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Quantitative imaging of KOH vapor in combustion environments using 266 nm laser-induced photofragmentation fluorescence

Weng, Wubin LU ; Aldén, Marcus LU and Li, Zhongshan LU (2022) In Combustion and Flame 235.
Abstract

In biomass thermal conversion processes, the release of potassium in high temperature environments crucially influences the operating efficiency and safety. The dominant potassium species can be potassium hydroxide (KOH) and/or potassium chloride (KCl). We report a species-specified quantitative measurement of potassium hydroxide (KOH) in combustion environments using laser-induced photofragmentation fluorescence (LIPF). Ultraviolet (UV) light sources with different wavelengths (193, 213 and 266 nm) were investigated to select a proper source ensuring that the excited potassium atoms in the 42P state could be only generated from the KOH molecules, not another major potassium compound, potassium chloride (KCl), and emit... (More)

In biomass thermal conversion processes, the release of potassium in high temperature environments crucially influences the operating efficiency and safety. The dominant potassium species can be potassium hydroxide (KOH) and/or potassium chloride (KCl). We report a species-specified quantitative measurement of potassium hydroxide (KOH) in combustion environments using laser-induced photofragmentation fluorescence (LIPF). Ultraviolet (UV) light sources with different wavelengths (193, 213 and 266 nm) were investigated to select a proper source ensuring that the excited potassium atoms in the 42P state could be only generated from the KOH molecules, not another major potassium compound, potassium chloride (KCl), and emit fluorescence at 766/769 nm after the photodissociation. After direct comparison, the fourth-harmonic of Nd:YAG laser at 266 nm was found to be the most proper light source. The fluorescence signal was strongly influenced by temperature as KOH molecules at thermally populated excited vibrational levels were needed to produce excited potassium atoms after the 266 nm photolysis. After the calibration using broadband UV absorption spectroscopy, the detection limit of the LIPF planar imaging system was determined to be about 3 ppm at 1750 K under a harsh condition, where about 80% of the fluorescence was re-absorbed by the potassium atoms present in the background gas. The technique was applied to quantitatively measure KOH concentration in the hot flue gasses provided by potassium carbonate seeded flames with varying equivalence ratios, and it was also used to visualize the distribution of KOH vapor above a piece of burning wood char.

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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Biomass combustion/gasification, High temperature environment, Laser-induced photofragmentation fluorescence, Potassium hydroxide, Quantitative alkali detection, Uv laser spectroscopy
in
Combustion and Flame
volume
235
article number
111713
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:85114695619
ISSN
0010-2180
DOI
10.1016/j.combustflame.2021.111713
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2021
id
c6b13720-8068-4a47-8e5c-9b5684b2ef8a
date added to LUP
2021-10-13 13:45:08
date last changed
2022-06-03 16:24:35
@article{c6b13720-8068-4a47-8e5c-9b5684b2ef8a,
  abstract     = {{<p>In biomass thermal conversion processes, the release of potassium in high temperature environments crucially influences the operating efficiency and safety. The dominant potassium species can be potassium hydroxide (KOH) and/or potassium chloride (KCl). We report a species-specified quantitative measurement of potassium hydroxide (KOH) in combustion environments using laser-induced photofragmentation fluorescence (LIPF). Ultraviolet (UV) light sources with different wavelengths (193, 213 and 266 nm) were investigated to select a proper source ensuring that the excited potassium atoms in the 4<sup>2</sup>P state could be only generated from the KOH molecules, not another major potassium compound, potassium chloride (KCl), and emit fluorescence at 766/769 nm after the photodissociation. After direct comparison, the fourth-harmonic of Nd:YAG laser at 266 nm was found to be the most proper light source. The fluorescence signal was strongly influenced by temperature as KOH molecules at thermally populated excited vibrational levels were needed to produce excited potassium atoms after the 266 nm photolysis. After the calibration using broadband UV absorption spectroscopy, the detection limit of the LIPF planar imaging system was determined to be about 3 ppm at 1750 K under a harsh condition, where about 80% of the fluorescence was re-absorbed by the potassium atoms present in the background gas. The technique was applied to quantitatively measure KOH concentration in the hot flue gasses provided by potassium carbonate seeded flames with varying equivalence ratios, and it was also used to visualize the distribution of KOH vapor above a piece of burning wood char.</p>}},
  author       = {{Weng, Wubin and Aldén, Marcus and Li, Zhongshan}},
  issn         = {{0010-2180}},
  keywords     = {{Biomass combustion/gasification; High temperature environment; Laser-induced photofragmentation fluorescence; Potassium hydroxide; Quantitative alkali detection; Uv laser spectroscopy}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Combustion and Flame}},
  title        = {{Quantitative imaging of KOH vapor in combustion environments using 266 nm laser-induced photofragmentation fluorescence}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/119436889/Weng_CnF_235_2022_111713.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.combustflame.2021.111713}},
  volume       = {{235}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}