Patent ID: 6084415
Filing Date: 2000-07-04
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method for measuring a molecular density of at least one molecular species of at least one of a gas from a combustion process, which gas is not in combustion, and a flame in a combustion process, said method using a measuring system for measuring the molecular density, and said method comprising the steps of:storing a quantity representative of at least one spectral line which at least one spectral line corresponds to at least one known molecular density of the at least one molecular species of at least one of a gas from a combustion process, which gas is not in combustion, and a flame in a combustion process;positioning a transmitter;the transmitter being configured to transmit radio waves;positioning a receiver to receive radio waves from the transmitter;disposing the transmitter and the receiver on opposite sides of a chimney;receiving a reference signal by transmitting a signal to the receiver from the transmitter when the chimney does not contain the at least one of a gas from a combustion process, which gas is not in combustion, and a flame in a combustion process;calibrating the measuring system with said received reference signal;transmitting a signal from the transmitter through the chimney when the chimney contains the at least one of a gas from a combustion process, which gas is not in combustion, and a flame in a combustion process;receiving a modified signal with at least one spectral line through the chimney when the chimney contains the at least one of a gas from a combustion process, which gas is not in combustion, and a flame in a combustion process with the receiver;comparing the received modified signal with at least one spectral line to the previously received reference signal and determining at least one present spectral line in said received modified signal; andcomparing the determined at least one spectral line to the stored quantity representative of at least one spectral line, and determining the molecular density of the at least one molecular species of the at least one of a gas from a combustion process, which gas is not in combustion, and a flame in a combustion process in the chimney from a result of said step of comparing the determined at least one spectral line to the stored quantity representative of at least one spectral line and the corresponding at least one known molecular density.