Mixed Potential Gas Sensor with Au,Pt-YSZ Electrode for Optimization of Wood Combustion Processes: Validation of a Signal Stabilization Concept By Repeated Electrochemical Treatments

摘要

Small scaled wood-log fueled furnaces used for heating of domestic households are widely used and well known to contribute considerably to air pollution and climate change by toxic emissions of un-/partly combusted exhaust gas components (CO/HC) as well as particulate matter (PM) loaded with organics. Effective reduction of the emissions of those wood-log fueled firing appliances can be achieved if advanced combustion air stream control concepts are applied. The control of the airstreams based on combustion temperature and residual oxygen partial pressure in the flue gas is the current state of art. However, it has been shown that combustion air stream control based on these two parameters is not sufficient for optimum control of the combustion process. Only when additionally the sensor signals representing CO/HC content in the exhaust gas are taken into account, the quality of combustion can be substantially improved leading to a reduction of toxic gas emissions of about 80% compared to the manual operation of the furnace.