Abstract
Abstract The results of studies on solid fuel quality control by neutron gamma radiation spectrometry of the inelastic scattering of fast neutrons on carbon and the radiation capture of thermal neutrons by ash-forming elements are presented. Close correlations between various qualitative characteristics (heat of combustion, carbon content, and ash content) were established. The inversive alternating-sign dependence of the sensitivity to the heat of combustion on the coal layer thickness was found. The thickness boundary values were determined at which the maximum and minimum sensitivities were observed. The results of measurements of the intensity of gamma radiation in the region of an analytical line of carbon (~4.43 MeV) were optimized to provide satisfactory sensitivity to the heat of combustion and a minimum disturbing effect of the variable bulk density of coal.