The principle of operation of the flame photometer is simple. During the analysis, the fluid is sprayed with a non-shiny flame in the form of a fine mist, which is colored according to the characteristic emissions of the elements, for example, sodium (Na) 589 nm, potassium (K) 768 nm , Calcium (Ca) 622 nm and Lithium (Li) 671 nm.
A photodetector visualizing the flame through a particularly narrow band optical filter passing only through the wavelength centered on the characteristic emission of the chosen element observes the flame. The photodetector output is fed to electronic modules which provide digital readings of the concentration of the preferred element.
The system should be normalized to known solution concentrations for the elements of interest, before analyzing the unknown fluid sample. In a measurement setup, using a compressor, compressed air is supplied to an atomizer, due to an air current at the tip of an atomizer, into the mixing chamber, the sample solution is aspirated and enters the mixing chamber. . At controlled pressure, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is also used in the mixing chamber, here the atomized sample and gas move to the burner and ignite.
Light from the flame is emitted and composed by the optical lenses and sent through a selected filter in the flame photometer detector. Electronically processed detector output and sample solution results are displayed correctly.
