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This article from Hydrocarbon Engineering discusses the use of near-infrared tunable diode lasers for acquiring critical measurements in combustion processes to ensure process efficiency and safety. The article has a specific focus on deNOx and ammonia slip.
In combustion measurements, the flue is monitored for excess ammonia, an indicator of the presence of nitrogen oxides and hence incomplete combustion. However, ammonia measurement is challenging for extractive technologies such as NDIR.
Whereas NDIR and other gas analyzer technologies require a maintenance-prone sample conditioning system, TDLs can measure in situ. The article examines how leading-edge, probe-style TDLs tolerate the process conditions and operate reliably with minimal maintenance.
Combustion is carefully monitored for efficiency and requires multiple analyte measurements such as oxygen, CO, and ammonia. Careful consideration needs to be given as to what type of technology will ensure that gas measurements are accurate, high uptime is achieved, validations are easily implemented, and the cost of the measurement is minimized with respect to maintenance.
Sample conditioning systems are usually a necessary accompaniment to gas measurement technologies such as non-dispersive infrared. However, due to the large number of moving parts, SCSs are renowned for their need to be maintained regularly, and downtime, and hence loss of gas measurement, is a common occurrence.
Tunable diode laser spectrometers offer an alternative to technologies such as NDIR. With their ability to measure directly in the process they avoid the need for an SCS, and as measurement does not require direct contact of the process gas stream with the analyzer, very little maintenance is required.
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