Analyzing Moisture Content by using Magnetic Resonance, 2013 PEERS Conference

Please Note: This document will be available in PDF format in the "My Electronic Documents" link on the home page once your order has been completed. Please make sure you have the latest version of Acrobat Reader. Click on the Acrobat Reader icon to check for the latest version, it’s FREE. To print a hardcopy of a PDF file correctly you must have a postscript printer. If you are not sure if your printer is a postscript printer please refer to your owner’s manual.

Purchase of electronic (downloadable) documents made at www.tappi.org by credit cards, followed by instant download CANNOT be cancelled. We do not offer refunds on electronic download documents.

Moisture is one of the most measured characteristics in the raw materials used across our industry. Many different technologies have been utilized for measuring moisture content of many of these materials. Conventional oven drying has been the standard for many of these materials. However, this method requires resources and significant time to provide results. There is now a fast and efficient measurement available for moisture content of almost any material containing water. The newly available magnetic resonance moisture measurement method is different than any of the existing methods that are already in use. This new measurement technology actually measures water content by measuring the hydrogen atoms from the free water molecules present in the batch sample. The technology used is based on the same scientific phenomenon as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) commonly used in the medical field. The MRI method has been simplified from the MRI devices for efficient use in industrial applications. The water content is analyzed through the magnetic resonance (MR) signal induced by hydrogen atoms in water molecules placed in magnetic fields. This paper seeks to explain how this measurement works and show where it can be applied in today’s woodyard, pulp mill, or biofuel boiler.