Flue gas analysis
The mixtures of gases which comes out of the
furnace(combustion chamber) is called flue gas.
They are mostly the mixture of CO2, CO and O2 coming
out of the combustion chamber.
If flue gas contain large amount of CO, it indicates the
incomplete combustion or the less supply of oxygen.
To check the combustion efficiency of I.C engines, it is
essential to know the constituents of the flue gases
being exhausted.
The flue gas analysis is generally carried out by Orsat’s
apparatus.
Orsat gas analyzer
An Orsat gas analyzer is a piece of laboratory
equipment used to analyze a gas sample
(typically fossil fuel or flue gas) for its oxygen,
carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide content.
Orsat apparatus consists of a water-jacketed
measuring burette, connected in series to a
set of three absorption pipettes, each through
a stop-cock to absorb different gases.
Pipette 1: Contains KOH to absorb CO2
Pipette 2: Contains an alkaline solution of pyrogallic acid to absorb O2 and CO2
Pipette 3: Contains an acid solution of cuprous chloride to absorb CO, O2 and CO2.
Fig: Orsat Gas Analyzer
Continued……..
• The other end is provided with a three-way
stop-cock.
• the free end of which is further connected to a
U-tube packed with glass wool for avoiding the
incoming of any smoke particles, etc.
• The graduated burette is surrounded by a water
jacket to keep the temperature of the gas
constant during the experiment.
• The lower end of the burette is connected to a
water reservoir by means of long rubber tubing.
Working principle of Orsat analyzer:
Typical flue gas analyzers measure the quantity of carbon dioxide,
carbon monoxide and oxygen by a chemical absorption principle.
Based on the absorption factor of these three components their
respective absorbing solutions are selected in three different
pipette compartments.
Water vapour in flue gas removed by adsorption on solid calcium
chloride and then passed into three pipettes.
It is necessary that the flue gas is passed first through potassium
hydroxide pipette where CO2 is absorbed, then through alkaline
pyrogallic acid pipette where only O2 will be absorbed (because CO2
has already been removed)
and finally through cuprous chloride pipette, where only CO will
be absorbed (because CO2 and O2 has already been removed). At
last the remaining amount of flue gas is assumed to contain N2 only.
Continued……..
• At first the flue gas is passed into caustic potash (KOH)
solution pipette :
2KOH + CO2 → K2CO3 + H2O at ambient conditions.
• Then gas is led to alkaline pyrogallic acid containing
pipette to absorb oxygen :
2C6H3(OH)3 + 2KOH + O2 → 4H2O + 2C5H3OCOOK
(pyrogallol)
and a physical color change is observed.
• Finally the gas is led to cuprous chloride pipette to
absorb carbon monoxide :
2CuCl + 2CO → [CuCl(CO)]2.
Working
• The whole apparatus is thoroughly cleaned, stoppers greased
and then tested for air-tightness. The absorption pipettes are
filled with their respective solutions to level just below their
rubber connections.
• Their stop-cocks are then closed. The jacket and leveling
reservoir are filled with water.
• The three-way stop-cock is opened to the atmosphere and
reservoir is raised, till the burette is completely filled with
water and air is excluded from the burette.
• The three-way stop-cock is now connected to the flue gas
supply and the reservoir is lowered to draw in the flue gas in
the burette. The sample gas mixed with some air is present in
the apparatus. So the three-way stop-cock is opened to the
atmosphere, and the gas expelled out by raising the reservoir.
Continued…..
• This process of sucking and exhausting of gas is repeated 3-4
times, so as to expel the air from the capillary connecting
tubes, etc. Finally, gas is sucked in the burette and the volume
of the flue gas is adjusted to 100 ml at atmospheric pressure.
• For adjusting final volume, the three-way stop-cock is opened
to atmosphere and the reservoir is carefully raised till the level
of water in it is the same as in the burette which stands at 100
ml mark. The three-way stop-cock is then closed finally.
• The stopper of the absorption pipette containing caustic
potash solution is opened and all the gas is forced into this
pipette by raising the water reservoir.
• The gas is again sent to the burette by lowering the water
reservoir. This process is repeated several times to ensure
complete absorption of CO2 by KOH solution.
Continued…..
• The unabsorbed gas is finally taken back to the burette, till
the level of solution in the CO2 absorption pipette stands
at the constant mark and then, its stop-cock is closed.
• The levels of water in the burette and reservoir are
equalized and the volume of residual gas is noted. The
decrease in volume-gives the volume of CO2 in 100 ml of
the flue gas sample.
• The volumes of O2 and CO are similarly determined by
passing the remaining gas through alkaline pyrogallic acid
pipette and cuprous chloride pipette respectively.
• The gas remaining in burette after absorption of CO2, O2
and CO is taken as nitrogen.
Observations:
• Amount of flue gas sample = 100 ml
• Amount of CO2 = (100 – X) ml;
X = Final volume of flue gas taken out from the KOH pipette
• Amount of O2 = (X – Y) ml;
Y = Final volume of flue gas taken out from the alkaline
pyrogallic pipette
• Amount of CO = (Y – Z) ml;
Z = Final volume of flue gas taken out from the cuprous
chloride pipette
• Amount of N2 = Z ml
Precautions:
• The reagents in the absorption pipette 1, 2 and 3
should bring to the etched mark levels one-by-
one by operating the reservoir bottle and the
valve of each pipette. Then their respective
valves are closed.
• All the air in the reservoir bottle is expelled to
atmosphere by lifting the reservoir bottle and
opening the three- way to atmosphere.
• It is quite necessary to follow the order of
absorbing gases: CO2 first, O2 second and CO last.
