Accuracy and performance analysis of a nuclear belt weigher

Abstract Nuclear belt weighers have a broad range of applications in the solid particle industry. This work analyzes the accuracy and sensitivity of nuclear weighers for a wide range of operational conditions and design parameters. The problem of the effect of material profile and bulk density variations on the scale performance is quantitatively addressed. A new methodology is developed to calculate the minimum detectable load accounting for both accuracy and sensitivity. Accuracies of less than 1% can be achieved in some ideal situations by proper design of the source length and geometrical configuration.