Gas-potentiometric method with solid electrolyte oxygen sensors for the investigation of combustion.

Gas-potentiometric analysis using oxide-ion-conducting solid electrolytes as stabilized zirconia is a worthwhile method for the investigation of combustion processes. In the case of gas and oil flames specific parameters like the flame contour, the degree of burn-out and mixing can be determined and information about flame turbulence and reaction density can be gained from the temporal resolution of the sensor signal. Measurements carried out with solid electrolyte oxygen sensors in a fluidized bed show that combustion processes of solid fuels are also analyzable. This analysis results in fuel specific burn-out curves finally leading to burn-out times and to parameters of a macrokinetics of the combustion process as well as to ideas about the burn-out mechanism. From the resulting constants of the effective reaction rate a reactivity relative to bituminous coal coke can be given for any solid fuel.