Coal Age

FEB 2013

Coal Age Magazine - For nearly 100 years, Coal Age has been the magazine that readers can trust for guidance and insight on this important industry.

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online analysis continued Figure 6f: Comparison with PGNAA on Btu/lb. lab vs. analyzer comparisons for performance assessment were straightforward. Performance data from a three-week period in February 2012-March 2012 showed that the Progression unit was outperforming other elemental analyzers particularly in calorific value and moisture, and of 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. February 2013 Figure 6g: Comparison with PGNAA on sulfur, ash and moisture. 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 min- ing 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 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. www.coalage.com 33

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