Patent ID: 6362477
Filing Date: 2002-03-26
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A bulk material analyser, including:a shielded enclosure defining an analysis zone within it and having a passageway through it to allow transport of bulk material through the analysis zone; at least one neutron source and at least two gamma-ray detectors are disposed within the enclosure to measure gamma-rays produced in the bulk material by both the neutron inelastic scatter and thermal neutron capture processes; a neutron source and a gamma-ray detector are arranged in either a transmission or backscatter geometry; a second gamma-ray detector is arranged either in a transmission or backscatter geometry with or without using a second neutron source; the arrangement of the detectors being such that the bias in the spatial response of each, that is caused by the relative attenuation of neutrons and gamma-rays in the bulk material, at least partly compensates for the bias in the spatial response of the other.