Energy Systems I (ME301A)

Homework problem set 1

Combustion
Due date: Friday, November 6 2020

1. In an analysis of the products of combustion of isooctane (C8H18), it is found that the exhaust
gas mixture contains 5% of CO2 (by volume) and 3% of CO (by volume). Assume that all the
carbon in the fuel is converted to CO2 and CO, while all the hydrogen in the fuel is converted
to water. Assuming lean combustion, find the equivalence ratio of the air-fuel mixture.

2. Determine the enthalpy of formation of gaseous ethane given its HHV = 51,901 kJ/kg at 298
K.

3. 2.40, S. Turns, ‘An Introduction to Combustion’

 For part D, assume that OH is produced by the following dissociation reaction:
H2 O + (1/2)O2 ⇌ 2OH

4. Reaction enthalpies of the following reactions are provided at the standard state:

2C8 H18 (𝑙) + 25O2 (𝑔) → 16CO2 (𝑔) + 18H18 O(𝑙) ∆𝐻0 = −10,942 kJ

2CO(𝑔) + O2 (𝑔) → 2CO2 (𝑔) ∆𝐻 0 = −566 kJ

If the combustion mixture is too rich, octane may burn to carbon monoxide. Determine the
enthalpy of reaction at the standard state for the incomplete combustion of liquid octane to
carbon monoxide gas and liquid water from the standard reaction enthalpies for the
combustions of octane and carbon monoxide given above.