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Calorimetry
Definitions
CALORIFIC VALUE
The amount of energy which becomes available when 1kg or 1m3 of fuel is completely
burnt under specified conditions. Other names include specific energy and heating
value.
A sample of coal of mass 0.864g was burnt in a bomb calorimeter and the following details
were recorded:
Given that the specific heat capacity of water is 4.185kJ/kg.K, determine the calorific value of
the coal.
Lower Calorific Values
In which the mass of water formed is always given by 9 times the mass of hydrogen
(H2) in 1 kg of the fuel.
Example 9.2:
The calorific value of diesel fuel (C12H26) as dertermined by using a bomb calorimeter
was found to be 46 MJ/kg. Determine the LCV of the fuel. The latent heat of
condensed steam may be taken as 2440 KJ/kg.
Dulong’s Formulae
in which the symbols C, H2, O2 and S are the masses of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen
and sulphur contained in 1kg of the fuel, and the coefficients represent the higher
calorific values (in MJ/kg) of the respective constituents.
A boiler uses coal having an ultimate analysis of 88,7% carbon, 2,1% hydrogen, 2,4%
oxygen, 0,5% sulphur, and the remainder ash.
Given that the latent heat of the moisture formed by combustion is 2440KJ/kg,
estimate the LCV of the coal.
Calorific Values of Gaseous Fuels
This is generally referred to as the volumetric calorific value and is obtained using a
continuous flow calorimeter.
NB: the calorific value should be measured as standard temperature and pressure
(0oC and 101.3kPa)
Example 9.4:
The following results were recorded during the determination of the calorific value of a
gaseous fuel using a calorimeter:
Water circulated 2500g
Inlet temperature 14oC
Outlet temperature 28.3oC
Mass of condensed steam 9.6g
Volume of gas condensed 0.01m3
Gas pressure 104.85kPa
Gas temperature 170C
Determine the HCV and LCV of the gas in MJ/m3 measured at STP. Take the specific
heat capacity of water as 4.184KJ/kg.K, and the latent heat of the condensed steam
as 2440KJ/kg.