Measurement Methods
Fly ash contents can be considered as a basis for optimal and stable boiler combustion control and fly ash quality control in power plants, especially the unburned carbon in fly ash. Various methods are used in predicting and monitoring of U.B.C. including:
Lining
Ash that is stored or deposited outside can ultimately drain toxic compounds into underground water aquifers. So specially lined landfills that prevent the chemical compounds are introduced to prevent from being leached into the groundwater and local
Loss on ignition (L.O.I.)
It is the most common laboratory analysis method for U.B.C. estimation in power plants. However, it is complicated to apply for online measurement and influenced by the presence of sulphur.
Laser-Induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS)
The laser is inherently discrete, and it will be caused to reduce accuracy. The approach needs to use a laser generator in Nano sec. Scale and plasma. In practice, we are not able to do emission signals of laser
Total Organic Carbon (T.O.C.)
The sample is evacuated and subsequently incinerated with pure oxygen. However, it is complicated and has limited reliability and can be costly. The water purity requirements are extremely stringent.
InfraRed reflectance
The sample is taken from the procedure and shown to infrared light. The reflectance is a gauge for the unburnt carbon content. However, it is complicated to apply for online measurement due to sample extraction, piping, and clogging problems, and it is dirt sensitive.
Combustion
The sample is burned to measure the weight loss for L.O.I. Content or the Co2 emission. It is complicated. It involves many steps and automation hardware. The maintenance requirements make the method costly and unaffordable
Microwave
It is a simple and reliable method. However, Fly ash and U.B.C. have different responses when subject to microwave radiation. Proximity to the resonator to the ash is important as to get the ash into the sensor or resonance chamber, and to make it work. Online measurement will be complicated.
Online U.B.C. monitoring: Companies offer these services currently. However, it is a reactive approach and does not serve the purpose of proactively managing the U.B.C. levels.
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