Abstract

One of the most challenging areas for coal combustion diagnostics is that of determining the composition of entrained coal, char, and mineral matter particles in the combustion zone. We are currently evaluating the potential of laser spark spectroscopy as a non-intrusive optical diagnostic for such studies. The technique uses a high power pulsed laser beam focused on a target to form a high temperature plasma which results in an intense emission spectrum. The spectral lines are then used for qualitative analysis of the sample. A brief review of various demonstration experiments is given by Schmieder (1).

© 1987 Optical Society of America