Abstract: A method for estimating a heating value of a biological material is disclosed. The method comprises: correlating amounts of radiation transmitted through a number of different reference materials, said radiation being electromagnetic radiation of at least two energy levels, with heating values for said reference materials obtained by calorimeter measurements; irradiating the biological material (102) with electromagnetic radiation of said at least two different energy levels;and measuring the amount of radiation (109a-c) transmitted through said biological material at said energy levels. The method further comprises determining, for each energy level, a transmission value through the biological material based on the radiation through said biological material; and determining, based on said determined transmission values and said correlation, an estimate of the heating value of said biological material. A corresponding apparatus (100) is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the concentration of a specific analyte in a sample of biological material are disclosed. The sample is placed in a sample container (10) which provides at least two radiation paths (14) with different lengths through the sample container (10), and is sequentially irradiated with electromagnetic radiation, e.g. X-rays. The amount of radiation penetrating the sample is detected, and absorbance is determined based on the detected radiation. During irradiation, the sample container (10) is moved in relation to the radiation source (1) and detector (5) so that absorbance measurements at different path-lengths are acquired. A regression line from the absorbance values and path lengths is determined, such that a slope of the regression line is obtained, and based on this slope, the concentration of the specific analyte is determined.

Abstract: A method for measuring ash content in a biological material in an automated or semi-automated procedure is disclosed. The method includes the steps of scanning the biological material with electromagnetic radiation of at least two different energy levels, determining the amount of radiation transmitted through the sample of the biological material at the energy levels and estimating the moisture content in the biological material based on a relationship between the determined amount of radiation transmitted through the biological material. Thereafter, the ash content in the biological material is estimated, based on the estimated moisture content in the biological material, and average attenuation coefficients for the biological material without moisture, attenuation coefficients for a combustible part of the biological material and attenuation coefficients for ash of the biological material at the energy levels. A corresponding apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating a heating value of a biological material. The method includes irradiating of the biological material with X-ray radiation of at least two different energy levels, measuring of an amount of radiation transmitted through the biological material at these energy levels, and measuring fluorescent radiation emitted by the biological material when irradiated at these energy levels. A final estimate of the heating value is then determined based on a preliminary estimate of the heating value of the biological material based on the measured transmitted radiation and a correction value based on the fluorescent radiation.

Abstract: A method for detecting an anomaly in a biological material is disclosed, including the steps of: irradiating the biological material with electromagnetic radiation of at least two different energy levels; measuring the amount of radiation transmitted through the biological material; and determining, for each energy level, a transmission value. Before or after irradiation of the biological material, a reference material of a predetermined thickness is irradiated and the amount of radiation transmitted is determined. For each energy level, a transmission calibration reference value is determined and a calibrated transmission value is determined for the biological material and the calibration reference. A material value based on a relationship between the calibrated transmission value and the presence of an anomaly in the biological material is determined by comparing the determined and expected material values for the biological material. A corresponding apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for measuring dry mass flow rate for a biological material. The method steps include conveying the biological material through a measuring station, scanning the biological material with electromagnetic radiation of at least two different energy levels, determining the amount of radiation transmitted through the biological material at said two energy levels, and summing, for each of sad two energy levels, the radiation transmission values over a time frame to summed radiation transmission values. Further, a wet dry mass flow rate is estimated based on the summed radiation transmission values for said two energy level. The moisture content of the biological material is estimated based on the amounts of radiation transmitted through the biological material. The estimated wet dry mass flow rate is scaled in accordance with the estimated moisture content of the biological material, thereby providing an estimate of the dry mass flow rate.

Abstract: A method for estimating a heating value of a biological material is disclosed. The method comprises: correlating amounts of radiation transmitted through a number of different reference materials, said radiation being electromagnetic radiation of at least two energy levels, with heating values for said reference materials obtained by calorimeter measurements; irradiating the biological material (102) with electromagnetic radiation of said at least two different energy levels;and measuring the amount of radiation (109a-c) transmitted through said biological material at said energy levels. The method further comprises determining, for each energy level, a transmission value through the biological material based on the radiation through said biological material; and determining, based on said determined transmission values and said correlation, an estimate of the heating value of said biological material. A corresponding apparatus (100) is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for measuring ash content in a biological material in an automated or semi-automated procedure is disclosed. The method includes the steps of scanning the biological material with electromagnetic radiation of at least two different energy levels, determining the amount of radiation transmitted through the sample of the biological material at the energy levels and estimating the moisture content in the biological material based on a relationship between the determined amount of radiation transmitted through the biological material. Thereafter, the ash content in the biological material is estimated, based on the estimated moisture content in the biological material, and average attenuation coefficients for the biological material without moisture, attenuation coefficients for a combustible part of the biological material and attenuation coefficients for ash of the biological material at the energy levels. A corresponding apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for measuring moisture content in a biological material in an automated procedure is disclosed. The method comprises the step of: providing a reference database for a plurality of different material types with known moisture content. Further, a sample of biological material, such as chips of wood, pulp, grain, crop or sugar canes, are scanned with electromagnetic radiation of at least two different energy levels and the amount of radiation transmitted through the sample of the biological material is determined at said two energy levels. Subsequently, a material type in the reference database most resembling the biological material of the biological material of the sample is identified, and the moisture content of the sample of biological material is determined based on the identified material type and the determined amounts of radiation transmitted through the sample.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for measuring dry mass flow rate for a biological material.—The method steps include conveying the biological material through a measuring station, scanning the biological material with electromagnetic radiation of at least two different energy levels, determining the amount of radiation transmitted through the biological material at said two energy levels, and summing, for each of sad two energy levels, the radiation transmission values over a time frame to summed radiation transmission values. Further, a wet dry mass flow rate is estimated based on the summed radiation transmission values for said two energy level. The moisture content of the biological material is estimated based on the amounts of radiation transmitted through the biological material. The estimated wet dry mass flow rate is scaled in accordance with the estimated moisture content of the biological material, thereby providing an estimate of the dry mass flow rate.

Abstract: A method for detecting an anomaly in a biological material is disclosed, including the steps of: irradiating the biological material with electromagnetic radiation of at least two different energy levels; measuring the amount of radiation transmitted through the biological material; and determining, for each energy level, a transmission value. Before or after irradiation of the biological material, a reference material of a predetermined thickness is irradiated and the amount of radiation transmitted is determined. For each energy level, a transmission calibration reference value is determined and a calibrated transmission value is determined for the biological material and the calibration reference. A material value based on a relationship between the calibrated transmission value and the presence of an anomaly in the biological material is determined by comparing the determined and expected material values for the biological material. A corresponding apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for measuring moisture content in a biological material in an automated procedure is disclosed. The method comprises the step of: providing a reference database for a plurality of different material types with known moisture content. Further, a sample of biological material, such as chips of wood, pulp, grain, crop or sugar canes, are scanned with electromagnetic radiation of at least two different energy levels and the amount of radiation transmitted through the sample of the biological material is determined at said two energy levels. Subsequently, a material type in the reference database most resembling the biological material of the biological material of the sample is identified, and the moisture content of the sample of biological material is determined based on the identified material type and the determined amounts of radiation transmitted through the sample.