METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ESTIMATION OF HEAT VALUE USING DUAL ENERGY X-RAY TRANSMISSION MEASUREMENTS AND X-RAY FLUORESCENCE MEASUREMENTS

摘要

A method and apparatus (100) for estimating a heating value of a biological material is disclosed. The method comprises irradiating the biological material (102) with X-ray radiation of at least two different energy levels, measuring an amount of radiation transmitted through the biological material at these energy levels, and measuring fluorescent radiation emitted by the biological material when irradiated at these energy levels. A final estimate of the heating value is then determined by taking a preliminary estimate of the heating value of the biological material based on the measured transmitted radiation and correcting the preliminary estimate using the measured fluorescent radiation.