Natural gamma ray based technique for mud density control

Manning in sugar mills has decreased and will decrease further. A major factor in enabling this to proceed without loss in efficiency has been the upsurge in computer control and process monitoring equipment. Clarification and filtration operations require some measurements that have not been available previously. A density gauge, based on the natural gamma ray emission of soils, developed for the mining industry, has been tested for the measurement and control of filter feed in a raw sugar mill. The counts per second registered by the gauge's scintillation detector is strongly dependent on the mud solids in the slurry being monitored. The signal from the gauge has been successfully used to control filter feed density and assist in maintaining a satisfactory density in clarifier underflow. Process efficiencies were achieved, virtually eliminating spillages, increasing process awareness and contributing to a reduction in sugar loss.