BAUTISTA, JOANNA MARIE Z.

GANELO, JETHRO B.
GAULIT, CARLO J. BSME 3B APRIL 19,2021
COMBUSTION ENGINEERING

COMBUSTION OF SOLID FUELS

Theoretical Weight of Air:

The theoretical weight of air is the exact theoretical amount that was determined
from the combustion reaction of air needed to burn a unit amount of fuel.

If the Ultimate Analysis of coal is available, the theoretical weight of air

required to completely oxidize the fuel can be calculated as:

A O kgair
(
F t ( 8 )
) =W ta =11.5 C +34.5 H − + 4.3 S
kg fuel

Where:

W ta = ideal proportion of air to completely burn the fuel.

 C, H, O, and S are proportions by weight of Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, and
Sulfur per kg of fuel from the ultimate analysis

If the Ultimate Analysis of coal is not available, an approximate formula to

obtain the theoretical air-fuel ratio when the heating value of the fuel is known:

A Q (kJ /kg) kgair

( ) =W ta = h
F t 3117 kg fuel

A Q (kCal /kg) kgair

( ) =W ta = h
F t 745 kg fuel

A Q (Btu/lb) kgair
( ) =W ta = h
F t 1340 kg fuel

Actual Weight of Air:

The weight of air supplied for combustion is necessarily in excess of what is

theoretically required. The volumetric analysis of the dry flue gas can be used to
calculate the actual weight of air.

A 1 C x N 2 kgair
( ) =W aa= ( )
F a 32.72 CO 2+C O kg fuel

A %Excessair kg air
( ) =W aa=W ta (1+ )
F t 100 kg fuel

Where:

W aa = actual weight of air including the excess

C = weight of carbon per kg of fuel from the ultimate analysis

N 2, CO 2, and CO are percentages by volume of the component gases in the flue gas as
obtained by Orsat Analysis.

ANALYSIS OF FLUE GAS

 Gaseous products of combustion are analyzed using gas analyzer known as the
Orsat apparatus. The combustion products contain CO 2, SO 2, N 2, O2, CO, and water
vapor.

The result of the analysis of dry flue gas by volume can be expressed by the
equation:

CO 2+CO +O 2 + N 2=100 %

The weight of gaseous products liberated during the combustion of fuel with air:

kg
W fg =W a +W f
hr

The weight of dry flue gas formed per kg of fuel burned:

W fg =W aa +1−(SO2 + H 2 O+ Ashloss)

Where:

kgair
W aa = actual air-fuel ratio in
kg fuel

2 x %S
SO2=
100

9 x %H
H 2 O=
100

% Ash
Ashloss=
100

Percent Excess Air:

W aa−W ta
% Excess=
W ta
 COMBUSTION OF HYDROCARBON FUELS

HYDROCARBON FUELS consist mainly of combustible elements, Carbon and

Hydrogen. The chemical formula of hydrocarbons is C n H m, where the value of the
subscripts “m” and “n” depends on the hydrocarbon family.

Typical Combustion Reaction of fuel with known Chemical Formula:

Fuel + Air = Products of Combustion

C n H m + aO 2+3.76 aN 2=bCO 2+ cH 2 O+3.76 aN 2

(fuel) (air) (products)

Where:

a, b, and c represent no. of moles,

COMPOSITION OF AIR

(1) By weight: (2) By volume:

O 2=23 % O 2=21 %
77 % 79 %
N 2= N 2=
100 % 100 %
MOLAL RATIO
The Molal Ratio or the ratio by volume of Nitrogen to Oxygen in air when both
gases are at the same temperature.
MolesN 2 79 %
= =3.76
MolesO 2 21 %

REFERENCE: POWERPLANT ENGINEERING REVIEWER- CHAPTER 3- FUELS &

COMBUSTION, PRINCIPLES AND FORMULA

COMBUSTION OF GASEOUS FUELS

Sample Problem:

A furnace burns natural gas with a volumetric analysis as follows: Methane =

85%, Ethane = 12%, Propane = 3%. The gas flow rate is 0.50 m 3 /s and 25% excess air
is required for complete combustion. Combustion air is supplied to the furnace at 25°C
at 1 atm pressure. Find the molal air-fuel ratio and the volume flow rate of the flue gas in
m 3 /s .

Typical Combustion Reaction of fuel with known Chemical Formula:

Fuel + Air = Products of Combustion

C n H m + aO 2+3.76 aN 2=bCO 2+ cH 2 O+3.76 aN 2

(fuel) (air) (products)

Where:

a, b, and c represent no. of moles.

Solution:
[ 0.85 CH 4 +0.12 C2 H 6 +0.03 C3 H 8 ]+ aO2 +3.76 aN 2 → bCO 2+ cH 2 O+3.76 aN 2
(fuel) (air) (products)

Material balance of the elements:

a = 2.27 kg mol

b = 1.28 kg mol

c = 2.18 kg mol

The actual reaction equation with 25% excess air or 125% total air supplied:

[ 0.85 CH 4 +0.12 C2 H 6 +0.03 C3 H 8 ]+ 1.25¿

Material Balance of Oxygen:
d = 0.57 kg mol
then, the balanced reaction equation is:
[ 0.85 CH 4 +0.12 C2 H 6 +0.03 C3 H 8 ]+ 2.84 O2+ 10.67 N 2 → 1.18CO 2+ 2.18 H 2 O+0.57 O2 +10.67 N 2
Solving for the molal air-fuel ratio
A 2.84+10.67 mol air
( )= =13.52
F a 0.85+ 0.12+ 0.03 mol fuel
The volume flowrate of gases at 0.50 m 3 /s fuel burned is:
 Molflue gas m 3 fuel
Q flue gas = x 0.50
Molfuel s
Where:

Molflue gas 1.18+2.18+ 0.57+10.67 m 3 flue gas

=
Molfuel 1 m3 fuel

Molflue gas m 3 flue gas

=14.60
Molfuel m 3 fuel

Thus;

Q flue gas =14.60( 0.50)

m 3 flue gas
Q flue gas =7.30
s

Innovation

Fuel Analysis

Vehicle use fuel, fuel that can be a pollute air that’s not good for environment. We
can reduce air pollution by innovating some parts of the vehicle to reduce it.

Modifying exhaust pipe, fabricating that will filter the pollute gas that will come out to
the pipe then all the dirt will store in some storage so only clean gas will come out to the
pipe.