () through an activation region () between at least one radiation source (element) and at least one radiation detector () within the bulk material analyzer (FIG.) The assembly includes a radiation-source box () for disposition either above the activation region () or below the conveyor belt (), a radiation-detector box () for disposition on the opposite side of the activation region () and the conveyor belt () from the radiation-source box (); and a set of stackable structural beams () predominantly containing radiation shielding material and configured for stacking about the activation region (), the radiation-source box () and the radiation-detector box () to prevent unwanted radiation being generated and transported to the radiation-detector box ().

Bulk material analyzer assembly including structural beams containing radiation shielding material

An elemental analyzer for identifying quantities of one or more elements in a material has a container for holding a material to be analyzed, a resonant gamma ray source unit for directing resonant gamma rays into the material in the container, and at least one detector for detecting gamma rays resonantly scattered by at least one predetermined element in the material. The resonant gamma ray source unit has an outer housing of gamma ray shield and a radiological shield material, with an inner chamber and an aperture directed towards the container, a moving gamma ray generator source of predetermined materials mounted in the chamber, the materials being selected from a predetermined group of materials which emit resonant gamma rays when exposed to particles or photons, the source being directed towards said aperture, and a source of particles or photons positioned in the chamber adjacent the gamma ray generator source.

Elemental analyzer apparatus and method

A material analyzer for identifying quantities of one or more elements in a material has a container for holding a material to be analyzed, a resonant gamma ray source unit for directing resonant gamma rays into the material in the container, and at least one detector for detecting gamma rays resonantly scattered by at least one predetermined element in the material. The resonant gamma ray source unit has an outer housing of gamma ray shield and neutron shield material, with an inner chamber and an aperture directed towards the container, a moving gamma ray generator source of a predetermined material mounted in the chamber, the material being selected from a predetermined group of materials which emit resonant gamma rays when exposed to neutrons, the source being directed towards said aperture, and a neutron source positioned in the chamber adjacent the gamma ray generator source.

Mineral matter analyzer apparatus and method

A modular assembly for a bulk material includes container modules defining at least one radiation source cavity, at least one radiation detector channel and a passageway disposed for enabling passage of the conveyor belt through an activation region; and radiation shielding material disposed within the container means. A lower primary module contains a first portion of the radiation shielding material and defines either the radiation source cavity or the radiation detector channel. An upper primary module contains a second portion of radiation shielding material and defines the other of either the radiation source cavity or the radiation detector channel. A set of replaceable side modules contain additional portions of the radiation shielding material. The lower primary module, the upper primary module and the replaceable side modules are so shaped that the passageway is delimited by placement of side modules upon the lower primary module and placement of the upper primary module upon side modules; and portions of the replaceable side modules are shaped for delimiting the sides of a trough that is contoured for accommodating passage of the conveyor belt through the activation region. Replaceable liners of neutron moderating and/or absorbing and/or reflecting material may be placed adjacent the passageway and adjacent the side modules and/or the lower module and/or the upper module for further delimiting the passageway and/or the sides of the trough. The assembly can be modified for use with large ranges of conveyor belt sizes and shapes by replacing the replaceable side modules and/or the replaceable liners.

Flexible multi-purpose modular assembly for a family of PGNAA bulk

In a bulk material analyzer in which bulk material is received in an activation region between a pair of neutron sources laterally disposed on one side of the activation region for emitting neutrons for bombarding the bulk material within the activation region to cause gamma-rays to be emitted from the bombarded bulk material and a pair of gamma-ray detectors laterally disposed on an opposite side of the activation region for detecting gamma-rays emitted from the bulk material, and in which a neutron moderator is disposed between the neutron sources and the activation region for reducing the velocity of the emitted neutrons such that the neutrons entering the activation region include thermal neutrons and faster neutrons, the uniformity of sensitivity of the bulk material analyzer to materials at different positions in a sample of the bulk material being analyzed is enhanced by controlling the proportions of thermal neutron at different positions within the sample being analyzed. A neutron absorber disposed close to the one side of the activation region reduces the proportion of thermal neutrons that enter the activation region from the one side of the activation region. A neutron reflector disposed on the opposite side of the activation region at least as close to the activation region as the gamma-ray detector(s) reflects neutrons into the activation region for bombarding bulk material within the activation region. In some embodiments, the neutron absorber and/or the neutron reflector are adjustable; and the disposition of the neutron sources also is adjustable for also adjusting the proportion of the thermal neutrons that enter the activation region from the one side of the activation region.

Shaping neutron energies to achieve sensitivity and uniformity of bulk

In a bulk material analyzer in which bulk material is received in an activation region between a pair of neutron sources laterally disposed on one side of the activation region for emitting neutrons for bombarding the bulk material within the activation region to cause gamma-rays to be emitted from the bombarded bulk material and a pair of gamma-ray detectors laterally disposed on another side of the activation region for detecting gamma-rays emitted from the bulk material, a primary neutron moderator is disposed about the neutron sources for reducing the velocity of the emitted neutrons; and a secondary neutron moderator is disposed about the primary neutron moderator for further reducing the velocity of the neutrons and is further disposed adjacent the lateral edges of the activation region for channeling and reflecting the neutrons into the activation region. The two gamma-ray detectors are disposed toward opposite lateral edges of the activation region, with each detector being skewed so that a portion of each detector that is closer to the edge of the activation region toward which the detector is disposed than to the lateral center of the activation region is disposed closer to a plane passing laterally through the center of the activation region than is another portion of each detector that is closer to the lateral center of the activation region than to the edge of the activation region toward which the detector is disposed. Spatial compensators are disposed adjacent the same side of the activation region as the detectors for reflecting neutrons toward the activation region at a greater density toward opposite lateral edges of the activation region than toward the center of the activation region. Bladders containing a liquid primary neutron moderating material that expands and contracts with temperature variations, such as heavy water, are tightly packed within a compartment for maintaining a substantial quantity of the liquid material between the neutron sources and the activation region notwithstanding thermal contraction of the liquid material; and a resilient compressible foam is disposed about the bladders for enabling the tight packing of the liquid material to be maintained notwithstanding expansion and contraction of the liquid material.

Enhancement of measurement accuracy in bulk material analyzer

A material analyzer includes a container; a radiation source disposed within the container; a detector disposed within the container for detecting radiation that is secondarily emitted by a material sample within an activation region located between the radiation source and the detector when the material sample is bombarded by radiation from the radiation source and for producing signals in response to said secondarily emitted radiation; a computer for processing the signals to determine the content of the material sample; and a carousel for transporting a material sample from outside the container to within the activation region. The carousel is disposed about an axis of rotation located between the activation region and a receiving region located outside the container, and has a pair of sample containment chambers that are alternately moved between the receiving region and the activation region when the carousel is rotated about said axis. Material samples are placed in buckets for loading into the sample containment chambers. The bucket includes a perimetric side wall having a predominant surface area that is contoured on opposite sides of the side wall to define exterior indentations in the predominant surface area; and a handle, including a pair of tongs shaped and disposed for insertion into the side wall indentations, and a telescopic handle joining the tongs. A radiation shield within the container shields the outside of the container from radiation derived in the activation region from the radiation source.

Material analyzer with carousel

A calibration block is used for calibrating a bulk material analyzer that has an activation region in which bulk material is received for analysis and a chute for passing the bulk material through the activation region. The block is dimensioned to be of almost the same cross-sectional size as the interior of the chute and extends both above and below the activation region when inserted in the chute. The calibration block is manufactured by (a) providing a mixture of known materials of known proportions that do not chemically react with each other, including a bonding agent; (b) homogenizing the mixture to make a thick paste in which the known materials are bound without segregation of known materials that have different densities; (c) molding the homogeneous mixture into the shape of a block having predetermined dimensions; and (d) solidifying the molded mixture to provide the calibration block. Alternative processes for manufacturing the calibration block utilize compaction and sintering techniques instead of a bonding agent. The measurement system of the bulk material analyzer is calibrated in accordance with measurements made while the calibration block is in the chute. One embodiment of the calibration block includes a plurality of uniformly distributed holes extending through the block for receiving insertions of a known quantity of a unique known material.

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Raymond J Proctor