Development of a Rapid Coal Analyzer Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Spectroscopy
• Materials Science

Background:

• Accurate coal quality determination is crucial for coal-fired power plants and producers.
• Traditional methods involve time-consuming sample preparation.
• Optimizing utilization efficiency and quality control necessitates rapid analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a rapid coal analyzer for pulverized coal quality analysis.
• To implement advanced data processing techniques for accurate results.
• To establish a reliable and efficient method for real-time coal assessment.

Main Methods:

• Development of a laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) apparatus.
• Design of a pulverized feeding machine for stable particle flow.
• Application of cluster analysis, artificial neural networks, and genetic algorithms for nonlinear regression.

Main Results:

• Achieved average absolute errors of 0.82% (ash), 0.85% (volatile matter), 0.96% (fixed carbon), and 0.48 MJ/kg (gross calorific value).
• Demonstrated high sample-to-sample repeatability with average standard deviations of 1.64%, 0.92%, 1.08%, and 0.86 MJ/kg.
• Validated the LIBS system's capability for reliable and accurate coal quality analysis.

Conclusions:

• The developed LIBS-based rapid coal analyzer provides accurate and repeatable measurements.
• The system effectively overcomes limitations of traditional coal analysis methods.
• This technology enhances efficiency and quality control in coal utilization.