DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, IIT MADRAS

ME5105: Applied Thermodynamics

Tutorials 6 & 7 (Combustion & Chemical Equilibrium)

1. A town gas has the following volumetric analysis: 10% CO, 45% H2, 35% CH4, 4% C2H2,

2% O2, 2% N2 and 2% CO2. For the combustion of the above gas, determine the following:

(a) The minimum air required for the complete combustion in (i) m3/m3 Fuel (ii) kg/kg Fuel.

(b) Product constituents formed in kmol/kmol Fuel and the analysis of the dry flue gas when
the fuel is burned completely with 20% excess air.

(Ans: (a) Air_min: 5.023 m3/m3 F, 11.718 kg /kg F, (b) 0.55 kmol CO2, 4.78 kmol N2, 0.211
kmol O2)

2. (a) Write the stoichiometric combustion equation for the complete combustion of ethyl
alcohol (C2H5OH) in air and determine the AF ratio.

(b) Estimate the product constituents formed in kmol/kmol Fuel and the dry volumetric
composition of the exhaust gas for the combustion of ethyl alcohol in an internal
combustion engine at an equivalence ratio of 1.1 for each of the following assumptions:

(i) There is no "free" hydrogen and oxygen in the exhaust gas.

(ii) In the exhaust gas, no 2 = 0; n H 2 = 0.5 nCO

(Ans: (a) AF ratio_stoic = 8.95, (b) C02 = 1.46 kmol, CO = 0.54 kmol, H2O = 3 kmol, N2 =
10.27 kmol; gas analysis: (i) CO2 = 11.89%, CO = 4.4%, N2 = 83.7%; (ii) C02 = 1.64 kmol,
CO = 0.36 kmol, H2O = 2.82 kmol, H2 = 0.18, N2 = 10.27 kmol; gas analysis: (i) CO2 =
13.17%, CO = 2.89%, H2 = 1.45%, N2 = 82.48%)

3. The dry exhaust gas of a gasoline engine was analysed and the volumetric analysis is as
follows:

CO2 O2 CO CH2 N2

13.0% 2.2% 0.2% 0.1 Remainder

Assuming the fuel to be CXHY, determine the air-fuel ratio.

(Ans: X = 13.02, Y = 28.88; A/F ratio = 16.66)

4. Calculate the following for the complete combustion of hydrogen with oxygen at 25C and
100 kPa:

(a) The enthalpy of reaction in kJ/kmol F and kJ/kg F when the water formed is in liquid and
gas phases.

(b) The heat of reaction, for the above reactions, in kJ/kmol F and kJ/kg F.

(c) The higher and lower calorific values in kJ/kmol F and kJ/kg F.

(Ans: H = -241845 kJ/kmol (vap), -285855 kJ/kmol (liq); Heat of rxn = 241845 kJ/kmol
(vap), 285855 kJ/kmol (liq); Heat of rxn = 120922.5 kJ/kgF (vap), 142927.5 kJ/kgF (liq))

5. Butane (C4H10) burns with 20% excess air in a combustor and the inlet conditions for both

the streams are 25C and 100 kPa. If the products leave the combustor at 600 K, calculate
the heat transferred in kJ/kmol F and kJ/kg F. Assume complete combustion.

(Ans: Q = -2281244 kJ/kmol, -39331.8 kJ/kgF)

6. Methane gas (CH4) enters the combustion chamber of a gas turbine at 25C and air from

the compressor enters at 550 K. It is known that 99% of carbon burns to CO2 and the rest to
CO. What amount of excess air will be required if the temperature of the products is to be
limited to 1200 K?

(Ans: Excess air = 3.389 kmol/kmol F)

7. Calculate the adiabatic flame temperature for the steady flow burning of methane gas at
25oC with 100% excess air at 100C.

(Ans: Tad = 1537 K)

8. Consider the dissociation of CO2 at 298 K and 2000 K, at 1 bar pressure. For both cases

find the following.

(i) G

(ii) Equilibrium constant, Kp

(iii)The mole fractions of CO2, CO and O2 in the products

(iv) The mole fractions for a total pressure of 5 bar.

 (Ans: (i) G = 257265 kJ/kmol, 110462 kJ/kmol (ii) Kp = 0, 1.303x10-3 (iii) at 1 bar and 298K,
CO = 0; at 1 bar and 2000 K, CO2 = 0.9778, CO = 0.0148, O2 = 0.0074; at 5 bar and
2000K, (iv) at 5 bar and 2000K, CO2 = 0.9869, CO = 0.00875, O2 = 0.004356)

9. Calculate the equilibrium constant for the dissociation reaction H2 O  H2  1 2 O2 at 2000

K and 2500 K (1 bar pressure), using tables for free energy.

(Ans: at 2000 K, Kp = 0.0002866; at 2500 K, Kp = 0.005937)

10. One mole of methane is burnt with stoichiometric air at 1 bar and 2500 K. Find the mole
fractions of the final products, assuming dissociation of CO2.

(Ans: CO2 = 0.07038, CO = 0.02355, O2 = 0.01178, H2O = 0.18787, N2 = 0.7064)

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