1.

A flexible fuel vehicle, which receives special credits in complying with fuel economy standards, can
run on any mixture of ethanol (C2H5OH) and gasoline in the range of zero to 85% by volume ethanol. The
elemental composition of gasoline can be approximated by the fuel formula C8H16. The density and
heating value of gasoline are 6.152 lbm/gallon and 0.125 MMBtu/gallon; the density and heating value of
ethanol are 6.586 lbm/gallon and 0.076 MMBtu/gallon.
a) Determine the stoichiometric ( = 1) air/fuel ratio for (i) gasoline and (ii) a gasoline-ethanol mixture
with 85% by volume ethanol.
For gasoline, CxHy with x = 8 and y = 16, the stoichiometric oxygen requirement for one mole of fuel, A, is
x + y/4 = 8 + 16/4 = 12. The weight of one mole of fuel M= 8*12.0107 + 16*1.00794 = 112.21. From the
formula for the air/fuel ratio we find that, for gasoline, the stoichiometric ( = 1) air/fuel ratio is

Air 138.27A 138.27(1.0)(12) 𝐾𝑔 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑖𝑟

= = = 14.8
𝐾𝑔 𝑜𝑔 𝑓𝑢𝑒𝑙
Fuel M Fuel 112.21

2. A particular coal has the following ultimate analysis on a dry basis, percent by mass:

Component Percent by mass

Sulfur 0.6

Hydrogen 5.7

Carbon 79.2

Oxygen 10.0

Nitrogen 1.5

Ash 3.0

This coal is to be burned with 30% excess air. Calculate the air-fuel ratio on a mass basis.

Solution:

One approach to this problem is to write the combustion equation for each of the combustible elements
per 100 kg of fuel. The molar composition per 100 kg of fuel is found first.

Kmol S / 100 kg fuel = 0.6/32 = 0.02

Kmol H2 / 100 kg fuel = 5.7/2 = 2.85
Kmol C / 100 kg fuel=79.2/12=6.60
Kmol O2 / 100 kg fuel=10/32=0.3
Kmol N2 / 100 kg fuel=1.5/28=0.05
The combustion equations for the combustible elements are now written, which enables us to find the
theoretical oxygen required

8.04 kmol O2 required / 100 kg fuel

-0.31 kmol O2 in fuel / 100 kg fuel
7.73 kmol O2 from air / 100 kg fuel

[7.73+7.73(3.76)]28.97]
(A/F)TH=
100

(A/F)TH=10.63 kg air/kg fuel

(A/F)= 1.3x10.63\
(A/F)=13.82 kg air/ kg fuel

3.