title: Simultaneous in situ measurement of CO, H2O, and gas temperatures in a full-sized coal-fired power plant by near-infrared diode lasers.
abstract: We present what is to our knowledge the first near-infrared diode-laser-based absorption spectrometer that is suitable for simultaneous in situ measurement of carbon monoxide, water vapor, and temperature in the combustion chamber (20-m diameter, 13-m path length) of a 600-MW lignite-fired power plant. A fiber-coupled distributed-feedback diode-laser module at 1.56 microm served for CO detection, and a Fabry-Perot diode laser at 813 nm was used to determine H2O concentrations and temperature from multiline water spectra. Despite severe light losses (transmission, <10(-8)) and strong background radiation we achieved a resolution of 1.9 x 10(-4) (1sigma) fractional absorption, equivalent to 200 parts in 10(6) by volume of CO (at 1450 K, 10(5) Pa) with 30-s averaging time.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 253, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Teichert
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fernholz
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ebert