CALCULATIONS IN

FUEL AND ENERGY

Sana Ahmad Minhas
sanaahmad0070@gmail.com
Estimation and Analysis of fuel
Analysis of Solid Fuel
A sample of finely ground coal of mass 0.9945g was placed in a crucible of
8.5506g in an oven, maintained at 375 K for 4.0 ks. The sample was then
removed, cooled in a desiccator and reweighted; the procedure being repeated
until a constant total mass of 9.5340g was attained. A second sample, of mass
1.0120g in a crucible of mass 8.5685g was heated with a lid over a Bunsen for
450 s. On cooling and reweighing, the total mass was 9.1921g. This sample was
then heated without a lid over a strong Bunsen flame until a constant total mass of
8.6255g was attained. Calculate the proximate analysis of the sample and express
the results on “as sampled” and “dry, ash free” bases.
Solution
VM= 100-(%coke+% moisture)
FC= (%coke-%ash)
Dry basis = 100- (% moisture+ %ash)
While as sampled is calculated on 100% basis
Answers
As sampled bases
Moisture : 1.11 %
Coke: 61.60%
Ash: 5.53%
Volatile matter: 37.29%
Fixed Carbon: 56.07%
Dry and ash free bases
Volatile matter: 39.9%
Fixed carbon: 60.1%
Estimation and Analysis of fuel
Analysis of Gaseous fuels
In an Osrat Analysis of a fuel gas, the volume of the sample was 50 𝑐𝑚3 at ambient
temperature and pressure and the following results were noted:
Volume remaining after absorption in potassium hydroxide solution= 48.9 𝑐𝑚3
Volume remaining after absorption in alkaline pyrogallol= 48.4 𝑐𝑚3
Volume remaining after absorption in acidified cuprous chloride= 42.2 𝑐𝑚3
Volume remaining after absorption in saturated bromine water= 41.8 𝑐𝑚3
10 𝑐𝑚3 of the remaining gas was then exploded with 40 𝑐𝑚3 air, after which the volume
of gas was 36.5 𝑐𝑚3 . This was reduced to 33.6 𝑐𝑚3 after absorption in potassium
hydroxide solution. Calculate the volumetric analysis of the fuel gas.
Solution
KOH absorbs CO2
Pyrogallol absorbs O2
Cuprous chloride absorbs CO
Bromine absorbs hydrocarbons
Equations for air explosion
𝐶𝐻4 + 2𝑂2 → 𝐶𝑂2 + 2𝐻2 𝑂
𝐻2 + 1 2 𝑂2 → 𝐻2 𝑂
First methane and hydrogen in 10cm3 then in 41.8 cm3 and at the end find the
percentage in 50%.
Answers
% 𝐶𝑂2 = 2.2 %
% 𝑂2 = 1 %
% CO = 12.4%
% 𝐶𝑛 𝐻2𝑛 = 0.8%

% 𝐶𝐻4 = 24.2%
% 𝐻2 = 42.6%
% 𝑁2 + errors =16.8%
Energy conversion and Efficiency
Energy conversion in a furnace
A gas furnace has an efficiency of 75%. How many BTU will it produce from 1000 BTU of
natural gas. What kind of energy is conversion is present in this process.
Energy conversion in a heat engine
Calculate the efficiency of a power plant if the efficiencies of the boiler, turbine
and generator are 88, 40 and 98%, respectively. Comment on the energy
conversions present in this process.
Answers
1. 750 BTU (thermal energy
Chemical Energy to Thermal Energy

2. 35%
Chemical Energy to Thermal Energy to Mechanical Energy to Electrical Energy
Calorific Value
A coal containing 5% hydrogen and 10% moisture as sampled, has a gross
calorific value of 33.5 MJ/kg on dry basis. Calculate the gross calorific value on
an “as sampled” basis and net calorific values on “dry” and “as sampled” basis.
Considering the Latent Heat of water vapour as 2.45 MJ/kg.
Answers
NCV on dry basis = 32.4 MJ/kg
GCV on as sampled basis = 30.2 MJ/kg
NCV on as sampled basis = 29.16 MJ/kg
Estimation of Calorific Value
A coal has the following analysis on as-sampled basis:
C : 80.4%, H: 5.0%, O: 4.3%, N:1.5%, S : 0.9%, Moisture: 2.2%, Ash : 5.7%, volatile
matter: 26.9%, Fixed carbon : 65.1%.
Estimate the gross calorific value of the sample from the results of both the
ultimate and proximate analyses on dry ash free basis.
Solution
Find the percentages on dry ash free basis
Correlations
Dulong Formula
𝐶𝑉 = 338.2𝐶 + 1442.8 𝐻 − 𝑂 8 + 94.2𝑆 kJ/kg
Grumell and Davies Formula
𝐶 0−𝑆
𝐶𝑉 = (15.22𝐻 + 937)( + 𝐻 − ) kJ/kg
3 8

Goutal Formula modified by Taylor and Patterson

𝐶𝑉 = 4.189(82𝐹𝐶 + 𝑎𝑉𝑀) kJ/kg
Answers
Analysis on dry-ash free basis
C : 87.2%, H: 5.4%, O: 4.7%, N: 1.6%, S : 0.97%, volatile matter: 29.2%, Fixed
carbon : 71.8%.
CV= 36554 kJ/kg and 34620 kJ/kg (from ultimate analysis)
CV= 36620 kJ/kg (from proximate analysis)
 Properties of Liquid Fuel
A diesel fuel has a density of 37 ͦAPI. Calculate the relative density at 288K and estimate the gross
calorific value of the fuel.

Solution

𝐶𝑉 = 51.916 − 8.792𝑑 2 𝑀𝐽𝑘𝑔−1 𝑈𝑆 𝑏𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑢 𝑜𝑓 𝑀𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑠

Answer
Density=d= 0.84
CV=45.73MJ/kg
Proximate Analysis Practice
2.499 g of coal sample was taken in a silica crucible and heated in oven maintained at 110
degree celcius for one hour . Considering that all the moisture content is eliminated. The weight
after drying was 2.368 g. The same sample was analyzed for volatile matter and weight obtained
was 1.75g the sample as further treated to get fixed carbon of 0.95g. Calculate the percentage of
moisture, volatile matter, ash and fixed carbon for this sample.

Answers
% Moisture= 5.2%
% VM= 25.53%
% Ash= 38%
%FC= 31.03%
Concept
Dry basis: When the effect of moisture on analytical data is completely
eliminated.
Dry ash free (d.a.f.): Effect of ash and moisture in the coal is eliminated
Dry mineral matter free (d.m.m.f.): For the high ash matter (>10%), the mineral
matter content. So in the high ash matter the results are reported on d.m.m.f.
basis instead of d.a.f. basis.
Mineral matter of coal = 1.1 times of the ash of the coal
Mineral matter contributes in volatile matter to the extent of 10% of ash
It has no effect on fixed carbon
Proximate Analysis Practice
A coal has following proximate analysis on air dried basis:
Moisture= 1.5%, Ash= 15.5%, Volatile Matter= 28%, Fixed Carbon= 55%
Calculate its ash % on dry basis and volatile matter on d.a.f. (dry ash free) and
d.m.m.f. (dry mineral matter free) basis.
Answers
% Ash (dry basis) = 15.7%
%VM (d.a.f. basis)= 33.7%
%VM (d.m.m.f. basis)= 32.4%