Method and apparatus for detection, measurement and control of sulfur-trioxide and other condensables in flue gas

Abstract

In a method of determining amounts of condensable species present in a gas containing condensable species a probe is placed into a gas containing condensable species. The probe has a plurality of spaced apart contacts on an outer non-conductive surface. That surface is heated at a selected heating rate and then cooled at a selected cooling rate over a selected time period. During that time period current flow between the contacts and the temperature of the non-conductive surface is monitored over the selected time period. Peaks in a plot of the current flow over the selected time period and the temperature for the time corresponding to each peak are then correlated to the condensable species has a kinetic dew point at each identified temperature. The identified temperature for each identified species is compared to a predetermined correlation of dew point temperature and concentration for that species to determine the concentration of that condensable species present in the gas.