Microwave Determination of Moisture Compared with Capacitive, Infrared and Conductive Measurement Methods. Comparison of On-Line Measurements at Coal Preparation Plants

The accuracy of microwave, capacitive, infrared and conductive measurements was tested under industrial conditions with regard to on-line determination of moisture in coal. The test was carried out on a coal stream of constant geometry and at a conveyor belt with widely variing the thickness of the material layer. In both cases the microwave method revealed considerably better results than capacitive and conductive methods. The lowest accuracy was attained by the infrared measurement technique.