METHOD OF BURNING COMBUSTIBLE FLUIDS FOR FURTHER ANALYSIS

摘要

A method of and apparatus for determining the concentration of sulfur atoms in a plurality of the same or different combustible molecules in a fluid by burning a measured quantity of the fluid and analyzing the combustion products of said measured quantity of the fluid by the use of at least one equipment of the group including, but not limited to, a coulometric titrator and a photometer. It is practically impossible to detect, for example, COS and CS2 in natural gas by the use of a coulometric titrator. However, by burning the natural gas, each sulfur atom in the COS and CS2 combines with two oxygen atoms to form SO2, the concentration of which can be measured with a coulometric titrator. This is important for a number of reasons. For example, it is important to know the sulfur atom concentration in natural gas or liquified petroleum gas used in hydrogen production. Information obtained by monitoring the sulfur atom concentration enables operating personnel to take steps to increase efficiency and to prevent expensive catalyst damage or decomposition in such hydrogen production. The ecological advantages of monitoring the sulfur atom concentration in natural or other gas are self-evident.