On-line magnetic resonance measurement of conveyed material

Abstract

Magnetic resonance (MR) apparatuses, systems and methods for analysing a material. The magnetic resonance apparatuses include a primary loop defining an aperture that the material being analysed can pass through where the primary loop includes at least one pair of electrically conductive segments. The magnetic resonance apparatus also includes a pair of capacitance units corresponding to each pair of electrically conductive segments. Each capacitance unit is conductively connected to two adjoining conductive segments in series so that the primary loop forms a circuit for a radio frequency (RF) current. The primary loop is adapted to: conduct the RF electrical current so that the RF electrical current is predominantly in-phase over the entire primary loop. The magnetic resonance apparatus further includes: a pair of secondary coils corresponding to each pair of capacitor units, electrically conductively isolated from the primary loop. Each secondary coil is oriented to be magnetically coupled to the primary loop such that each secondary coil is capable of exciting RF voltages in the primary loop that are predominantly in-phase with each of the RF voltages excited by the other secondary coils. The magnetic resonance apparatus also includes a primary shield encompassing the primary loop and secondary coils for shielding electromagnetic radiation, the primary shield adapted to allow the material to pass through the aperture defined by the primary loop unobstructed.