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US 7,253,414 B2Granted
Multi-energy gamma attenuation for real time continuous measurement of bulk material
AssigneeEnergy Technologies, Inc.
InventorsPeter M. Osucha, David K. Swindell, Jack R. Lee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for continuous real-time measurement of bulk material using gamma irradiation. A multi-energy gamma attenuation device monitors bulk material flow and produces a spectrum that is compared to a baseline spectrum to produce a relative weight/impurity/component ratio. A sample analysis, in combination with measurement of the relative weight/impurity/component ratio of the sample, allows for determination of the coefficients for determining the absolute weight/impurity/component values of the bulk material.
Claims43
An apparatus for measuring an absolute value of at least one component of a bulk material, said apparatus comprising:
- a source of gamma radiation, said source emitting gamma radiation having at least three energy levels;
- at least one detector responsive to a continuous range of energy levels encompassing said at least three energy levels, said at least one detector and said source adapted for passing the bulk material between said at least one detector and said source;
- a first data set representing a measured gamma spectrum of the bulk material, said data set produced by said at least one detector;
- a processor in communication with said least one detector, said processor programmed to execute a process including:
- receiving said first data set,
- performing a least squares fit of said first data set with at least one library spectrum,
- determining a relative weight/impurity/component ratio of the bulk material from said first data set, and
- determining an absolute weight/impurity/component value from said relative weight/impurity/component ratio.
5 more elements
An apparatus for measuring an absolute value of at least one component of a bulk material, said apparatus comprising:
- a source of gamma radiation, said source emitting gamma radiation having at least three energy levels;
- at least one detector responsive to a range of energy levels encompassing said at least three energy levels, said at least one detector and said source adapted for passing the bulk material between said at least one detector and said source;
- a first data set representing a measured gamma spectrum of the bulk material, said first data set produced by said at least one detector,
- a second data set representing a gamma spectrum measured with the bulk material not in a detection path of said at least one detector, said second data set produced by said at least one detector;
- and
- a processor in communication with said at least one detector, said processor programmed to execute a process including:
- receiving said first data set,
- receiving said second data set,
- combining said first data set and said second data set to produce an attenuation gamma spectrum;
- matching said attenuation gamma spectrum with a library containing at least one library spectrum,
- determining a set of relative values of the bulk material, and
- determining a set of absolute values of the bulk material based on at least one coefficient determined from a sample analysis.
9 more elements
An apparatus for measuring an absolute value of at least one component of a bulk material, said apparatus comprising:
- a source of gamma radiation, said source emitting gamma radiation having at least three energy levels;
- at least one detector responsive to a range of energy levels encompassing said at least three energy levels, said at least one detector positioned opposite said source and adapted for passing the bulk material between said at least one detector and said source;
- a gamma attenuation library including a plurality of coefficients;
- and
- a processor in communication with said at least one detector, said processor programmed to execute a process for determining at least one absolute weight/impurity/component value from an output of said at least one detector.
2 more elements
A computer system for measuring an absolute value of at least one component of a bulk material, comprising:
- a memory medium for storing program code and a set of computer data;
- an input/output unit for communicating with at least one detector responsive to a range of energy levels encompassing at least three energy levels produced by a gamma radiation source;
- and
- a processing unit programmed to execute a process including:
- receiving a first data set representing a measured gamma spectrum of the bulk material, said first data set produced by said at least one detector,
- receiving a second data set representing a gamma spectrum measured with the bulk material not in a detection path of said at least one detector,
- combining said first data set and said second data set to produce an attenuation gamma spectrum;
- performing a least squares fit of said attenuation gamma spectrum with a library having at least one library spectrum,
- determining a set of relative values of the bulk material, and
- determining a set of absolute values of the bulk material based on at least one coefficient determined from a sample analysis.
7 more elements
An apparatus for measuring an absolute value of at least one component of a bulk material, said apparatus comprising:
- a means for obtaining a material spectrum over a range of energies;
- a means for obtaining an empty spectrum over said range of energies;
- a means for combining said material spectrum with said empty spectrum;
- and
- a means for determining at least one absolute value of a constituent of the bulk material.
2 more elements
A method in a computer system for measuring an absolute value of at least one component of a bulk material, the method comprising:
- a) providing for receiving a first data set representing a measured gamma spectrum of the bulk material, said first data set produced by at least one detector responsive to a range of energy levels encompassing at least three energy levels produced by a gamma radiation source;
- b) providing for receiving a second data set representing a gamma spectrum measured with the bulk material not in a detection path of said at least one detector;
- c) providing for combining said first data set and said second data set to produce an attenuation gamma spectrum;
- d) providing for performing a least squares fit of said attenuation gamma spectrum with at least one library spectrum;
- e) providing for determining a set of relative values of the bulk material, and
- f) providing for determining a set of absolute values of the bulk material based on at least one coefficient determined from a sample analysis, whereby a determination of the quality and content of the bulk material is made for future processing of the bulk material.
3 more elements
Computer readable media tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a computer to perform a method of measuring an absolute value of at least one component of a bulk material, said method comprising:
- a) providing for receiving a first data set representing a measured gamma spectrum of the bulk material, said first data set produced by at least one detector responsive to a range of energy levels encompassing at least three energy levels produced by a gamma radiation source;
- b) providing for receiving a second data set representing a gamma spectrum measured with the bulk material not in a detection path of said at least one detector;
- c) providing for combining said first data set and said second data set to produce an attenuation gamma spectrum;
- d) providing for performing a least squares fit of said attenuation gamma spectrum with a library having at least one library spectrum;
- e) providing for determining a set of relative values of the bulk material, and
- f) providing for determining a set of absolute values of the bulk material based on at least one coefficient determined from a sample analysis.
3 more elements
A method for measuring an absolute value of at least one component of a bulk material, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) applying a gamma radiation having at least three energy levels to an empty bulk material handling system;
- b) detecting said gamma radiation as an empty spectrum covering a range of energy levels encompassing said at least three energy levels;
- c) applying said gamma radiation to the bulk material;
- d) detecting said gamma radiation as a material spectrum after said radiation passes through the bulk material, said material spectrum covering said range of energy levels encompassing said at least three energy levels;
- e) combining said empty spectrum and said material spectrum to obtain an attenuation gamma spectrum;
- f) matching said attenuation gamma spectrum to a library of spectra to produce a set of relative values;
- and
- g) determining a set of absolute values from said set of relative values, whereby a determination of the quality and content of the bulk material is made for future processing of the bulk material.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.