Flue gas analysis

Presentation by Abhishek
Srivastava

Flue Gas

When fuels are burnt and produce the mixture of gases

like CO2, CO and O2 are evolved.
If these gases still contain combustion heat, as soon as
they have conveyed their energy to the absorbing
surfaces of a heat exchanger, they are called heating
gases or flue or stack gas

Presentation by Abhishek
Srivastava



Significances of flue gas analysis (From the

constituents of CO2, CO and O2 of flue gas)
Free Co shows that the combustion is incomplete amt of
air used to be increased
Free O2 shows air supply is very much in excess, to ensure
complete combustion, it is essential to provide a certain
amount of excess air.
Presence of appreciable amt of both, CO and O2 indicates
the combustion is irregular and non-uniform
Some parts of the furnace the air is excess and some other
parts air supply is insufficient- combustion is irregular and
needs immediate attention
Determine the amount of air needed for complete
combustion of fuel
Presentation by Abhishek
Srivastava

Flue Gas analysis-Orsat Apparatus

Flue Gas analysis- is carried out by Orsat Apparatus
 Used to measure volumes of carbon dioxide, oxygen
and carbon monoxide within a fixed volume of a flue
gas (100cc).
To find the volume of a particular gas, the sampled
gas is passed through a specific solution which
absorbs only the required gas.
The flue gas is passed through a sequence of
solutions each can remove one of the gases.

A solution of caustic potash (250 g KOH in

dist. water) is used to absorb the carbon
dioxide,
 A mixture of pyrogallic acid (25 g), caustic
potash(200 g) and (500 ml) dist.water is used
to absorb the oxygen,
 To absorb the carbon monoxide. Ammoniacal
cuprous chloride (100 g Cu2Cl2 + 125 ml
liquid NH3 + 375 ml water) is used.


Presentation by Abhishek
Srivastava

Orsat Flue gas Analyzer

Presentation by Abhishek
Srivastava

Presentation by Abhishek
Srivastava


Orsats apparatus consists of a horizontal tube

having 3 way stopcock at one end and a

measuring burette at the other end.

The horizontal tube is connected to three different
absorption bulbs for the absorption of CO2, O2
and CO respectively.

The lower end of the burette is connected to the
water reservoir.

The water level in the burette can be raised or
lowered by raising or lowering the water
reservoir.
Presentation by Abhishek
Srivastava

Flue Gas Analysis -Precaution

All air from the burette is expelled by lifting the reservoir
bottle
It is quite necessary to keep the absorbent bulbs in a certain
order to absorb different gases
This is because the absorbent used for O2 can absorb some
CO2 and the detected would be less than the actual amount
First bulb - to absorb CO2
Second bulb- to absorb O2
Third bulb to absorb CO
The % of CO in flue gas is very small and that would be
measured quite carefully
Presentation by Abhishek
Srivastava

Flue Gas Analysis- Procedure

Step: 1:

The three way stop-cock is opened and reservoir is
raised till the burette is completely filled with water
and air is excluded from the burette

The process of sucking and expelling is repeated 3-4
time to ensure that the burette is free from air

The flue gas is supplied and the reservoir is lowered
to draw the flue gas to be analyzed in to the burette.

Finally the gas is sucked in the burette and the
volume of flue gas is adjusted to 100ml. Then the
three way stop cock is closed
Presentation by Abhishek
Srivastava

10

Step 2:

The stopper of the absorption bulb 1
containing KOH solution is opened and all gas
is forced into this bulb by raising the water
reservoir. The gas is again sent to burette by
lowering the reservoir.

The process is repeated several times to ensure
the complete absorption of CO2

The unabsorbed gas is sent back to burette

The decrease in volume of flue gas in the
burette indicates the volume of CO2 in 100ml
of flue gas

Presentation by Abhishek
Srivastava

11

Step 3:

The volume of O2 and CO are similarly
determined by passing the remaining gas
through alkaline Pyrogallic acid bulb and
ammoniacal cuprous chloride bulb respectively

The gas remaining in the burette after the

absorption of CO2,O2 and CO is taken as N2

Presentation by Abhishek
Srivastava

12