Characterization of gaseous emission sources by FT-IR emission spectrometry

FT-IR emission spectrometry is used to detect the thermal radiation of warm exhausts, yielding in one measurement all information about the compounds present. Software units for the spectra retrieval has been developed, based on radiative transfer line-by-line calculations, a multi-layer plume model, and least-squares fit procedures. Measurements were performed with the mobile commercial K300 spectrometer (MCT- or InSb-detector). Temperature and concentrations of CO, CO2, N2O, NO, HCI, SO2 and H2O in smoke stack plumes from thermal power plants and municipal incinerators, of CO2, H2O, CO and CH4 from flares, and of CO, CO2, NO and H2O in exhausts of aircraft engines were determined.