Coal burning power plants, for example, have a notorious reputation for spewing out flue gas particles originating from the mineral mater in the coal. This proposal offers the development of an instrument that can characterize the particles in flue gases in-situ for size distribution, concentration, and composition. The measurement is wavelength dependent with regards to the scattering and adsorption components of extinction. Therefore, Mie theory analysis can be utilized to interpret the spectral data for particle size distribution and concentration.
Composition is obtained by analysis of absorption band position.
Phase I will demonstrate flue gas particle characterization by FT-IR measurements of respirable ash in a laboratory suspension cell. Phase II will develop a prototype instrument that will be tested on a power plant flue. The end use of the continuous monitor is for compliance monitoring and measurement of control process effectiveness.