On-line coal analysis using fast neutron-induced gamma-rays

On-line measurement of bulk elemental composition is often best achieved with highly penetrative neutron–gamma techniques. CSIRO has developed and implemented one such technique, neutron inelastic-scattering and thermal-capture analysis (NITA). A distinctive feature of NITA is its use of fast neutron sources to generate inelastic scattering reactions, thus exciting gamma-rays from industrially important elements such as carbon and oxygen. A full-scale prototype for on-line coal quality measurement has been tested under simulated industrial conditions. The effect of sample compositional inhomogeneity and stream thickness will be discussed.