UNIT

INTRODUCTION TO COMBUSTION
1
LESSONS COVERED

1.1 Application of Combustion

1.2 Combustion Definition
1.3 Components of Combustion
1.4 Stages of Combustion

DURATION: 3 hours

INTRODUCTION

Combustion is the process of releasing the stored energy in a material. We

utilize combustion every day through cooking our food. The fire that aids us in
releasing the flavors in our food is the output of combustion; where the fuel, the
liquefied petroleum gas or wood for some, comes in contact with a spark of light, and
the fire is created. Flame is one indication that combustion occurs and cooking is
only one application.

Combustion is a science and we can break it down by analyzing the fuel

composition, the components needed to create combustion to efficiently release the
thermal energy of the fuel, and produce electricity or power a car. The properties,
principles, and laws that govern combustion will be discussed in this chapter, but let
us start by discussing the importance of understanding the combustion, why
engineers need to study combustion and its effect on our lives.

OBJECTIVES/COMPETENCIES

At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:

1. Explain comprehensively the concept of combustion

2. Assess the importance of the study of combustion in our daily life

LESSON 1.1: APPLICATION OF COMBUSTION

We are aware that we consume energy in our daily life. We use vehicles for
transportation, charge our gadgets with electricity, and cook food with the use
of a stove or oven. The appliances we have, utensils, clothing that we wear
are all manufactured by some companies that utilize energy in their
production.

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 Based on Figure 1.1, the country’s electricity consumption increases annually
especially in the sectors of industry, residential, and commercial. This data
can be interpreted that the country developed through the years, different
industries emerge to satisfy the need of the increasing population as well. This
can also be the case of interpreting the increase in our consumption of oil, as
shown in Figure 1.2. Vehicles have been an essential part of our life that it
also translates to our need for oil.
3000
in Thousand tons of oil equivalent (KTOE)

2500

2000
Industry
Transport
1500
Residential

1000 Commercial
AFF
500

Figure 1.1 Electricity Consumption by sector in the Philippines (DOE)

14000
in Thousand Tons of oil equivalent (KTOE)

12000

10000

8000 Industry
Transport
6000 Residential
Commercial
4000
AFF
2000

Figure 1.2 Oil consumption by sector in the Philippines (DOE)

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 40000

in Thousand Tons of Oil equivalent

35000

30000

25000

(KTOE)
20000 Total Coal
15000 Total Oil

10000

5000

1992

2014
1990

1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012

2016
2018
Figure 1.3 Fossil Fuel Consumption in the Philippines (DOE)

The electricity that we consume comes from something and our study of
thermodynamics; the electrical energy is a conversion of thermal energy. The
thermal energy fuel is released through combustion and is converted to
mechanical energy, by mechanical components such as shafts than to
electrical energy with the aid of an electrical generator. That is the common
conversion process of energy from fuel to electricity. Although there is a
positive output in combustion, there is also a negative output to combustion,
and that is depleting resources and emission.

Figure 1.3 shows the country’s fuel consumption annually. The amount we
consume cannot be renewed quickly, because it takes millions of years to
create fossil fuel. As of today, there is no other way of creating fossil fuel but
with the traditional method, time, and pressure of decaying organic matter.
With the current trend of the global consumption of fossil fuel, our resources
could only last for about 100 years, as shown in Figure 1.4. From a
sustainability standpoint, we need to find alternative materials to combust for
the future generation.

Another by-product of combustion is the emissions, specifically greenhouse

gas emissions (GHG). Greenhouse gas traps the heat in the atmosphere,
affecting global warming. When fuel is burned, it releases carbon dioxide,
water vapor, and other elements. Carbon dioxide is a well-known GHG.
Although it is naturally occurring and is removed from the atmosphere through
the absorption of plants, the amount we are generating is higher than the
amount the plants consume. The remaining stays in the atmosphere and it
stays there for years.

From Figure 1.5, 52% of our GHG emission comes from the electricity
generation sector, where the burning of coal and oil are being practiced and
28% from the transport sector. Although we are slowly incorporating
renewable resources such as hydro, solar, and wind in the mix, it is evident

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that we are reliant on the conventional method of electricity generation and
petroleum products.

With the study of combustion, we can understand the components of

combustion and look for alternatives for fuel, combustion methods. Also,
knowing combustion, it can lead to study and researches on maximizing the
potential of the conventional plants, upgrading their system to increase its
efficiency and lessen its emissions during operation.

Figure 1.4 Future energy reserves for fossil fuel (Ecotricity)

GHG Emission by Sector

Industry Transport Electricity Generation Others

9% 11%

28%

52%

Figure 1.5 GHG emissions as of 2018 in the Philippines, by Sector (Energy)

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LESSON 1.2: COMBUSTION DEFINITION

Combustion is defined as the conversion of a substance called a fuel into

chemical compounds known as products of combustion by combination with
an oxidizer. This definition is described by the equation:

This is a chemical equation, thus combustion is a chemical reaction,

specifically an exothermic type, i.e, a reaction that releases energy as it
occurs. The reactants are the fuel and the oxidizer and the products are on
the right side of the equation, which are the products of combustion and
energy.

If fuel and oxidizer interact, there is no certainty that combustion will occur.
Fuel and oxidizer should be mixed at a certain temperature or be exposed in
an external heat source for the combustion process to occur, as shown in
Figure 1.6.

Heat

Combustion

Oxidizer Fuel

Figure 1.6 Combustion Triangle

LESSON 1.3: COMPONENTS OF COMBUSTION

a. Fuel – any material that can be burned to release thermal energy. It is

made up of different components, but primarily of hydrogen and carbon
atoms. This type of fuel is also known as a hydrocarbon fuel.

Hydrocarbon fuel may be in the form of solid, liquid, or gas. Solid fuels
are dried or decayed organic matter. Some dried solid fuels are wood,
grass, leaves, twigs, they combust easily but also easily extinguish and
does not contain a significant amount of energy. They are mostly used
for residential cooking. For industrial and commercial operations,
where a large amount of energy is needed, coals are used.

Liquid fuels are commonly known as petroleum and are typically used
for engines. Gasoline, diesel, kerosene are some of the types of liquid
fuel.

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 Gaseous fuel such as methane, butane, and propane are known to be
natural gas. Synthetic gas may also be produced such as producer gas
and blue gas through the process of gasification.

b. Oxidizer – is a material that accepts the electrons released by the fuel.

This is known as oxidation which is also part of combustion. Without
the process of oxidation, the combustion process will not continue.

The most common oxidizing agent is oxygen due to electronegative

nature. There are other oxidizing agents such as fluorine and chlorine,
but oxygen is abundant and is readily available in our air.

c. Heat Sources – external source that will increase the temperature of

the surrounding of the fuel and oxidizer to reach the ignition
temperature. Even if fuel and the oxidizer come in contact with one
another, only the oxidation process occurs. Combustion will only start if
the ignition temperature of the fuel is reached. Different fuel has
different ignition temperatures and should be known if you are to store
fuel.

LESSON 1.4: STAGES OF COMBUSTION

As stated earlier, even if the components are present, but are not in the
ideal condition, combustion or flame may be visible. To understand the whole
process of combustion, the different stages are presented in Figure 1.7.

Stage I: Non – flaming

I. Pre – heating is the point where the temperature of the fuel is
raised to the point where gases start to volatize
II. Pre – ignition is the point where the volatile materials are vaporized

Figure 1.7 Stages of Combustion (The Combustion Process)

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 Stage II: Developing fire
I. Flaming is the point when the ignition temperature of the fuel is
reached combustion begins
II. Transition is when the fuel is partially consumed while flaming
continues in a portion of the fuel. During this stage, the temperature
continually increase

Stage III: Fully developed fire

All of the fuel is in flames and the temperature of combustion is at
its peak. During this period, the fuel depletes significantly

Stage IV: Decay Stage

The combustion temperature decreases and the fuel are
completely charred. The flames die out.

For applications where combustion is an essential part of the process, such

as power generation, the stages of combustion will aid in controlling the
combustion process. The time when to introduce another set of fuel, increase
the supply of air, or when to increase the temperature of combustion can be
established. This is aided by measuring devices such as temperature gauge
and pressure gauge to accurately control combustion.

REFERENCES

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