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For 40 years, Thermo Fisher Scientific has advanced PGNAA technology to deliver continuous, real-time insight into material composition for industries like mining, cement production, power generation, and more. From early chute-based systems to today’s intelligent analyzers, PGNAA has enabled operators to move from reactive decision-making to continuous, data-driven process control.
What began as a breakthrough in measurement is now a critical tool for achieving stable, efficient, and consistent performance across some of the world’s most demanding industries.
Each generation has expanded analytical capabilities while improving integration with plant control systems, helping customers transition from manual operation to automated process optimization.
A technology that changed process control
Prompt gamma neutron activation analysis (PGNAA) delivers continuous, real-time measurement of bulk material composition directly on the process stream. Thanks to neutrons’ ability to penetrate deeply into materials and generate unique signals from each element in the mix, accurate and immediate identification of the components can be performed.
Unlike traditional sampling methods, PGNAA analyzes the entire material cross-section without interruption. The result is a complete and representative view of process chemistry, eliminating sampling bias and reducing uncertainty.
This capability engenders multiple advantages regarding bulk material analysis:
- Immediate response to material variability
- Improved product consistency
- Reduced reliance on laboratory testing
- Tighter, more stable process control
Enabling both dry and wet process optimization
PGNAA technology supports processing of both dry bulk materials and wet slurries, extending real-time control across the full flowsheet.
For dry process applications, cross-belt PGNAA analyzers such as the CB Omni Agile analyzer measure material directly on the conveyor belt. This enables continuous control of raw mix, stockpile blending, coal, and other bulk materials before critical process stages.
For wet process applications, slurry analyzers like the GS Omni analyzer provide continuous, real-time measurement of material composition in pipelines. This enables improved control of flotation, hydrometallurgical processes, and concentrate streams where traditional sampling is slow and often unreliable.
Together, these solutions provide a unified approach to process control:
- CB Omni: dry bulk material control
- GS Omni: slurry and liquid phase optimization
Proven across industries and applications
Thermo Fisher Scientific’s PGNAA analyzers have been successfully deployed for process control and bulk materials analysis across a wide range of industries and materials:
- Bauxite
- Cement
- Coal
- Copper
- Fiberglass
- Gypsum
- Iron ore
- Iron sinter
- Lime and limestone
- Magnesite
- Manganese
- Molybdenum
- Phosphate
- Refractory materials
- Siderite
In cement production, PGNAA analyzers such as the CB Omni Agile analyzer play a critical role in enabling more sustainable operations, supporting the transition toward green cement through tighter raw mix control, alternative fuel usage, and reduced clinker factor
From data to operational intelligence
Modern PGNAA solutions go beyond measurement to deliver actionable insight that improves operational performance across the value chain:
Efficiency |
Cost Control |
Quality |
Sustainability |
Stabilize processes and reduce variability |
Optimize raw material usage and energy consumption |
Maintain tighter control of product specifications |
Reduce waste, emissions, and resource consumption |
Digitalization and advanced process optimization
PGNAA analyzers play a critical role in digital plant strategies by delivering continuous, real-time compositional data that supports process visibility and control.
Thermo Scientific Instrument Performance Management (IPM) software, natively integrated with the CB Omni Agile analyzer, complements the instrument’s operations by focusing on analyzer health, reliability, and uptime. IPM software provides automated performance monitoring and predictive maintenance capabilities, like these:
- Real-time monitoring of analyzer health and performance
- Predictive maintenance alerts to prevent unplanned downtime
- Cloud-based dashboards with performance trends and diagnostics
- Secure, encrypted data transmission and remote accessibility
By supporting proactive maintenance and improving serviceability, IPM software helps maximize analyzer uptime, reduce maintenance costs, and extend equipment life – ensuring consistent, reliable measurement for stable process operation.
Built for the future of process control
With 40 years of proven performance, PGNAA remains a core technology for intelligent and automated operations. As industries accelerate digitalization and sustainability initiatives, Thermo Fisher Scientific continues to innovate to meet the demands of tomorrow.
Take the next step
Discover how PGNAA can enhance your process performance and operational efficiency.