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Fuel
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84 CHAPTER 7. INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY:FUEL (PREPARED BY S P MAITY)
7.3 Coal
Coal is a highly carbonaceous matter that has been formed as a result of alternation of plants
under certain favorable conditions. It is chiefly composed of C,H,N and O besides non com-
bustible inorganic matter. On the basis of degree of alteration (coalification) various type of coal
are recognized.
Wood(%C 50)→ Peat(%C 57)→ Lignite(%C 67)→ Bituminous(%C 83)→ Anthracite(%C
93.5)
Proximate analysis:
It involves the determination of following
1. Moisture content: A known amount (say W1 gm) of finely powdered air dried coal sample
is weighed in a crucible and heated in an electrical hot-air-oven at 105o − 110o C for 1 hour
and then taken out, cooled in a desiccator and weighed(say W2 gm).The loss in weight is a
measure of the moisture content of coal. The loss in weight is expressed in percentage as
W1 − W2
% of moisture = × 100 (7.1)
W1
2. Volatile matter contents: Coal may contain combustible gases like H2 , CO, CH4 or
non combustible gases like CO2 and N2 . Volatile matter does not include moisture of coal.
For determination of volatile matter contents in coal, a known amount of moisture free coal
is taken in a silica crucible covered with a lid and then heated at 950 ± 20o C for about
5 − 10 minutes in a muffle furnace. The crucible is then taken out and cooled first in air,
then inside a desiccator and weighed again.Then
loss in weight due to removal of volatile matter
% of volatile matter = × 100 (7.2)
Weight of coal taken
7.3. COAL 85
*** Coal sample with high % of volatile matter burns with a long flame, high smoke. It
reduces calorific value.
3. Ash content: For determination of ash content, a measured amount of air dried coal is
taken in a open crucible. It is then heated at 700 − 750o C for about half an hour in a muffle
furnace. The solid residue (ash) is cooled and weighed.
4. Fixed carbon:The % of fixed carbon can be obtained by subtracting the total percentage
of moisture contents, volatile matter contents and ash contents from 100.
Ultimate analysis:
It involves the determination of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulphur, oxygen and ash content.
2. Nitrogen:
Nitrogen is determined by the Kjeldahl method. A known amount of coal is heated with
conc H2 SO4 along with K2 SO4 as catalyst in a long-necked flask (kjeldahl’s flask). The
nitrogen is converted to (NH4 )2 SO4 and the solution becomes clear.
Now the solution is treated with an excess of NaOH for complete conversion of (N H4 )2 SO4
to ammonia.
2N aOH
(N H4 )2 SO4 −−−−−→ N a2 SO4 + 2N H3 ↑ +2H2 O (7.7)
The ammonia thus liberated is distilled over and absorbed in a known volume (V1 ) of
standard H2 SO4 solution (say N/10).
The unused acid is then determined by titrating with a standard NaOH solution (N/10),
from which the percentage of nitrogen is calculated. If V2 be the volume of NaOH (N/10)
86 CHAPTER 7. INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY:FUEL (PREPARED BY S P MAITY)
7.5 Petroleum
Petroleum is a dark greenish viscous oil found in the earth crust. It consists of a mixture of
paraffinic, olefinic and aromatic hydrocarbon with small quantities of compounds containing
oxygen, sulphur and nitrogen.
7.6. KNOCKING 87
3. Kerosine oil: This fraction is obtained between 180o C to 250o C. It is generally a mixture
of C10 to C16 hydrocarbons. Its calorific value is about 11100 kcal/kg.
4. Diesel oil: This fraction is obtained between 250o C to 320o C. It is generally a mixture of
C15 to C18 hydrocarbons.Its calorific value is about 11000 kcal/kg.
7.6 Knocking
In an internal combustion engine when the rate of oxidation becomes so high that the last portion
of the fuel-air mixture gets ignited instantaneously, producing an explosive violence known as
knocking. a good quality gasoline should resist knocking. The knocking order of different
hydrocarbon are
Straight chain paraffin > branched chain paraffin > olefins > cyclo paraffins > aromatics.
88 CHAPTER 7. INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY:FUEL (PREPARED BY S P MAITY)
• Octane number: The resistance offered by gasoline to knocking can not be defined in
absolute terms. It has been found that n-heptane knocks very badly and hence its anti-
knock value has been given ZERO. On the other hand iso-octane gives very little knocking,
so its anti-knock value is given as 100.
Octane number of a gasoline is equal to the percentage by volume of iso-octane in a mixture
of iso-octane and n-heptane having same knocking characteristics as the sample being
tested., under the same set conditions. Greater the octane number, greater is the anti-
knock property of the fuel.
“Octane number 80” means the fuel has the same knocking characteristics as the mixture
of 80 : 20 iso-octane and n-heptane.
• Anti-knock agents: The octane number can be increased by adding certain additives
like tetra ethyl lead (TEL) Pb(Et)4 known as anti-knock agents. Under combustion, TEL
produces Pb and PbO. These particles act as free radical chain inhibitor as they arrest the
propagation of the explosive chain reaction responsible for knocking.But it causes atmo-
spheric pollution as well as reduces engine deficiency. So instead of using TEL nowadays
unleaded petrol where (i) methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) which supplies oxygen
from the ether group for combustion of petrol thus reducing the formation of peroxy com-
pounds, is used,(ii) secondly, reforming i.e. increasing the contents of molecules having
branched chain hydrocarbon like iso-octane, iso-pentane and aromatic hydrocarbon(ethyl
benzene, isopropyl benzene).
• Cetane number: Cetane number of a diesel oil may be defined as the percentage of
cetane (n-hexadecane) in a mixture of cetane and α-methyl napthalene, which will have the
identical ignition characteristics as the fuel under test, under the same set of conditions. It
measures the ease with which the fuel (diesel fuel) will ignite under compression. So higher
the cetane number better is the ignition property of the fuel. The order with decreasing
cetane number is as follows
n-alkanes > napthalene > alkenes > branched alkanes > aromatics
The combustion of fuel in a diesel engine is not instantaneous but there is some lag. The
interval between the start of fuel injection and its ignition is called ignition delay or
induction lag. Cetane has very short ignition delay compared to any diesel fuel whereas
α-methyl napthalene has a longer ignition delay.
In order to raise the bed to 1000o C the steam supply is temporarily cut off and air is blown in,
when the following exothermic reactions occur
In order to enhance the calorific value of water gas, it is carburetted by adding gaseous hydrocar-
bons. This mixture of water gas and gaseous hydrocarbons is called carburetted water gas.
It’s composition is H2 (35%), CO(25%), hydrocarbon (35%), N2 and CO2 (5%). This so-called
carburetted water gas has calorific value about 4500 kcal/m3 . It is mainly used for heating and
illumination purpose.
(ii) Reduction:
C + CO2 → 2CO
C + H2 O → CO + H2
C + 2H2 O → CO2 + 2H2
90 CHAPTER 7. INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY:FUEL (PREPARED BY S P MAITY)
CH3OCOR3
H2C OCOR3 H2C OH
bio-diesel
glycerin
The reduction process is endothermic. Such reactions are allowed to take place deliberately. It
is mainly used as (i) reducing agent in metallurgical process (ii) fuel for open hearth furnaces,
muffle furnace, coke oven plants, etc.
7.12 Bio-diesel
The alternative fuel for diesel engines which are made from vegetable oil or animal fat is known as
bio-diesel. Chemically, bio-diesel molecules are monoalkyl esters produced usually from triglyc-
eride esters. It is prepared through trans-esterification reaction between monohydroxy alcohol
(methanol, ethanol) and triglyceride in presence of catalyst (KOH, NaOH etc.).
7.14 Biogas
It is a methane rich flammable gas that results from the controlled or uncontrolled anaerobic
decomposition of organic waste material.