RTI’s Allscan elemental analyser addresses the limitations of traditional measurement. The analyser is installed over the conveyor itself to monitor the entire product stream going across the belt. It uses technology that measures all of the material, not just the surface, to determine the overall quality of the material.
Purchasing bulk commodities is often based on weight. For example, power plants want to know how many dry tonnes of coal they have in order to get an accurate understanding of the amount of energy that will be produced.
Additionally, manufacturers want to know the quality of the bulk commodities they are buying. In a typical application, a steel mill will want to know the quality of both the iron ore and the coking coal to ensure the quality of the end product.
A committed company
Real Time Instruments (RTI), an Australian company, is committed to supplying solutions that can enable mine operators make informed decisions based on accurate measurement and analysis of bulk materials. RTI specialises in the measurement and analysis of bulk materials. It manufactures and supplies a number of measurement equipment for mining, mineral processing, power, cement and food manufacturing businesses.
Will Robinson, Chief Sales Officer at the Real Time Instruments Group (RTI), says the company recognises that quality control is a serious issue for many producers, as there is not much room for error. “Minute by minute result updates, permit immediate process control decisions.”
“Accurate measurement sensors are key to reducing any arguments and ensuring the value of the material is accurate. Accuracy is important, because in many industries, if a reading is incorrect, it can have serious implications for production. The cement industry, for example, controls these risks tightly. Products from the quarries need to have the right amount of silica and calcium, along with other additives, to ensure the process creates the right grade. Every bag of cement must be to the required specs,” ” Robinson states.
The limitations of traditional quality measurement
Without question, traditional quality measurement is out of kilter with the realities of modern industry, where accuracy in bulk material measurement and analysis is the currency.
Traditional quality measurement requires a sample of the material being conveyed collected from the belt, where it is then crushed, homogenised and tested. This sample, which may only be a few grams, is used as a representative of up to thousands of tonnes of material that was fed into the process, and is often not very representative.
Robinson illustrates the limitations of traditional measurement: “Iron ore tested could show a 65 per cent quality rating, but it could have been from a relatively small pocket within the mine itself. Quality can vary throughout the ore body, so it is almost impossible to tell what the end-quality actually is from a limited number of samples.”
Allscan elemental analyser
RTI’s Allscan elemental analyser addresses the limitations of traditional measurement. The analyser is installed over the conveyor itself to monitor the entire product stream going across the belt. It uses technology that measures all of the material, not just the surface, to determine the overall quality of the material. Results can be integrated with plant. Blending control software may be used to automatically ensure an even and accurate blend is achieved.
Besides Allscan elemental analyser, the company manufactures and supplies moisture monitors that have been designed with accuracy in mind that permits reconciliation of plant operations.
Total lifecycle management for African clientele
RTI recognises the importance of equipment uptime. And so, it provides total life cycle management for its clientele in Africa, through a local African agent network, supported by a service department located in Mackay, Australia. For instance, each Allscan elemental analyser sensor is supplied with a 3/4G modem that can connect to the internet via a virtual private network, allowing for remote calibration, monitoring and maintenance.
With COVID-19 preventing a significant amount of international and local travel, Robinson is excited to reveal that there has been a lot of interest in the RTI remote support technology already. “We’re quite positive to see the industry continuing to get on board with Industry 4.0 technology. What started off as a good idea has now become a necessity for many in the industry and we look forward to continuing to support this,” he says, declaring that the company is more dedicated than ever to serve the needs of African clientele in bulk material measurement and analysis.
