BOMB CALORIMETER

AIM:

To find the calorific value of the given sample by using bomb calorimeter.

THEORY:

Bomb calorimeter is used to measure calorific value of solid and liquid fuels. Bomb calorimeter
measures higher heating value (HHV) of the fuel.

The bomb calorimeter consists of following parts.

1. Bomb or vessel in which the combustible charges are to be burned. The bomb consists of
bomb body, lid and the union nut. The bomb as such can easily withstand 30 atm. Of
pressure.
2. Crucible for holding the sample.
3. A bucket or container for holding the bomb in a measured quantity of water together with
stirring mechanism.
4. An insulating jacket to protect the bucket from transient thermal stresses during combustion
process.
5. A thermometer for measuring temperature changes in the bucket.

Cotton thread and nichrome wire are required to complete the connection between electrodes in
the bomb lid and the sample.

PROCEDURE:

1. Measure about 10 cm of nichrome wire and 8cm of cotton thread and measure their weight.
2. Take 2 litres of water and put in the bucket.
3. Weight accurately 1gm of sample and put in the crucible.
4. The crucible should be kept in the ring of the bomb.
5. Nichrome wire should be attached in the grooves provided in the electrodes and covered.
6. Cotton thread should be tied to the nichrome wire and the ends should touch the sample in
the crucible.
7. The lid should be joined to the bomb with the help of the union nut.
8. The bomb should be pressurised with oxygen upto 30 atmospheres very slowly.
9. The pressurised bomb should be kept in the bucket.
10. The ignition wires should be joined to the bomb.
11. Lid of the whole setup should be put in its place.
12. Put the stirrer and the thermometer in the bucket.
13. Switch the system on.
14. Wait for the temperature reading in the thermometer to become constant.
15. Reinitialize the temperature to zero.
16. Fire the bomb by pressing the button for more than 30 seconds.
17. Observe the temperature if the temperature does not rise repeat the procedure.
18. Observe the temperature rise till it reaches its maximum stable value.
19. Depressurise the bomb.
20. Calculate the amount of nichrome wire burnt.

CALCULATIONS

Let the rise in temperature be ΔT.

Weight of nichrome wire burnt be X

Weight of cotton thread burnt be Y

Water equivalent = 2540 cal/gm

Calorific value of cotton thread= 4.2 cal/mg

Calorific value of nichrome wire= 0.335 cal/mg

Calorific value of the sample (cal/gm) = (2540* ΔT- 0.335 X - 4.2 Y)/ (weight of sample taken)

PRECAUTIONS

1. Prior to the experiment the bomb, crucible and the thermometer should be cleaned
carefully.
2. While filling water it should be noted that water should not touch the igniting wires.
3. Pressurising the bomb should be done carefully the pressure should not be allowed to
exceed 40 atm.
4. The thermometer and stirrer should be carefully put in the bucket so that stirrer does not
touch the bomb.
5. The digital thermometer should be reinitialized when the temperature in the bucket
becomes constant.
 VAPOUR PRESSURE BY REID METHOD
AIM

To determine the Reid vapour pressure of the given sample by Reid vapour apparatus.

THEORY

Reid vapour pressure is the resultant total pressure reading, corrected for measuring error, of a
specific empirical test method (test method D323). This test method is used to determine the
vapour pressure at 37.8 ˚C with initial boiling point above 0˚C. The Reid vapour pressure (RVP)
differs slightly from the true vapour pressure (TVP) of a liquid due to small sample vaporization
and the presence of water vapour and air in the confined space of the test equipment. That is,
the RVP is the absolute vapour pressure and the TVP is the partial vapour pressure.

The apparatus consist of a sample holder, gas chamber, pressure gauge, water bath, coils

PROCEDURE:

1. Put the hydrocarbon sample in the sample holder upto brim, avoid spilling of the sample.
2. Screw the sample holder with the gas chamber.
3. Close the valve near pressure gauge and sample holder valve.
4. Open the valve between sample holder and gas chamber.
5. Change the water in the water bath.
6. Put the apparatus in the water bath.
7. Switch on the electrical coil.
8. Observe the rise in vapour pressure with the temperature.
9. Plot a graph between vapour pressure and temperature.

PRECAUTIONS

1. Valves should be closely shut to avoid leakage.

2. The apparatus should be kept in the water bath carefully so as to avoid unbalancing.
3. Changing water of the water bath should be done carefully.