Field measurements of flue gases from combustion of miscellaneous fuels using a low-resolution FTIR gas analyzer

Combustion flue gases of three different industrial boilers firing miscellaneous fuels were monitored for a two-week period. Nitric oxide (NO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), and total hydrocarbons (CxHy) were continuously measured using single-component-gas analyzers in parallel with a low-resolution Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) gas analyzer. Hydrogen chloride (HCl) was measured continuously using the FTIR analyzer and semi-continuously using a traditional liquid-absorption technique. Nitrous oxide (N2O), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and water vapor (H2O) were continuously measured using the FTIR analyzer only. Laboratory tests were conducted prior to the field measurements to assess the detection limits of the different measurement methods for each gas component. No significant differences were found between the results of the low-resolution FTIR analyzer and the single-component analyzers or the liquid absorption method.