Material Balance with

Chemical Reaction
Chapter-10
Basic Principles and Calculations in Chemical Engineering
David M. Himmelblau
James B. Riggs
7th edition
• Methodology to solve the material balance problems
1. Read and understand the problem statement.
2. Draw a sketch of the process and specify the system boundary.
3. Place labels (symbols, numbers, and units) on the diagram for all of the known
flows,materials, and compositions.
4. Obtain any data you know are needed to solve the problem but are missing.
5. Choose a basis.
6. Determine the number of variables whose values are unknown (the unknowns).
7. Determine the number of independent equations and carry out a degree-of-freedom analysis
8. Write down the equations to be solved in terms of the knowns and unknowns.
9. Solve the equations and calculate the quantities asked for in the problem
Process involving s single reaction
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑖 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑖
𝑖 𝑎𝑡 𝑡2 𝑖 𝑎𝑡 𝑡1 𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔
− = − +
𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑦𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑦𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑚
𝑠𝑦𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑚 𝑠𝑦𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑚 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑡2 𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑡1 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑡2 𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑡1

𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑖 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑖
𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦
−
𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑡2 𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑡1 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑡2 𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑡1
 Extent of reaction
• In calculation of degrees of freedom, the generation and
consumption terms are not independent
• By specifying value of one species of generation/ consumption, other
species values can be calculated by reaction equation
• The extent of reaction () for open system is

𝑛𝑖𝑜𝑢𝑡 − 𝑛𝑖𝑖𝑛
𝜉= 𝑖 = 1, … . . 𝑁
𝑣𝑖
 Extent of reaction-example

• Stoichiometric coeff.
• The extent of reaction () for open system is

𝑛𝑖𝑜𝑢𝑡 − 𝑛𝑖𝑖𝑛
𝜉= 𝑖 = 1, … . . 𝑁
𝑣𝑖
 Extent of reaction-conclusions
• For single chemical reaction, the specification of  provides one independent
quantity.
•  accounts for all the values of generation and consumption in the MB
equation.
• The species balance for previous equation is as given in table below.
 Extent of reaction-open vs close system
• The equation given below is for open/ steady system.
• What would be the equation for  for closed/ batch system?

𝑛𝑖𝑜𝑢𝑡 − 𝑛𝑖𝑖𝑛
𝜉= 𝑖 = 1, … . . 𝑁
𝑣𝑖

𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙
𝑛𝑖 − 𝑛𝑖𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙
𝜉= 𝑖 = 1, … . . 𝑁
𝑣𝑖

𝜉=0 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡

Extent of reaction-system involving molar flows
 Extent of reaction-using fraction of conversion
• Applicable where moles of species in or out information is not available
• If  is considered as unknown, we one more information to solve the
problem i.e. fraction of conversion (f).

𝑖𝑛
(−𝑓)𝑛𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
𝜉=
𝑣𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
Reaction with fraction of conversion (f) specified
 Reaction with f specified
Example 10.1
The chlorination of methane occurs by the following reaction:
CH4 + Cl2 → CH3Cl + HCl
You are asked to determine the product composition if the conversion of the limiting reactant
is 67%, and the feed composition in mole percent is 40% CH4, 50% Cl2, and 10% N2.
 Reaction with f specified
Example 10.1
The chlorination of methane occurs by the following reaction:
CH4 + Cl2 → CH3Cl + HCl
You are asked to determine the product composition if the conversion of the limiting reactant
is 67%, and the feed composition in mole percent is 40% CH4, 50% Cl2, and 10% N2.

Solution: Steps 1,2,3,4

 Reaction with f specified
Step 5. Basis: 100 g mol feed

Step 4: to calculate extent of reaction, find out limiting reactant.

CH4 is limiting reactant

 Reaction with f specified
Extent of reaction

𝑖𝑛
(−𝑓)𝑛𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
𝜉=
𝑣𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡

(−0.67)(40)
𝜉= = 26.8 𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔
−1
 Reaction with f specified
Step 6 and 7: Degrees of freedom analysis

𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑠: 11

𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑠: 11

Basis: F=100 g mole

Species (component) material balances: 5 CH4, Cl2, HCL, CH3Cl, N2

Specifications: 3

Implicit equations: 2
 Reaction with f specified
Step 8 and 9: Species material balance

𝑜𝑢𝑡
𝑛𝐶𝐻4
= 40 − 1 26.8 = 13.2

𝑜𝑢𝑡
𝑛𝐶𝑙2
= 50 − 1 26.8 = 23.2

𝑜𝑢𝑡
𝑛𝐶𝐻3 𝐶𝑙
= 0 + 1 26.8 = 26.8

𝑜𝑢𝑡
𝑛𝐻𝐶𝑙 = 0 + 1 26.8 = 26.8

𝑜𝑢𝑡
𝑛𝑁2
= 10 − 0 26.8 = 10
𝑃 = 100.0
Step 10: Verify your results
Reaction with fraction of conversion (f) to be calculated
 Reaction with f to be calculated
Example 10.2
Mercaptans, hydrogen sulfide, and other sulfur compounds are removed from the natural gas
by various sweetening process that make available otherwise useless sour gas. As you know
H2S is toxic in very small quantities and is quite corrosive to process equipment. A proposed
process to remove H2S is by reaction with SO2:

2H2S(g) + SO2 (g) → 3S(s) + 2H2O(g)

In the test of the process, a gas stream containing 20% H2S and 80% CH4 was combined
with a stream of pure SO2. The process produced 5000 lb of S(s), and in the product gas the
ratio of SO2 to H2S was equal to 3, and the ratio of H2O to H2S was 10.
Determine the fractional conversion of limiting reactant and the feed rates of the H2S and
SO2 streams.
 Reaction with f to be calculated
•  will have to be calculated by material balance
• F will be calculated with the help of 

𝑛𝑖𝑜𝑢𝑡 − 𝑛𝑖𝑖𝑛 𝑖𝑛
(−𝑓)𝑛𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
𝜉= 𝑖 = 1, … . . 𝑁 𝜉=
𝑣𝑖 𝑣𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡

Solution: Steps 1,2,3,4

Reaction with f to be calculated
Step 6 and 7: Degrees of freedom analysis

𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑠: 11

𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑠: 11
Basis: S=5000 lb (156.3 lb mol)
Species (component) material balances: 5 H2S, CH4, SO2, H2O, S

Specifications: 4
or

Implicit equations: 2 DOF = 0

 Reaction with f to be calculated
Step 8 : Species material balance in lb moles

𝑆: 156.3 = 0 + 3ξ
𝑃
𝐻2𝑆: 𝑛𝐻 2
𝑆 = 0.20𝐹 − 2ξ

𝑃
𝑆𝑂2: 𝑛𝑆𝑂2 = 𝐹𝑆𝑂2 − 1ξ

𝑃
𝐻2𝑂: 𝑛𝐻 2
𝑂 = 0 + 2ξ

𝑃
𝐶𝐻4: 𝑛𝐶𝐻4
= 0.80𝐹 + 0(ξ)
𝑃 𝑃
𝑛𝑆𝑂2 = 3𝑛𝐻 2
𝑆
𝑃 𝑃
𝑛𝐻 2
𝑂 = 10𝑛𝐻2𝑆
 Reaction with f to be calculated
Identify the limiting reactant (H2S) and calculate fractional conversion

𝑖𝑛
(−𝑓)𝑛𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
𝜉=
𝑣𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡

Step 10: Verify your results

Processes Involving Multiple Reactions
 Processes involving multiple reactions
• In practice system rarely involves single reaction
• There are side reaction occurring in addition to the primary (desired) reaction
• Lets extend the concept of  for multiple reactions
• Should we include  for every reaction? NO.
• You should include in the species material balance only the i associated with a set of
independent chemical reactions.
• The set is called as minimal/smallest set of chemical reactions.
• This smallest set includes all the species involved in chemical reactions

C + O2 → CO2
C+ ½ O2 → CO
CO + ½ O2 → CO2
 Processes involving multiple reactions
• For open, steady state processes with multiple reactions, following equation can be used

Accumulation = In –Out + Generation - Consumption

𝑅

𝑛𝑖𝑂𝑢𝑡 = 𝑛𝑖𝑖𝑛 + ෍ 𝑣𝑖𝑗 𝜉𝑗

𝑗=1

vij = stoichiometric coefficient of species i in reaction j

i = extent of reaction for the jth reaction in minimal set
R = number of independent chemical reactions
 Processes involving multiple reactions
• For closed, unsteady state system with multiple reactions, following equation can be used

Accumulation = In –Out + Generation - Consumption

𝑆 𝑆 𝑆 𝑅

𝑁 = ෍ 𝑛𝑖𝑂𝑢𝑡 = ෍ 𝑛𝑖𝑖𝑛 + ෍ ෍ 𝑣𝑖𝑗 𝜉𝑗

𝑖=1 𝑖=1 𝑖=1 𝑗=1

vij = stoichiometric coefficient of species i in reaction j

i = extent of reaction for the jth reaction in minimal set
R = number of independent chemical reactions
S = number of species in the system
N = total moles exiting the reactor
 Processes involving multiple reactions
Formaldehyde (CH2O) is produced industrially by the catalytic oxidation of methanol
(CH3OH) by the following reaction:
CH3OH + ½ O2 → CH2O + H2O …..1
Unfortunately, under the conditions used to produce formaldehyde at a profitable rate, a
significant portion of the formaldehyde can react with oxygen to produce CO and H2O:
CH2O + ½ O2 → CO + H2O …..2
Assume that methanol and twice the stoichiometric amount of air needed for complete
conversion of the CH3OH to desired products (CH2O and H2O), are fed to the reactor. Also,
assume that 90% conversion of methanol results, and that a 75% yield of formaldehyde
occurs based on the theoretical production of CH2O by reaction 1. Determine the
composition of product gas leaving the reactor.
 Processes involving multiple reactions
Solution:
Steps 1,2 3, 4.

Steps 5. Basis: 1 g mol F

Information given
- Fractional conv of CH3OH = 0.90
- Yield of CH2O = 75%

𝑖𝑛
(−𝑓)𝑛𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 −0.90
𝜉1 = = 1 = 0.9 𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠
𝑣𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 −1
 Processes involving multiple reactions
𝑛𝑖𝑜𝑢𝑡 − 𝑛𝑖𝑖𝑛
𝜉= 𝑖 = 1, … . . 𝑁
𝑣𝑖

𝑖𝑛
(−𝑓)𝑛𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 −0.90
𝜉1 = = 1 = 0.9 𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠
𝑣𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 −1
 Processes involving multiple reactions
𝐴𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠
Processes involving multiple reactions
Step 6 and 7: Degrees of freedom analysis

𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑠: 11

𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑠: 11
Basis: F = 1 g mol
Species (component) material balances: 5 CH3OH, O2, N2, CH2O, H2O, CO

Specifications (calculate values in step 4): 3 A, 𝜉1 , 𝜉2

Implicit equations: 1 σ 𝑦𝑖𝑃 = 1

DOF = 0
Processes involving multiple reactions
• Step 8:
Because the variables in figure. are and not , direct use of in the material balances will
involve the nonlinear terms P. We could use the variable analogous to the material balances
in previous examples, but for the purposes of illustration we use mole fractions. The us first
calculate the P using following equations.
𝑆 𝑆 𝑆 𝑅

𝑁 = ෍ 𝑛𝑖𝑂𝑢𝑡 = ෍ 𝑛𝑖𝑖𝑛 + ෍ ෍ 𝑣𝑖𝑗 𝜉𝑗

𝑖=1 𝑖=1 𝑖=1 𝑗=1
Processes involving multiple reactions
• Step 8: Material balances
 Processes involving multiple reactions
• Step 9: Solve the equations

• Step 10: Check the value of P by adding all of the moles in outlet stream
Element Material Balances
Element Material Balances
So far, we use following material balance equation

About element balance

• Elements in the process are conserved
• Elements are not generated not consumed
• Therefore the generation/ consumption term can be neglected

Accumulation = In –Out + Generation - Consumption

Why cant we use element material balance for all processes?

• We can, if element balances are independent
• Species balances are always independent
Element Material Balances
Consider
CO2 (g) + H2O (l)→ H2CO3 (l)

Three unknowns: W, F and P

Three elements: C, H, O

Can’t calculate W, F and P as three equations are not independent, why?

Only two element balances are independent
If we define P = 100 mol, we can solve the equations
Element Material Balances
Hydrocracking is an important refinery process for converting low-valued heavy
hydrocarbons to more valuable lower-molecular-weight hydrocarbons by exposing the feed
to a zeolite catalyst at high temperature and pressure in the presence of hydrogen.
Researchers study the hydrocracking of pure components, such as octane (C8H18), to
understand the behavior of cracking reactions. In one such experiment, the cracked products
had the following composition in mole percent:

19.5% C3H8,
59.4% C4H10, and
21.1% C5H12.

You are asked to determine the molar ratio of hydrogen consumed to octane reacted for this
experiment.
Element Material Balances
Step 1,2,3 and 4

Step 5: Basis: 100 g mol

Step 6 and 7
Variables : 3 (F, G, P)
Equations: 3
Elements balances: 2 (H,C)
Basis: P =100

Step 8: element balances

Element Material Balances
Solution
F = 50.2 g mol
G = 49.8 g mol

The ratio- H2 consumed/C8H18 reacted

= 49.8 / 50.2 = 0.992

Employing element material balance can be simpler

than employing extent of reaction.
Solve using Element Material Balances-Homework
Example 10.1
The chlorination of methane occurs by the following reaction:
CH4 + Cl2 → CH3Cl + HCl
You are asked to determine the product composition if the conversion of the limiting reactant is 67%,
and the feed composition in mole percent is 40% CH4, 50% Cl2, and 10% N2.

Example 10.3
Formaldehyde (CH2O) is produced industrially by the catalytic oxidation of methanol (CH3OH) by
the following reaction:
CH3OH + ½ O2 → CH2O + H2O …..1
Unfortunately, under the conditions used to produce formaldehyde at a profitable rate, a significant
portion of the formaldehyde can react with oxygen to produce CO and H2O:
CH2O + ½ O2 → CO + H2O …..2
Assume that methanol and twice the stoichiometric amount of air needed for complete conversion of
the CH3OH to desired products (CH2O and H2O), are fed to the reactor. Also, assume that 90%
conversion of methanol results, and that a 75% yield of formaldehyde occurs based on the theoretical
production of CH2O by reaction 1. Determine the composition of product gas leaving the reactor.
Material Balances Involving Combustion
Material balance involving combustion
Combustion is reaction with oxygen with associated release of energy and product gases such as
H2O, CO2, CO, SO2

Typical combustion examples

• Combustion (burning) coal, heating oil, natural gas to generate electricity
• Combustion of fuels (petrol/ diesel) in engines
• Therefore the generation/ consumption term can be neglected

Air
• Air is used as a source of oxygen
• Its composition is 21% O2 and 79% N2 (other components are neglected)
• N2 is assumed as non-reacting component in air
• Average molecular weight of air is 29
Material balance involving combustion
Terminologies used in combustion
• Flue gas or stack gas / wet basis – includes water vapour
• Orsat analysis of dry analysis – excludes water vapour
• Complete combustion – produces H2O, CO2 and SO2
• Partial combustion- produces CO alongwith other products
• Theoretical air (or theoretical oxygen)/ required air
• Excess air (excess oxygen)
MB involving combustion- excess air
The calculated amount of excess air does not depend on how much material is actually
burned but what is possible to be burned even if only partial combustion takes place

The excess air is computed as if the process of combustion went to completion and
produced only CO2

𝑒𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑒𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑂2/0.21

% 𝑒𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑎𝑖𝑟 = 100 = 100
𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑𝑂2/0.21

𝑂2 𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠 − 𝑂2 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑

% 𝑒𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑎𝑖𝑟 = 100
𝑂2 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑

𝑒𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑂2
% 𝑒𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑎𝑖𝑟 = 100
𝑂2 𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 − 𝑒𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑂2
Excess air
Fuels other than gasoline are being eyed for motor vehicle because they generate lower
levels of pollutants than does gasoline. Compressed propane is one such proposed fuel.
Suppose that in a test 20 kg of C3H8 is burned with 400 kg of air to produce 44 kg of CO2 and
12 kg of CO. What was the % of excess air?
Solution: Write balanced reaction equation

𝐶3𝐻8 + 5𝑂2 → 3𝐶𝑂2 + 4𝐻2𝑂

The % excess air calculation is based on complete conversion. The incomplete reaction has
no influence on the calculation
Moles of O2 required Moles of O2 entering
20 𝑘𝑔 𝐶3𝐻8 400 𝑘𝑔 𝑎𝑖𝑟
× 5 = 2.25 𝑘𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑂2 × 0.21 = 2.90 𝑘𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑂2
44 29
𝑒𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑒𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑂2/0.21
% 𝑒𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑎𝑖𝑟 = 100 = 100
𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑𝑂2/0.21
Excess air
Solution: Write balanced reaction equation

𝐶3𝐻8 + 5𝑂2 → 3𝐶𝑂2 + 4𝐻2𝑂

The % excess air calculation is based on complete conversion. The incomplete reaction has
no influence on the calculation

Moles of O2 required Moles of O2 entering

20 𝑘𝑔 𝐶3𝐻8 400 𝑘𝑔 𝑎𝑖𝑟

× 5 = 2.25 𝑘𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑂2 × 0.21 = 2.90 𝑘𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑂2
44 29

𝑒𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑂2 2.90 − 2.25

% 𝑒𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑎𝑖𝑟 = 100 = 100 = 28%
𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑂2 2.25
Excess air when O2 is present in feed mixture
A gas containing 80% C2H6 and 20% O2 is burned in an engine with 200% excess air.
Calculate the amount of excess air required for 100 moles of gas mixture.

Solution: Basis 100 moles of feed gas mixture

7
𝐶2𝐻6 + 𝑂2 → 2𝐶𝑂2 + 3𝐻2𝑂
2
Moles of O2 required for 80 moles of C2H6 80 × 3.5 = 280 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠
Moles of O2 needed in entering air 280 − 20 = 260 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠

Entering with air Moles of O2

Required O2: 260
Excess O2: 520
Total O2: 780
Excess air when O2 is present in feed mixture
A local utility burns coal having the following composition on a dry basis. The moisture in
the fuel was 3.90% and the air on the average contained 0.0048 lb H2O/ lb dry air. The
refuse showed 14.0% unburned coal, with the remainder being ash.
Check the consistency of the data and find out the average % air excess air used.

Component Percent Coal composition Average ORSAT analysis

C 83.05 (dry basis) Component Percent
H 4.45 CO2 + SO2 15.4
O 3.36 CO 0.0
N 1.08 O2 4.0
S 0.7 N2 80.6
Ash 7.36 Total 100.0
Total 100.0
Excess air when O2 is present in feed mixture
Basis: F = 100 lb