Situ multi-channel combustion gas analyzer

US4560873A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Lear Siegler, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Gerald F. McGowan · Parker, US
• Gerald W. Price · Morrison, US
• Carl E. Polhemus · Englewood, US
• Ronald L. Ketchum · Littleton, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 17, 1983
• Grant date: Dec 24, 1985
• Expiry date: Jun 17, 2003

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2201/1215
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Apparatus is disclosed to accurately measure and analyze multiple component interfering gases which coexist in the stack gas effluent generated from a combustion process which utilizes a non-dispersive, narrowband infrared absorption technique. The apparatus includes a probe in the stack with an optical measurement cavity (34) through which the stack gases are passed. A transceiver (14) mounted to the probe includes an optical portion operatively associated with the measurement cavity including a chopped light source (54), (60), (62) for projecting beams of light into the measurement cavity and a detector (86) for detecting the attenuation of the gases to provide a measure of the extent of absorption of each gas of interest. A control unit, preferably remote from the transceiver, preferably a programmed digital computer, and preferably via a J-box (18) converts the electric outputs to a corresponding % modulation and in turn corrects for temperature, pressure and interference between gases. The results may be displayed on a front panel (174) or used, for example, to maximize efficiency in a combustion process.