Apparatus for continuously measuring the element content in slurries

Claim 1

In an apparatus for the continuous measurement by X-ray fluorescence analysis of the elemental contents of a slurry independent of the slurry density and slurry composition comprising: a measuring chamber having a slurry flow channel, a first measuring window provided at one side of the channel and a second measuring window provided at the other side of the channel, a detector disposed behind the first measuring window, a first source of primary radiation and a target disposed behind the second measuring window, the target being disposed between the second measuring window and the first source wherein the first source excites the target to emit target radiation and excites the slurry contents to emit X-ray radiation, and the primary radiation from the first source, the target radiation, and the excited X-ray are transmitted to and detected by the detector, the improvement comprising: collimator means forming an open passage between said detector and said first measuring window, and an annular source of primary radiation for irradiating the slurry contents to excite additional X-ray radiation therefrom located between said detector and said first measuring window and about said open passage, wherein said collimator means collimates the primary radiation, target radiation and X-ray radiation excited by said first source and said annular source of primary radiation.