Fuels and Combustion

Recommended Books
1.
2.
3.

Fuels and Combustion; M.L. Smith & K.W. Stinson

Fuels and Fuel Technology ; W. Francis & M.C. Peters
Fuel Solid , Liquid and Gaseous; J.S.S. Brame &
J.G. King

4.
5.
6.
7.

Hydrocarbon Fuels; E.M. Goodger

Coal Conversion Processes; Stanley & Lee
Fuel Testing: Laboratory Methods in Fuel
Technology; G.W. Himus
Methods of Analysis of Fuels and Oils;
J.R. Campbell

Fuel
A substance

which produce heat

either by combustion or by nuclear

fission / fusion

Classification of Fuels
Fuels

can be classified as solid, liquid

and gaseous fuels.
Solid fuels
: wood, coal, charcoal
and coke
Liquid fuels
: petrol, kerosene,
diesel, alcohol etc
Gaseous fuels : methane, propane,
butane, hydrogen, coal gas, gobar gas
etc
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Classification of Fuels
Primary

Fuels: Naturally occuing e.g.

coal, wood, natural gas
Secondary Fuels: Which are derived
from primary fuels e.g. kerosene, coke etc
Naturally

occurring
Artificially prepared
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Combustion
Combustion

is the conversion of a
substance called a fuel into chemical
compounds known as products of
combustion by combination with an
oxidizer.
The combustion process is an exothermic
chemical reaction, i.e., a reaction that
releases energy ???
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Combustion
Combustion

or burning is a complex

sequence of exothermic chemical

reactions between a fuel (usually a
hydrocarbon) and an oxidant
accompanied by the production of heat
or both heat and light
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Combustion

Fuel + Oxidizer => Products of combustion + Energy

Fuel

?
Oxidizer ?
Products of Combustion ?
Incomplete Combustion ?
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Fundamental Definitions
Basic

Flame types

Premixed: Fuel and oxidizer are mixed first

and burned later
Non-premixed: Combustion and mixing
occur simultaneously
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Combustion
Air-Fuel

Ratio; A/F
Oxygen-Fuel Ratio; O/F
Stoichiometric or Theoretical A/F
Excess Air

% excess air = 100[(A/F)actual - (A/F)theo ]/(A/F)theo

120%

of theoretical air ?

Fuel- Rich flame: If there is an excess of fuel

Fuel - lean flame : if there is an excess of oxygen
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Combustion
1

kg of C needs ? kg of O2

kg of H2 needs ? Kg of O2

kg of Sulphur needs ? kg of O2

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Combustion
Problem:

A fuel contains by mass 88 % carbon, 8 %

H2, 1% S and 3% ash. Calculate the
stoichiometric air/fuel ratio.
Ans: ?

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Fundamental Definitions
Calorific value
Amount of heat librated by the combustion of unit
quantity of fuel. kcal/ kg , kcal / m3
Gross Calorific Value (G.C.V) or HCV
heating value measurement in which the product
water vapour is allowed to condense
Net Calorific Value (N.C.V) or LCV
heating value in which the water remains a vapor
and does not yield its heat of vaporization

HHV

= LHV + (mwater /mfuel)water

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Fundamental Definitions
Flash

Point
The lowest temperature at which a liquid fuel
gives enough vapours in air which produce a
momentary flash when exposed to a flame
Firepoint
The lowest temperature at which a liquid fuel
vapours in air produces a continuous flame
when exposed to a flame

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Fundamental Definitions
Density
Specific

gravity
Viscosity
Pour Point
Carbon Residue

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Fundamental Definitions
Theoretical Flame Temperature:

It is the temperature attained by the

products of combustion of fuel when
there is no loss of heat to the
surroundings
Flue Gas: It is the gaseous product of
combustion of fuel
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Coal
Origin

of Coal
Coal has been formed by the partial
decay of plant materials accumulated
million of years ago and further altered
by the action of heat and pressure
In situ Theory: coal occupies the same
site where the orignal palnts grew
Drift Theory: plants were uprooted and
drifted by rivers to get deposited
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Coal classification
Peat :
Lignite: soft coal and the youngest
sub-bituminous
Bituminous:
semi-bituminous:
Anthracite: hard and geologically the
oldest composed mainly of carbon

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Coal Analysis
Proximate analysis of coal
Determines only fixed carbon, volatile matter,
moisture and ash
Useful to find out heating value (GCV)
Simple analysis equipment

Ultimate analysis of coal

Determines all coal component elements: carbon,
hydrogen, oxygen, sulphur, etc
Useful for furnace design (e.g flame temperature,
flue duct design)
Laboratory analysis
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Proximate analysis

Moisture Content :
Moisture in coal must be transported,
handled and stored
Since it replaces combustible matter, it
decreases the heat content per kg of coal
Aids radiation heat transfer
1-2 gm 72 mesh coal at 105-110 C till
constant weight

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Proximate analysis

Volatile Matter:
Consist of CH4, hydrocarbons, H2 and CO,
and incombustible gases like CO2 and N2
Proportionately increases flame length, and
helps in easier ignition of coal
Sets minimum limit on the furnace height and
volume
72 mesh coal 900-950 C for 7 minutes
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Proximate analysis
Ash Content :

Ash is an impurity that will not burn

Reduces handling and burning capacity.

Increases handling costs.

Affects combustion efficiency and boiler

efficiency

Causes clinkering

1-2 gm 72 mesh 800 C (burned)

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Proximate analysis
Fixed carbon:
Solid fuel left in the furnace after
volatile matter is removed
consists mostly of carbon
may contains some H2, O2, S and N2

gives a rough estimate of heating value

of coal
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