Real-time CO measurement in a coal fired boiler with a TDLS analyzer

Coal fired boiler is the most used boiler in the world today and the fuel-air ratio combustion control is the key for the boiler heat efficiency. The fuel-air ratio control has been based solely on measurements of the excess oxygen concentration at most boilers. Many plants are demanded further energy-saving for stopping the global warming and many plant users anticipate further improvement of boiler efficiency. We tried a new type of combustion control by measuring real-time CO concentration data near furnace with a TDLS analyzer. Fuel savings and CO₂ emission reduction can be calculated from the measured data conforming to a Japan Industrial Standard: “Land boilers - Heat balancing JIS B 8222-1993”. The use of TDLS analyzers to measure CO concentrations realized a new approach to combustion control, enabling optimization of the fuel-air ratio and thereby protecting the environment by achieving enormous reductions in CO₂ emissions.