ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY-II UNIT-II-FUELS SEM- II

Q.1.What are fuels .How are they classified?

The combustible substances which on burning in air produces large amount of heat that can
be used economically for domestic and industrial purposes are called fuels. Eg. Wood, Coal
etc
Classification of fuels:
Fuels

Natural Derived

Solid Liquid Gaseous Solid Liquid Gaseous

Wood Crude Natural Coke Tar Coal gas
Coal oil gas Charcoal Kerosene Water gas
Dung (Petroleum) Petroleum coke Diesel Oil gas
Coal- Petrol Biogas

Q.2. what are the characteristics of a good fuel?

1 .HIGH CALORIFIC VALUE:
A good fuel should have high calorific value i.e. it should produce large amount of heat on
burning.
2. MODERATE IGNITION TEMPERATURE:
The lowest temperature to which fuel must be preheated so that it starts burning smoothly. If
ignition temperature is low, the fuel catches fire easily. Low ignition temperature is
dangerous for storage and transportation of fuel. High temperature causes difficulty in
kindling (or igniting). So a good fuel should have moderate ignition temperature.
3. MOISTURE CONTENT:
A good fuel should have low moisture content as moisture content reduces the calorific value .
4. LOW NON-COMBUSTIBLE MATTER CONTENT
A good fuel should have low contents of non-combustible material as non-combustible matter
is left in form of ash or clinker which decreases the calorific value of fuel. The non
combustible matter also reduces heating value, besides additional cost of storage ,handling and
disposal of waste products produced. Each % of non-combustible matter means a heat loss of
1.5%.Hence the fuel must have low content of non combustible matter.

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ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY-II UNIT-II-FUELS SEM- II

5. MODERATE RATE OF COMBUSTION

The temperature of combustion of fuel depends upon the rate of combustion. If the rate of
combustion is low, then required high temperature may not be reached soon. On th e other
hand, too high combustion rate causes high temperature very quickly.
6. MINIMUM SMOKE AND NON-POISONOUS GASES
On burning, Fuel should not give out objectionable and poisonous gases. In other words,
gaseous products should not pollute the atmosphere. Gases like CO, SO 2,H2S etc. are some of
harmful gases.
6. CHEAP:
A good fuel should be cheap and readily available.

7. EASY TRANSPORTATION:

A good fuel should be easy to handle and transport at low cost

Q.3. what is Calorific value. Explain Gross and Net Calorific Value?

The calorific value of a fuel is defined as the quantity of heat (expressed in calories or kilo
calories) liberated by the complete combustion of unit weight (1gm or 1kg) of the fuel in air
or oxygen, with subsequent cooling of the products of combustion to the initial temperature
of the fuel.
GROSS CALORIFIC VALUE: The gross calorific value (or higher) refers to the total
amount of heat produced when unit mass/volume of the fuel has been burnt completely and
the products of combustion have been cooled to room temperature. (ie;15 oC or 60oF)
NET CALORIFIC VALUE: It is the heat produced when unit mass/volume of the fuel has
been burnt completely and the products of combustion are allowed to escape.
NCV = GCV – Latent heat of water vapour formed
= GCV – Mass of Hydrogen x 9 x Latent heat of steam.
NCV = GCV- (9H/100) x 587 , where H = % of Hydrogen in fuel
The net value gives the heat liberated when water is in the form of steam or water vapour
GCV=1/100[8080 C + 34500 {H − O/8 } +2240 S] kcal/kg
where C, H, O, S refer to % of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and sulphur respectively

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ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY-II UNIT-II-FUELS SEM- II

PROBLEMS BASED ON GCV AND NCV

1) A sample of coal has the following composition by mass C= 70%, O= 8% , H= 10%,
N = 3%, S= 2%, Ash =7%.Calculate GCV and NCV using Dulong’s formula?

GCV=1/100[8080 C + 34500 {H − O/8} +2240 S] kcal/kg

= 1/100[8080 x 70 + 34500 {10 − 8/8} +2240 x 2] kcal/kg
= 1/100[565600 + 310500 + 4480] kcal/kg
= 8805.80 kcal/k
NCV = GCV- (9H/100) x 587 kcal/kg
= 8805.80 – (9 x 10 /100) x 587kcal/kg
= 8805.80 -528.3 kcal/kg
= 8277.5 kcal/kg

2) A sample of coal has the following composition by mass C= 70%, O= 20%, H= 8%,
N = 0.2% ,S= 0.5%, Ash =1%.Calculate Gross and Net calorific value of coal using
Dulong’s formula?

GCV=1/100[8080 C + 34500 {H − O/8} +2240 S] kcal/kg

= 1/100[8080 x 70 + 34500 {8 − 20/8} +2240 x 0.5] kcal/kg
= 1/100[565600 + 189750 + 1120] kcal/kg
= 7564.70 kcal/kg
NCV = GCV- (9H/100) x 587 kcal/kg
= 7564.70 – ( 9 x 8 /100) x 587 kcal/kg
= 7564.70 -422.64 kcal/kg
= 7142.06 kcal/kg

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