Carbon Calculation

The PGA 3510 determines the percent carbon in the sample gas using measured amounts of CO, CO₂, and CH₄ along with the Furnace Temperature.  The Furnace Temperature is either entered by the user or obtained automatically from the Furnace Temperature Controller via RS-485 communications. 

 

Additionally, the carbon percentage measured by the PGA 3510 can be used as a comparison to the carbon percentage measured by a furnace’s oxygen probe.  This is accomplished either by manually entering the Probe Temperature, Probe Millivolts, and the Probe CO Factor into the PGA 3510 or by obtaining the information automatically via RS-485 communications to the Furnace Carbon Controller.  Providing the probe information allows the PGA 3510 to suggest an adjustment for the probe CO Factor (or Process Factor) in order to keep the oxygen probe measuring properly.

 

 

Using infra-red analysis is considered a more accurate method for determining the percent carbon of a gas compared to using an oxygen probe alone.  The single point oxygen probe assumes a theoretical mixture of endothermic gas to infer the percent carbon whereas the gas analyzer will measure the exact composition of the process gas.  The percent carbon determined by the gas analyzer can then be used to adjust the carbon percentage determined by the oxygen probe.