Comparison of the Accuracy of In-Situ Diode Laser Measurements of Carbon Monoxide in Reheat Furnaces Relative to Extractive Techniques
(Room 401)
16 May 16
9:30 AM
-
10:00 AM
Tracks:
Measurement Applications & Techniques, New Developments & Detailed Microstructural Characterization of AHSS
Extractive sampling of CO from an active combustion zone is prone to systematic errors. If there is excess O2 present and the sample is being withdrawn at elevated temperatures (above 1200°F), the CO continues to react in the sampling system before the sample can be quenched. A systematic study of the extraction process was undertaken using experimental data from production furnaces, laboratory data, CFD and chemical kinetic modeling. Data show that extractive methods can lead to systematic underreporting of actual CO concentrations. Such underreporting can lead to safety issues and non-optimal furnace operation. Newer, in-situ methods such as TDLAS avoid such errors. Closed-loop control of reheat furnace operation using TDLAS has led to fuel savings and/or yield increases in excess of $1 million per year in the first three installations.