MCE 11 – ME Laboratory 1

Name: Jed Carlo R. Sy Date Started: May 20, 2023

Year/Section: BSME – 3GN Date Completed: May 21, 2023

Activity No. 5
Calorific Test of Gaseous Fuel

I. Introduction
Calorific value (or heating value) is the amount of chemical energy stored in a fuel that is
released as thermal energy upon combustion. There is a test method that provides an accurate
and reliable method to measure the total calorific value of a fuel gas on a continuous basis,
which is used for regulatory compliance, custody transfer, and process control.

II. Objectives

To know the method of measuring the calorific value of gaseous fuels.

III. Test Methods

The apparatus used, the recording calorimeter consists of two major units which are the tank
unit or calorimeter proper, in which the heating value of the test gas sample is measured, and
the recording unit which translates the heat measurements in to an indication of calorific value
and records it graphically on a strip chart recorder.

1. Determine the heating value by imparting all of the heat obtained from the combustion of
the test gas to a stream of air and measuring the rise in air temperature. Maintain the streams
of test gas and heat absorbing air in fixed volumetric proportion to each other by metering
devices similar to the ordinary wet test meters which are driven from a common electric
motor. Mount the meters in a tank of water with a level of which is maintained. The
temperature determines the temperature of the entering gas and air.
2. Separate the flue gas resulting from combustion of the gas from the heat-absorbing air and
cool to a few degrees above the initial temperature of gas and air. The water formed in the
combustion is condensed to the liquid state. The temperature rise produced in the heat
absorbing air is directly proportional to the heating value of the gas. Since all the heat from
the combustion of the test gas sample, including the latent heat of vaporization of the water
vapor formed in the combustion, is imparted to the heat-absorbing air, the calorimeter
makes a direct determination of total heating value.
 IV. Discussion

1. What is the calorific value of fuel?

The quanTiTy of heaT emiTTed during burning

deTermines a fuel's heaT value. heaT value, which is
someTimes referred To as energy or calorific value, is
a measuremenT of The energy densiTy of a fuel and is
represenTed in energy (joules) per given amounT. a
fuel's calorific value measures how much heaT iT can
generaTe when burned under "normal" (sTandard)
circumsTances wiTh consTanT pressure.
2. Differentiate between high calorific value and low calorific value.

higher calorific value (hcv) is The quanTiTy of heaT emiTTed

by a specific fuel afTer burning per uniT mass or volume.
when side producTs are allowed To escape during The burning
of a uniT mass or volume of fuel, a lower calorific value
(lcv) is creaTed. The facT ThaT in The laTTer There is no heaT
loss as side producTs escape, whereas larger losses Take place,
is one of The key conTrasTs beTween The higher and lower
calorific values.
3. Discuss how a Junkers calorimeter is operated.

This gas calorimeTer works on The junker's principle of

burning of a known volume of gas and imparTing The heaT wiTh
maximum efficiency To sTeadily flowing waTer and finding ouT
of The rise in TemperaTure of a measured volume of waTer.
The formula, calorific value of gas x volume of gas equals
volume of waTer x rise in TemperaTure, is Then used To
deTermine The calorific value of The gas (assuming ThaT heaT
capaciTy of waTer is uniTy).
 4. What is a bomb calorimeter?

bomb calorimeTer a device used primarily To gauge

combusTion Temps. The reacTion occurs in a sealed area known
as The calorimeTer proper, in consTanT Thermal conTacT wiTh
iTs surroundings (The jackeT). The calorimeTer is made up of
This seT as well as equipmenT for measuring TemperaTure,
heaTing, cooling, and sTirring. The acTual calorimeTer is ofTen
a meTal can wiTh a TighT-fiTTing cover filled wiTh waTer ThaT
is consTanTly churned and in which The acTual bomb is placed.
following The igniTion of The combusTible maTerial in an
oxygen aTmosphere, The reacTanTs are allowed To reacT under
consTanT volume circumsTances in a sealed, heavy-walled
conTainer.
5. Provide a drawing of a Junkers calorimeter setup.
 6. Provide a drawing of a bomb calorimeter setup.

V. Conclusion

The junkers calorimeTer is uTilized To deTermine The

calorific value of gas. This apparaTus operaTes by measuring
The heaT of combusTion and calorific value of gaseous fuels.
The combusTion process occurs under a consTanT pressure
equivalenT To aTmospheric pressure. The measuremenT is
conducTed when The flow of The combusTion gas and The cooling
waTer remain sTeady. in This sTeady-sTaTe condiTion, The
inTernal energy and TemperaTures aT various poinTs wiThin The
calorimeTer remain consTanT. The meThod involves calculaTing
The heaT generaTed when a specific amounT of gaseous fuel
undergoes combusTion in The calorimeTer. The heaT released is
Then absorbed by The waTer ThaT flows Through The calorimeTer.
VI. References
https://engineeringlearn.com/bomb-calorimeter-definition-construction-diagram-working-uses/
https://www.chegg.com/homework-help/calorimeters-devices-commonly-used-measure-heating-
value-fue-chapter-11-problem-20p-solution-9780495082538-e