The Radiometric Bulk Uranium Ore Sorter (RBUOS) was developed to selectively remove from bulk uranium ore the below-cut-off material, and so increase the uranium-ore grade of ore to be processed.
How it works
The RBUOS is based on the monitoring of the gamma radiation emitted by uranium ore on a 750 mm or 1 000 mm conveyor belt by a series of lead- shielded gamma-radiation detectors. When a narrow “parcel” of ore with a programmed below-cut-off ore grade is detected and confirmed, that parcel is removed from the belt by a hydraulic flap controlled by the microcontroller.
The operator programs the “reject” ore-grade cut-off into the microcontroller. The RBUOS reports via a radio link to the control room an approximate uranium-ore grade of separated ore and its approximate amount in 10, 30 or 60-minute intervals.