title: Development of an apparatus for on-line analysis of unburned carbon in fly ash using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS).
abstract: The level of unburned carbon in fly ash is an important criteria for evaluating the combustion efficiencies of boilers, as well as the commercial value of the produced fly ash. In this work, an automated prototype laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) apparatus comprising an isokinetic sampler, a sample preparation module, and a LIBS module has been developed for possible application to power plants for on-line analysis of unburned carbon in fly ash without being affected by the type of coal burned. Emphasis is placed on the structure and operation of the LIBS apparatus, the optimum suction capacity selection, the analytical methods for estimation of the exact C line intensity, and the proper calibration model established for minimizing the matrix effects, which enable the minimization of matrix effects and obtaining more accurate compositional measurements. Good agreement has been found between the laboratory measurement results from the LIBS method and those from the traditional method. The measurement accuracy presented here for unburned carbon analysis is estimated to be 0.26%, while the average relative error is 3.81%.
authors: State Key Laboratory of Quantum Optics and Quantum Optics Devices, College of Physics and Electronics Engineering, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, P R China. k1226@sxu.edu.cn
authors: Lei
authors: L
authors: Zhang
authors: Weiguang
authors: W
authors: Ma
authors: Lei
authors: L
authors: Dong
authors: Xiaojuan
authors: X
authors: Yan
authors: Zhiyu
authors: Z
authors: Hu
authors: Zhixin
authors: Z
authors: Li
authors: Yongzhi
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: Le
authors: L
authors: Wang
authors: Wangbao
authors: W
authors: Yin
authors: Suotang
authors: S
authors: Jia