O N L I N E A N A LY S I S
course in Na2O as well, since PRB sodium levels lie below the detection
threshold for PGNAA analyzers.
Comparisons between the laboratory and the analyzer on three to four hour
batches on moisture, calorific value,
ash, sulfur and sodium are shown in
Figures 6a-6e.
Figures 6f and 6g draw a comparison between the performance of the
Titan CCA analyzer and another analyzer using PGNAA technology, also on
PRB coal. The PGNAA data was taken
from a published document from another analyzer supplier.
Summary
The coal industry has made great
strides in productivity over the past
quarter century, but it has done so primarily without the benefit of any major
technological or significant design
improvement in mining equipment.
Mining efficiency gains have been
largely of the incremental variety, as
opposed to step jumps. This has been
especially true with online analyzers.
However, there now appears to be an
innovative pair of technologies found in
a single instrument from Progression
www.e-mj.com
Figure 6g: Comparison with PGNAA on sulfur, ash and moisture.
Inc. that could be the process control
breakthrough the market has been waiting for.
Richard Woodward is a consultant,
specializing in online coal analysis,
www.woodward-consulting.com.
JUNE 2013 • E&MJ; 97