Evaluation of the use of FTIR spectroscopy to analyze the concentration of species in exhaust gases

• Grant number: 21/15124-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 30, 2022
• End date: July 29, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - Thermal Engineering
• Principal Investigator: João Andrade de Carvalho Junior
• Grantee: João Vitor Marchi Pedro de Azevedo Silva
• Supervisor: Manuel Reddemann
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia (FEG). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Guaratinguetá. Guaratinguetá , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: RWTH Aachen University, Germany
• Associated to the scholarship: 20/08358-5 - Implementation of a Supervisory System with Lambda Wideband Sensor for Analysis of oxygen concentration in industrial combustion processes, BP.IC

Abstract

Vehicle emission regulations worldwide have limits for pollutants such as hydrocarbons, CO and NOx. Greenhouse gases and NH3 have also been the subject of some regulations regarding the industrial sector. In this context, an absolute necessity is a rapid and accurate method for analyzing exhaust gases. The research project carried out by the Scientific Initiation fellow in Brazil involves the construction of a low-cost system aiming at monitoring exhaust gases from industrial combustion processes, through the application of an oxygen sensor (also known as lambda sensor) widely used in the automotive industry. On the other hand, an instrument that can measure many gaseous compounds simultaneously is the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer. Currently, FTIR spectroscopy is being used in flame and catalyst combustion tests at RWTH Aachen/WSA. Thus, the Research Internship Abroad (BEPE) is seen as an unparalleled opportunity, proposing the application of an FTIR method, in order to measure the concentration of exhaust gas components resulting from flames and catalysts. In this respect, the results obtained will be of great interest not only for the lines of research currently underway at the German university, but also within the scope of the research project carried out by the Brazilian fellow, since it will be possible to evaluate a more advanced and accurate method of exhaust gas analysis, comparing it, in terms of accuracy and repeatability, with the affordable system developed within the research project in Brazil. This study will then enable the validation of this low-cost prototype, using a state-of-the-art technique as reference. (AU)