October 2007Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration
A gamma-based density gauge works on the principle of a sealed nuclear source in a source holder and a scintillation detector. These are clamped on the side of a pipe or chute. A focused beam of gamma radiation is transmitted from the source, through the pipe and process material, to the detector.
This means that sampling of the product is only required to analyse density for calibration. Being non-invasive to the process and with no moving parts, nuclear density gauges provide reliable long term measurements. No parts that could foul, corrode or wear are intrusive to the measuring process.
The non-invasive nature of gamma-based density measurement is ideal for use in processes with high temperatures and pressures, volatile and bio-hazardous materials and corrosive materials. Measurement in realtime allows for immediate feedback and continuous process control.
With no intrusions or additions required in the pipeline, installation costs are kept low. When used in conjunction with a flowmeter, nuclear density gauges provide on-line mass flow monitoring. When the carrier fluid remains stable, nuclear density gauges provide highly accurate measurement of percent solids for most slurries.
With input from a temperature probe, the density can be calculated to a reference process temperature.
The DSG is ideal for use in mining slurries such as coal, potash, limestone, gold, copper, phosphates and platinum.
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