NON-INTRUSIVE FURNACE EXHAUST GAS TEMPERATURE MONITOR

DEVELOPMENT OF A NON-INTRUSIVE RAPID-RESPONSE INSTRUMENT ABLE TO MONITOR ASH PARTICLE TEMPERATURES IN FURNACE EXHAUST GASES IS PROPOSED. BECAUSE THE PARTICLES ARE THERMALLY EQUILIBRATED WITH THE GAS, THE MEASUREMENT IS, IN FACT, AN ACCURATE REPRESENTATION OF THE LOCAL GAS TEMPERATURE. WHEN COUPLED TO A COMPUTER EQUIPPED WITH ANALOG OR DIGITAL OUTPUT PORTS AND THENCE TO A FURNACE CONTROL SYSTEM, THE DEVICE CAN BE USED TO OPTIMIZE THE COMBUSTION PROCESS AND THEREBY INCREASE THE PLANT EFFICIENCY. THE INSTRUMENT CAN ALSO BE USED TO CONTROL INCINERATOR FURNACE TEMPERATURES, SPECIFICALLY TO MAINTAIN THEM ABOVE 1800 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE EMISSION OF TOXIC ORGANICS SUCH AS AROMATIC HYDROCARBON OR CHLORINATED DIOXIN/FURANS. INDIRECT BENEFITS OF THE DEVICE INCLUDE INCREASED PLANT LONGEVITY, REDUCED POLLUTANT EMISSIONS, AND THE EXTENDED LIFETIME OF OUR FINITE FOSSIL FUEL RESOURCES. THE INSTRUMENT EMPLOYS AN INNOVATIVE VARIATION OF TWO-COLOR PYROMETRY TO ELIMINATE ERRORS, ASSOCIATED WITH RADIATION FROM THE PRIMARY COMBUSTION ZONE AND BOILER WALLS, WHICH HAVE CONFOUNDED PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS TOACCURATELY MEASURE EXHAUST PARTICLE TEMPERATURES.