Temperature Measurement in WTE Boilers Using Suction Pyrometers

The temperature of the flue-gas in the post combustion zone of a waste to energy (WTE) plant has to be maintained within a fairly narrow range of values, the minimum of which is prescribed by the European Waste Directive 2000/76/CE, whereas the maximum value must be such as to ensure the preservatio...

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Main Authors: Fabio Rinaldi, Behzad Najafi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2013-11-01
Series:Sensors
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/13/11/15633
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author Fabio Rinaldi
Behzad Najafi
author_facet Fabio Rinaldi
Behzad Najafi
author_sort Fabio Rinaldi
collection DOAJ
description The temperature of the flue-gas in the post combustion zone of a waste to energy (WTE) plant has to be maintained within a fairly narrow range of values, the minimum of which is prescribed by the European Waste Directive 2000/76/CE, whereas the maximum value must be such as to ensure the preservation of the materials and the energy efficiency of the plant. A high degree of accuracy in measuring and controlling the aforementioned temperature is therefore required. In almost the totality of WTE plants this measurement process is carried out by using practical industrial thermometers, such as bare thermocouples and infrared radiation (IR) pyrometers, even if affected by different physical contributions which can make the gas temperature measurements incorrect. The objective of this paper is to analyze errors and uncertainties that can arise when using a bare thermocouple or an IR pyrometer in a WTE plant and to provide a method for the in situ calibration of these industrial sensors through the use of suction pyrometers. The paper describes principle of operation, design, and uncertainty contributions of suction pyrometers, it also provides the best estimation of the flue-gas temperature in the post combustion zone of a WTE plant and the estimation of its expanded uncertainty.
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spelling doaj.art-1285a049db794659952cc1aba04db7412022-12-22T03:10:34ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202013-11-011311156331565510.3390/s131115633Temperature Measurement in WTE Boilers Using Suction PyrometersFabio RinaldiBehzad NajafiThe temperature of the flue-gas in the post combustion zone of a waste to energy (WTE) plant has to be maintained within a fairly narrow range of values, the minimum of which is prescribed by the European Waste Directive 2000/76/CE, whereas the maximum value must be such as to ensure the preservation of the materials and the energy efficiency of the plant. A high degree of accuracy in measuring and controlling the aforementioned temperature is therefore required. In almost the totality of WTE plants this measurement process is carried out by using practical industrial thermometers, such as bare thermocouples and infrared radiation (IR) pyrometers, even if affected by different physical contributions which can make the gas temperature measurements incorrect. The objective of this paper is to analyze errors and uncertainties that can arise when using a bare thermocouple or an IR pyrometer in a WTE plant and to provide a method for the in situ calibration of these industrial sensors through the use of suction pyrometers. The paper describes principle of operation, design, and uncertainty contributions of suction pyrometers, it also provides the best estimation of the flue-gas temperature in the post combustion zone of a WTE plant and the estimation of its expanded uncertainty.http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/13/11/15633temperature measurementwaste-to-energy plantsuncertaintysuction pyrometers
spellingShingle Fabio Rinaldi
Behzad Najafi
Temperature Measurement in WTE Boilers Using Suction Pyrometers
Sensors
temperature measurement
waste-to-energy plants
uncertainty
suction pyrometers
title Temperature Measurement in WTE Boilers Using Suction Pyrometers
title_full Temperature Measurement in WTE Boilers Using Suction Pyrometers
title_fullStr Temperature Measurement in WTE Boilers Using Suction Pyrometers
title_full_unstemmed Temperature Measurement in WTE Boilers Using Suction Pyrometers
title_short Temperature Measurement in WTE Boilers Using Suction Pyrometers
title_sort temperature measurement in wte boilers using suction pyrometers
topic temperature measurement
waste-to-energy plants
uncertainty
suction pyrometers
url http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/13/11/15633
work_keys_str_mv AT fabiorinaldi temperaturemeasurementinwteboilersusingsuctionpyrometers
AT behzadnajafi temperaturemeasurementinwteboilersusingsuctionpyrometers