Abstract A crucible has an upper end provided with an inlet for drops of water, and a bottom wall. An impact plate is arranged adjacent to but upwardly spaced from the bottom wall and so positioned that drops of water drip onto the impact plate and become fragmented into smaller droplets. A layer of a non-caking particulate material is provided on the bottom wall beneath the impact plate, so that the droplets fall onto the layer. A heating arrangement heats the region of the impact plate and of the layer, so that the droplets become vaporized and organic substances present in them become combusted and form CO2. The water vapor and the CO2 carried thereby are discharged to the exterior of the crucible for analysis of the CO2 content in a gas analyzer.
A combination as defined in claim 1; and further comprising a tubular baffle surroundinng said impact plate and being spaced from a circumferential wall of said crucible.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
55 words
A combination as defined in claim 1; and further comprising mounting means said crucible for positional adjustment so as to position a surface of said impact plate which faces upwardly toward said inlet, in a plane which is normal to the path traversed by the drops of water falling from said inlet onto said surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said material of said layer is a granular material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A combination as defined in claim 4, wherein said granular material is selected from the group composed of ceramics and quartz-glass.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said crucible is made from a thermally and chemically resistant material selected from the group composed of platinum, platinum alloys and ceramics.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein said impact plate is also made from a thermally and chemically resistant material selected from the group composed of platinum, platinum alloys and ceramics.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A combination as defined in claim 7, wherein said thermally and chemically resistant material is a ceramic material having an Al2O3 content of at least 95 percent.