Open AccessMONITORING POWER PLANT EFFICIENCY USING THE MICROWAVE-EXCITED PHOTOACOUSTIC EFFECT TO MEASURE UNBURNED CARBON
Author(s) -
Robert C. Brown,
Robert J. Weber,
Jeff Sweterlitsch
Publication year - 2003
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/821845
Subject(s) - fly ash , microwave , photoacoustic imaging in biomedicine , signal (programming language) , environmental science , acoustics , line (geometry) , materials science , process engineering , waste management , computer science , engineering , optics , telecommunications , physics , geometry , mathematics , programming language
Three test instruments are being evaluated to determine the feasibility of using photoacoustic technology for measuring unburned carbon in fly ash. The first test instrument is a single microwave frequency system previously constructed to measure photo-acoustic signals in an off-line configuration. This system was assembled and used to test parameters thought important to photo-acoustic signal output. A standard modulation frequency was chosen based upon signal to noise data gained from experimentation. Experiments were conducted during the seventh quarter to locate and eliminate microwave leakage from the off-line fly ash monitor. A preliminary cold-flow on-line fly ash monitor has been designed to evaluate the flow characteristics of the fly ash. Upon successful demonstration of repeatable, regular flow of the fly ash, design and construction of the hot-flow on-line fly ash monitor will commence