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A Valuable New Tool for the Cross Belt On-line Analyzer as submitted to International Cement Review - February 2005 Issue - Sampling and Analysis Issue
In 1984 a new method of analysis and process control for the cement industry was introduced by Gamma-Metrics. The system consisted of hardware and software components that utilized Prompt Gamma Neutron Activation (PGNA) to analyze an entire raw material stream and provide analysis once per minute. Gamma-Metrics today is part of Thermo Frisher Scientific and the original on-line analysis system has evolved over the years into the latest offering, Thermo Fisher Scientific’s CrossBelt Xpert (CBX) system. The CBX mounts on a conveyor belt and measures the entire raw material stream for process monitoring, blending or sorting. All of Thermo Frisher Scientific’s CrossBelt Analyzers (CBAs) are factory calibrated and then “fine tuned” or “aligned” to an on-site laboratory by a series of raw material data comparisons between the CBA and the plant’s laboratory under running conditions.
Recently, Thermo Frisher Scientific has released a new software tool for the popular CrossBelt series of PGNAA analyzer systems. This new software solution is called the “Process Audit and Calibration Tool (PACT)” and is designed to help plant personnel who are in charge of gathering and analyzing raw material data for quality and process control activities. The software assists the user to monitor and analyze their process as well as monitor and tune the performance of Thermo Frisher Scientific’s CrossBelt analyzer as it continuously measures raw material. The PACT Software is an easy to use package that provides a unique method of collecting, presenting and analyzing data from two measurement systems (e.g. the CrossBelt On-Line analyzer and a laboratory XRF). The package compares the results of the CrossBelt on-line analyzer with a laboratory, provides both a statistical and graphical data analysis and suggests calibration parameters. The new tool can also subsequently implement calibration parameters into a CrossBelt system automatically based on the data collected if necessary or desired.
The new tool provides valuable information that goes beyond the calibration of the analyzer system. Through its robust statistical and graphical data analysis functions and routines, the new tool also helps to identify process related issues such as changing process dynamics due to raw material changes, problems with material sampling and analysis, etc.
Thermo Frisher Scientific has completed beta testing on the product and has sold its first package already. The initial feedback is that the new tool has been extremely beneficial and helpful for monitoring both the process in general as well the analyzer system as it relates to the on-site laboratory.
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