Faculty of Engineering

Combustion Technology

Chapter (1)
Introduction

Dr. Ahmed Emara

Cairo 2018
 Fig. A garden sprinkler rotated by the
reaction of the water jets

Fig. Hero's engine - probably the earliest form of jet reaction.

 Fuel and combustion
Fuel is a material which upon combustion gives a
considerable amount of heat.

CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O + energy

2H2 + O2 → 2H2O(g) + heat

Combustion or burning is the sequence of exothermic

chemical reactions between a fuel and an oxidant
accompanied by the production of heat and
conversion of chemical species.
There are three types of fuel:
(1) Gaseous fuel, domestic cookers.
(2) Liquid fuel, power plants, ICE's and gas turbines.
(3) Solid fuel, steam power plants.

Gas Concentration
%
Carbon 81 - 88
Hydrogen 10 - 14
Sulfur 0.01 - 5.0
Oxygen 0.01 - 1.2
Nitrogen 0.002 - 1.7
Fuels

Gaseous Liquid Solids

• Natural gas • Light oil • Hard coal

• Heavy oil • Lignite
• Low Calorific gas
• Light oil
• Hydrogen gas
• Heavy oil
• Coal gas • Pitch
• Refinery gas • Naphtha
• Waste gasses • Animal fat
[1] properties of liquid fuel:

(1) Specific weight:

The reduction in specific weight indicates an increase of
hydrogen content and a reduction in the calorific value
and viscosity.
(2) Viscosity:
Viscosity is a measure of the fluid resistance to flow which
results from the friction between its molecules.
(3) Sulfur contents:
When sulfur is burned, SO2 and SO3 are produced which
upon reaction with water vapor, sulfuric acid is formed.
(4) Residual carbon:
When fuel is burned with a limited quantity of air, a certain
amount of carbon results which represents the heavier
part of the liquid fuel that dose not burn completely.
(5) Ash content:
The ash produced from the combustion of fuel can
precipitate on the heat transfer elements and cause heat
insulation.
(6) Water and solid impurities:
The presence of water in the fuel can cause corrosion in
the fuel pumping devices. Solid impurities may cause
erosion in the fuel pumping equipment.
(7) Flash point:
It is the minimum liquid temperature that allows the
formation of a combustible mixture of fuel vapor and air at
the surface of the liquid. The flash point is a measure of
safety during storage, and can be determined by slowly
heating up the fuel and moving a flame across the liquid
surface. The liquid temperature at which a flash occurs at
the liquid surface is the flash point.
[2] Ignition and combustion
Substance Ignition temperature oC
Methane 645
Carbon monoxide 610
Hydrogen 530
Benzene 520
Gas oil 340
Kerosene 290

The maximum combustion temperature depends on the

following factors:
(1) Chemical energy of the mixture.
(2) Initial temperature of the mixture.
(3) Heat losses.
(4) External work done by the mixture.
(5) Specific heat of the mixture.
(6) Chemical balance.
[2] basic combustion equations:
Molecular weight for some substances:
Substance Symbol Molecular weight
kg/kmole or gm/ mole
Oxygen O2 32
Hydrogen H2 2
Carbon C 12
Carbon monoxide CO 28
Carbon dioxide CO2 44
Nitrogen N2 28
Water vapor H2O 18
Sulfur S 32
Sulfur dioxide SO2 64
Air 29
Methane CH4 16
(1) Carbon oxidation:
(2) Hydrogen oxidation:
(3) Sulfur oxidation:
[3] Combustion air
 Course Contents

1. Introduction.

2. Fuel and Combustion

1. Define
Combustion- Fuel

Name:
1. Fuel types
Combustion: is the sequence of exothermic chemical
reactions between a fuel and an oxidant accompanied by
the production of heat and conversion of chemical
species. The release of heat can result in the production
of light in the form of either glowing or a flame. Fuels of
interest often include organic compounds
(especially hydrocarbons) in
the gas, liquid or solid phase.
Deflagration: is a term describing
subsonic combustion that usually propagates
through thermal conductivity; hot burning material
heats the next layer of cold material and ignites it.
Most "fire" found in daily life,
from flames to explosions, is deflagration.

Deflagration is different from detonation, which

is supersonic and propagates through shock.