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Combustion is the process of burning fuel in the presence of oxygen. The fuel, often natural gas, is a hydrocarbon, and air supplies oxygen. During this reaction, carbon dioxide and water form and give off heat. Thermal mass flow meters measure air and natural gas flow rates to provide optimum combustion.
Combustion Efficiency
Combustion efficiency depends on the air-to-fuel ratio. Incomplete combustion will occur if there is too little oxygen to react with all the carbon in the fuel. In this case, there is a reduction in combustion efficiency as unburned or partially burned fuel (carbon monoxide) is discharged.
Complete combustion occurs when there is sufficient oxygen to react with all the fuel. Perfect combustion occurs at stoichiometric conditions where all the fuel burns with all the available oxygen. In reality, complete combustion takes place when some excess oxygen is present. However, too much extra oxygen results in the excessive discharge of heat, which reduces combustion efficiency.
We create the most efficient operating conditions for complete combustion by measuring and controlling the fuel flow and air flow.
Measure Natural Gas
The flow of natural gas to a combustion source is easily measured using a thermal mass flow meter. This gas often flows in 1-inch to 6-inch pipe. Meters with In-line flow bodies can be used for pipe sizes up to four-inch, and meters with insertion style probes are suitable for one-inch lines and larger.
Measure Air Flow
The amount of air is roughly ten to twelve times the amount of natural gas consumed. Fans supply the air, and ductwork directs the air to the combustion burner. It is easy to install thermal mass flow meters with insertion probes through the wall of the ductwork. For large ductwork, consider multiple probes to account for variations in the flow profile.
Thermal Mass Flow Meters
Advantages of thermal mass flow meters for determining the air to fuel ratio are:
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- Direct mass flow measurement without pressure and temperature correction
- Virtually no pressure drop
- High rangeability
- High accuracy
- Very reliable
A way to reduce energy use in an industrial environment is to optimize the combustion efficiency of heating sources. Read more about how thermal mass flow meters assist in achieving combustion efficiency and energy management in the Sage Metering white paper, “Combustion Efficiency and Thermal Mass Flow Meters.”