Combustion Stoichiometry

1 - Stoichiometry means the calculation of the quantities of chemical elements

and compounds involved in a chemical reaction
2 - Combustion produces heat or both heat and light in the form of either a glow
or flames.
Air-Fuel Ratio
It is frequently used in the analysis of the combustion process
AF=(mass of Air)/(mass of Fuel)
Excess Air
It is defined as the amount of air in excess of the theoretical amount.
It increases the chances of complete combustion. also be used to control the
temperature of combustion chamber.
Excess air factor =(Actual air - Theoretical air ) / Theoretical air
Equivalence Ratio (Φ)
It is defined as the ratio of the theoretical air fuel ratio to the actual air fuel ratio.
Φ = theoretical air fuel ratio / actual air fuel ratio
= Af)th / Af)ac
Φ = 1: stoichiometric combustion
Φ < 1: lean mixture, lean combustion
Φ > 1: rich mixture, rich combustion
 Applying First Law of Thermodynamics
The standard enthalpy of formation hf, quantifies the chemical bond energy of a
chemical species at standard conditions.
The enthalpy of formation of a substance is the energy needed for the
formation of that substance from its constituent elements at STP conditions (25C
and 1 atm).
The common choice being 25°C and 1 atm ,the enthalpy of elements hf = 0 at
this common reference, a departure from standard conditions is accompanied by
an enthalpy change.
Note that the sensible enthalpy of any species is zero at standard conditions.
The ‘total’ enthalpy, is thus the sum of the sensible enthalpy and the enthalpy
of formation
H (t) = hf + (h (T) – h (25))
The enthalpy for elements ho = 0 at at STP conditions (25C and 1 atm).
If the energy is determined for the combustion of a fuel with theoretical air, in
the standard conditions (1 atm and 25°C) it is usually called the enthalpy of
reaction or internal energy of reaction.
Endothermic reaction:-
The chemical reaction needs addition of heat.
Exothermic reaction:-
The chemical reaction which liberates heat .
When the compound is formed then the enthalpy change is called the Enthalpy
of Formation,
The negative sign means that the process is Exothermic, i.e. heat is given off
when the compound is formed.
Note that the enthalpy of formation of basic elements O2 and N2 is zero.
This heat (Qcv) is called the Enthalpy of Combustion or the Heating Value of the
fuel.
If the products contain liquid water, then it is the Higher Heating Value (as in
our example),
however if the product contains water vapor then it is the Lower Heating
Value of the fuel.
The enthalpy of combustion is the largest amount of heat that can be released
by a given fuel
Higher Heating Value (HHV).
The maximum energy released from a combustion process will be obtained when
all water in products is in the liquid phase at standard condition.
Lower Heating Value (L.H.V)
A lower heat of reaction will be experienced when all the water in the products
due to combustion is in vapor phaseat standard condition.

H.H.V = L.H.V + Latent heat of evaporation of H2O. **

the final temperature which the products of combustion will attain is called the
adiabatic flame temperature.
The adiabatic flame temperature decrease as a result of incomplete combustion or
using excess air also, the maximum adiabatic flame temperature is achieved
when complete combustion occurs with the theoretical amount of
air.
 Entropy change of reacting system :
The third law of thermodynamics states that: The entropy of a pure crystalline
substance at absolute zero temperature is zero.
This is used as the base for determining the entropy of all substances.