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WELCOME!
Since 1984, David N. French Metallurgists has served as a consulting firm providing metallurgical analysis, expert testimony and educational services specializing in the power industry.
David N. French Metallurgists Inc. is proudly launching its own Fuels Testing Lab (DNFM Fuels Lab) to assess fuel characteristics leading to improved efficiency and reduced emissions. We have some of the latest analytical instruments to accurately measure critical fuel qualities.
 LECO TGA701 Thermogravimetric Analyzer | Thermogravimetric analysis determines material weight loss as a function of temperature in a controlled environment. This provides data such as moisture content, volatile matter, fixed carbon and ash content, all which are parameters defining quality of fuel. |
| A CHN analyzer uses a combustion train to decompose fuel paired with IR spectroscopy to determine the exact percent of carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen in a given sample. This determination can help improve combustion efficiency. NOx production can also be estimated based on the results. |  LECO Truspec CHN Analyzer |
 LECO AMA254 Mercury Analyzer | A mercury analyzer uses atomic absorption spectroscopy to assess trace mercury in solid or liquid samples by direct combustion in ppm (parts per million) or ppb (parts per billion). Monitoring the mercury content of fuel closely is crucial to staying MATS compliant |
| Ash fusion temperatures are a critical control parameter in predicting the performance of a specific fuel, evaluating the tendency of a fuel to slag, and controlling the melting behavior. An ash fusion furnace determines the ash fusibility temperatures (initial deformation temperature, softening temperature, hemispherical temperature and fluid temperature), using image recognition software. Knowing the slagging characteristics of fuel can assist with outage planning and ultimately prevent boiler tube failures. |  LECO AF700 |
 LECO AC500: Calorimeter | DNFM can provide calorific values, a key indicator of quality and value in solid and liquid materials through measurement of heat released during combustion, which is expressed in BTUs. Knowing expected heat output of fuels ultimately helps a boiler maintain peak efficiency. |
| A sulfur determinator is a furnace facilitating a pure oxygen environment where samples combust, allowing sulfur inherent to the fuel to form SO2. The evolved gases are then swept through the dedicated sulfur detection IR cell for measurement. Knowing the sulfur content in the fuel helps to maintain scrubbers at optimal efficiency. |  LECO SC432: Sulfur Determinator |
 TA Instruments Q50 | TA Instruments Q50 is a thermogravimetric analyzer. Its primary application is to determine sulfur adsorption of limestone, which is often used in flue gas scrubbers. The TGA capacity index (CI) is determined and compared using the sulfation gain obtained from the analysis. CI is defined by grams of sulfur adsorbed by one kilogram of limestone. This analysis provides an opportunity to determine the effectiveness of the scrubbers, so that clean air standards are met. |
| The scanning electron microscope (SEM) uses a convergent beam of high-energy electrons to generate different signals from the surface of the sample. An accelerated electron beam is decelerated when it interacts with the solid sample. Several signals including secondary electrons (SE), backscattered electrons (BSE) and X-rays (photons) are produced. X-rays are used for elemental analysis. An energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) detector is located in conjunction with the SEM for elemental analysis. |  ASPEX SIRIUS SEM |