How Does a Combustion Analyzer Work?

How Does a Combustion Analyzer Work

Combustion takes place when fuel reacts with the oxygen in the air to produce heat.

Combustion efficiency is very essential to be measured in a regular fashion in a boiler-based industrial system. It indicates how well the fuel burns in a combustion chamber.

But it cannot be measured directly. A digital analyzer is applied to measure the temperature and oxygen sensor data and a series of specific equations to arrive at efficiency readings.

Combustion analyzers are the digital instrument to measure the gas contents to calculate and monitor the combustion efficiency of fuel-burning equipment.

This article will let you know all about how does a combustion analyzer work.

What is Combustion Analyzer?

Combustion analyzers, also known as boiler combustion analyzer are designed to calculate the efficiency of all types of boilers, heaters, furnaces, kilns, and engines.

Previously, combustion analyzers were very large in size and equipped with analog displays, typically with mechanical components and a dial with a needle pointer.

On the other hand, modern combustion analyzers are handheld products usually made of plastic. They are small in size, lightweight, and very easy to use with digital displays.

What to Measure?

Combustion analyzer measure monitor the efficiency of your heating systems so that you could improve it in a certain measure. The most commonly examined parameters include –

  • Combustion Efficiency

  • Stack Temperature

  • Inlet Temperature

  • Flue Pressure

  • Draft or Differential Pressure

  • Excess Air

  • Dew Point

  • Oxygen (O2)

  • Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

Components of a Combustion Analyzer

The major components of a combustion analyzer are sensors, power supplies, purge pumps, gas probes, field-replaceable thermocouples, communications capabilities, and built-in diagnostics.

Some high-end combustion analyzers are with microprocessors, hydrophobic filters, thermal printers, and software installed.

Applications of Combustion Analyzer

Combustion analyzers can be used to –

  • Maximize the efficiency of boilers, heaters, or furnaces.

  • Improve fuel efficiency.

  • Reduce environmental pollution.

  • Ensure workers’ safety and protection.

  • Improve the air quality inside the combustion chamber.

Types of Combustion Analyzer

There are three types of combustion analyzers available in the market.

  • Manual Gas Measurements

  • Portable Electronic Instruments

  • Continuous Emission Monitors

How does a combustion analyzer work?

A combustion analyzer usually measures the content of various gases produced in a heating system. There are particular steps involved in this measuring process.

If we understand these steps very clearly, we will gain a better idea about how combustion analyzer works.

  1. Combustion analyzers usually are battery operated. A rechargeable battery is equipped in every analyzer currently available in the market.

  1. Input the correct fuel or gas code so that the analyzer could determine in which environment it is working.

  1. There is a gas probe, also known as the sampling probe that connects the core processing unit through a cable. The sensor in the gas probe measures the necessary data for you.

  1. After inserting the sampling probe into the stack for the combustion reading, the sensors sense the different particles and sends through the sample line for the gas.

  2. The core unit then receives the data, interprets them, makes them human-readable and shows them on the digital display.

Sampling Probe or Gas Probe

A sampling probe is one kind of gas detector. It detects the presence of gases in the examined area. A sensor, known as a thermocouple, is equipped in the probe so that gases can be detected.

One end of the sampling probe connects the core unit of the combustion analyzer. The other part, popularly known as probe shaft can be inserted into the stack or boiler to measure the reading.

Comprehending the Display Reading of a Combustion Analyzer

A digital screen shows the measured data on the display of the combustion analyzer.

After the measurement, the device compares the field data with the standard value set on it to determine whether the combustion efficiency and other gas readings are acceptable or not.

Standard Combustion Efficiency

You can summarize the typical combustion process efficiency as

  • home fireplace: 10 – 40 %

  • space heater: 50 – 80 %

  • oil burner heating system: 70 – 85 %

  • gas powered boiler: 75 – 85 %

  • high-efficiency gas or oil condensing furnace: 85 – 95 %

Hack the Combustion Analyzer!

Combustion analysis and its instruments are not easy to understand. It is a vast area. You need specific technical guidance to learn about it.

Thankfully, life is now a bit easier with digital combustion analyzers. They are the most popular and widely used analysis tool all over the world.

But as a user, you often need to know how does a combustion analyzer work so that we can use it properly.