How to Make the Most of a Combustibles Analyser

A combustibles analyzer measures the gas levels in an exhaust, providing insight into safe and efficient appliance operation. Whether used to meet compliance requirements, optimize equipment performance or simply ensure workplace safety, the right analyzer offers valuable information that can make all the difference.

The combustibles analyser is a portable electronic instrument, generally designed to be easily inserted into the flue or stack for direct measurements. Most models rely on either electrochemical or non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) gas sensors to detect the levels of combustion gases emitted from the stack and/or flue. The sensors convert the detected gas concentrations into an electronic signal that is interpreted by an on-board microprocessor and displayed on the display. Most combustibles analysers also include thermocouples to measure stack and draft temperatures, as well as oxygen sensors for combustion analysis.

Sampling Gas Samples: The Role of Gas Analyzer Sample Pumps

To make the most of a combustibles analyser, operators should use the instrument with the fuel type for which it is optimized. Most electronic analyzers, including TSI’s CA-CALC Combustion Analyzer, have pre-set fuel specifications already loaded into the instrument for convenient use. Those values may not match the specific fuel in use, however, so the user should always calibrate the analyzer using actual fuel specifications when possible.

Most of the important data available on a combustibles analyser is displayed on the display screen. The first, most obvious measurement is the percentage of oxygen present in the flue or stack gases. This is an indication of the combustion efficiency of the system, with higher oxygen concentrations indicating less efficient combustion and lower oxygen concentrations indicating a potentially dangerous situation. Another critical measurement is the carbon monoxide air free (COAF) value, which indicates the CO concentration measured without dilution. This value is typically compensated to reflect the CO concentration in a gas environment where excess air exists, since excessive air dilutes the as-measured concentration of CO.

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