Combustion Analysis for Carbon and Sulfur

Effortlessly analyze a broad range of carbon and sulfur content with the CS844, designed for determining carbon and sulfur in primary steels, ores, finished metals, ceramics, and other inorganic materials using the combustion technique. Equipped with cutting-edge hardware and the innovative Cornerstone touch-screen software platform, it enhances laboratory efficiency while reducing the cost per analysis.

Features

  • Boost laboratory efficiency with advanced automation:
    • Choose from 10- or 60-position shuttle loaders or integrated robotic process loaders.
    • A high-efficiency autocleaner/vacuum system minimizes maintenance requirements.
    • Enjoy hassle-free operation with an automatic combustion tube service and exchange system.
    • Benefit from an ergonomic, operator-focused design featuring a boom-mounted touch-screen interface.
    • Enhanced IR cell design delivers dual-range detection with improved stability and extended lifespan.
    • The low-maintenance, high-efficiency furnace minimizes the need for additional accelerants and cleaning.

Applications

The 844 series is ideal for the following applications: primary steels, ores, finished metals, ceramics, alloys, and other inorganic materials.

Theory of Operation

The CS844 Carbon/Sulfur system offers precise, wide-range measurement of carbon and sulfur content in metals, ores, ceramics, and other inorganic materials. This advanced instrument features custom-designed touch-screen software for intuitive operation.

The process begins with a pre-weighed sample (~1 gram) combusted in a purified oxygen stream using RF induction heating. During combustion, carbon and sulfur in the sample are oxidized to carbon dioxide (CO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2). The oxygen carrier gas sweeps these oxidation products through:

  • A heated dust filter
  • A drying reagent
  • Two non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) cells for detecting sulfur as SO2

The gas flow continues to a heated catalyst, where carbon monoxide (CO) is converted to CO2 and SO2 to sulfur trioxide (SO3), which is subsequently removed by a filter. Carbon is detected as CO2 via a second pair of NDIR cells. To ensure measurement accuracy, a pressure controller maintains constant pressure within the NDIR cells, reducing interference from natural atmospheric pressure variations. An electronic flow sensor monitors carrier gas flow for diagnostic purposes.

NDIR cells operate on the principle that CO2 and SO2 uniquely absorb infrared (IR) energy at specific wavelengths. Short and long path-length IR cells are included to accommodate high- and low-range signals, with the software automatically selecting the appropriate cell for optimal measurement. Unknown sample concentrations are calculated based on calibration standards, with reference measurements of pure carrier gas taken before each analysis to minimize instrument drift.

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