4/20/2020 Tech

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TECHNOLOGY

SpectraFlow is a unique application of a known technology that has proven to meet all
the analysis requirements throughout the minerals manufacturing process.
SpectraFlow utilizes the Near Infra Red (NIR) spectra which are provided by stabilized
white light sources (lamps). When NIR waves hit the target bulk material, which shall be
analyzed as it passes by underneath the analyzer it excites vibrational oscillations of the
molecular bonds and mineral structure in the monitored material. The result is an
absorption spectrum, which is characteristic for the molecules and mineral phases of
which the analyzed material consists.
The key to the analysis is Beer's law of NIR Spectroscopy. What Beer's law basically
states is that the absorbance spectra are directly proportional to the concentration of the
constituent of interest and that in case of material, which consists of several constituents
the total absorbance is a linear combination of the absorbance spectra of the individual
constituents. The value Intensity emitted is defined prior to the on line analysis by putting
an “ideal white body” at a defined position underneath the spectrometer and acquiring its
spectrum.

The hardware:

The analyzer is made up of three main hardware parts, the measurement head, the
spetrometer and the control panel. The energy source (lamps) are commercially
available spots, which have a special reflecting mirror with a very good parabolic shape
in order to have an almost perfectly parallel beam emitted. They are operated at 80% of
their rated power, which significantly increases the lifetime of the lamps. All hardware
parts are made of the highest standard available on the market to make sure a reliable
measurement over many years of operation.

SpectraFlow uses its a ABB Fourier Transform Infra Red (FTIR) spectrometer to split up
the incoming NIR into its individual wavelengths. The heart of the spectrometer is a
wishbone scan arm Michelson interferometer. The basic operating principle of this type
of spectrometer is shown in figure 1.

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Figure 1 operating principle of the wishbone scan arm interferometer

The movement of the cube corner mirror and the beam splitting results in addition and
subtraction of the split beam. The detector then receives an interferogram, which is
characteristic for the incoming beam. The interfogram is then subjected to a Digital
Fourier Transform. Thus the overlaid wishbone arm oscillation is removed from the
interferogram and the pure spectrum is obtained. This means the complete spectrum,
which covers the complete used wavelength range is obtained by a single step.
For the on line analysis of bulk material the NIR wavelength range from 700 nanometers
to 2500 nanometers respectively from 14000 wave numbers to 4000 wave numbers is
used.

The Accuracy:

SpectraFlow measures raw material on the conveyor belt after, as well as powder in an
airslide with a very high accuracy. As SpectraFlow is independent of the belt load no belt
load compensation is necessary and with its high frequency measurement also no
running averages are needed. Every single measurement represents the chemical
composition of the raw material over the last minute. As SpectraFlow penetrates the
molecules also a very accurate moisture measurement is possible.

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read further about the accuracy ....

SPECTRAFLOW ANALYTICS LTD I HAERDLISTRASSE 15 I CH-

8957 SPREITENBACH I SWITZERLAND
TEL. +41 56 406 12 12 I FAX. +41 56 406 12 10 I NET. info (et)
spectraflow-analytics.com

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