Flue Gas Analysis As A Diagnostic Tool For Fired Process Heater Furnaces

Combustion flue gas analysis has been used by process heater operators for decades as a method of optimizing fuel/air ratio. By measuring the amount of excess oxygen and/or CO in the flue gases resulting from combustion, furnace operators can operate at optimum efficiency and lowest NO_x, and also generate the least amount of greenhouse gas.The theoretical ideal, or the stoichiometric point is where all fuel is reacted with available oxygen in the combustion air and no fuel or O₂ is left over.