ABE 11

BASIC FARM MACHINERIES AND MECHANIZATION

Fuels and Combustion

FACULTY: ENGR. ARMDIN A. VALMORIA / ENGR. MAY ROSE BOSTON-OSOTEO / ENGR. ELDIE R. LABISTO
Topic 4. Fuels and Combustion ABE11

4.1 Introduction
Topic Outline
4.2 Sources of Fuel

4.3 Classifications of Fuel

4.4 Characteristics of Fuel

4.5 Calorific Value of Fuel

4.6 Commonly used fuel

4.7 Combustion Process

4.8 Chemistry of Combustion

4.9 Classification of Air for Combustion

4.10 Combustion Devices

FUEL
Topic 4. Fuels and Combustion ABE11
Fuel is any material that
store energy which is
subsequently extracted to
perform mechanical work
in a controlled manner.

Most fuels undergo

combustion process in
which a combustible
substance release energy
(exothermic process) after
it ignites and reacts with
oxygen in the air.
Topic 4. Fuels and Combustion ABE11

Fuel is important
in agricultural
mechanization to
increase
production as well
as to obtain
quality product.
Topic 4. Fuels and Combustion ABE11

Fuel Samples
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Sources of Fuel
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Sources of Fuel
Crude Oil is a natural occurring flammable liquid consisting of a
complex mixture of hydrocarbons with various molecular weights
and of other liquid organic compounds that are found in geologic
formation beneath the earth’s surface. Gasoline, kerosene and
diesel are derived from crude oil.
Natural Gas is naturally occurring hydrocarbons gas mixture
consisting primarily of methane, with other hydrocarbons, carbon
dioxide, nitrogen and hydrogen sulfide.
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is a flammable mixture of
hydrocarbon gases used as fuel in heating appliances and
vehicles. It consists of propane and butane.
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock
usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds
or coal seams.
Nuclear Energy (Uranium) is usually referred to the part of the
energy of an atomic nucleus which can be released by fusion of
fission of by radioactive decay.
Topic 4. Fuels and Combustion ABE11

Sources of Fuel

Solid Biomass
Wood fuel – This is a wood intended for use as fuel.
Agri residue – this includes field and processed
residues from agriculture such as hay, stalks, husk,
shell, etc.
Forest residue – This consists of small trees,
branches, tops and unmerchantable wood left in the
forest after cleaning, thinning or final felling of forest
stands used as fuel.
Municipal solid Wastes – They are commonly
known as trash or garbage consisting of everyday
items that are discarded by the public.
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Sources of Fuel

Biofuel
Biofuel is a type of fuel in which its energy is derived
from biological carbon fixation. Biofuels derived from
biomass conversion as well as solid biomass, liquid fuel
and biogases.
Bioethanol
It is an alcohol made by fermentation of carbohydrates
produced in sugar and starch from crops such as corn,
sugar cane and cassava.

Bio-oil (also called pyrolysis oil or biocrude)

It is a synthetic fuel used as substitute for petroleum
Topic 4. Fuels and Combustion ABE11

Sources of Fuel

Biomass Producer Gas

It is a gaseous fuel derived from burning of
fuel at a temperature of around 900oC and
with limited amount of air. The gas produced
is rich in carbon monoxide, hydrogen and
methane. When burned, it produces a light
blue to pinkish flame. When the fuel is
gasified using pure oxygen, the gas is called
synthetic gas.
Biogas
It is a gas produced by breaking down of
organic matter in the absence of oxygen.
Topic 4. Fuels and Combustion ABE11

Classifications of Fuel

Solid Fuel Liquid Fuel Gaseous Fuel

Solid fuel is Liquid fuel is Gaseous fuel

mainly classified classified into: occurs in
into: (a) natural (a) natural or nature besides
fuel such as crude oil (b) from being
coal, wood, etc artificial or manufactured
and (b) manufactured from solid and
manufactured Oil. liquid.
fuel such as
charcoal, coke,
briquette, etc.
Topic 4. Fuels and Combustion ABE11

Classifications of Fuel (Advantages/Disadvantages)

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
(a) easy to transport (a) high ash content
(b) convenient to store without any risk of (b) large proportion of heat is wasted form clinkers
Solid
Fuel

spontaneous explosion when burned

(c) low production cost, and
(d) possess moderate ignition temperature.
(a) possess higher calorific value per unit mass
(b) burn without dust, ash, clinkers
Liquid
Fuel
(c) not easy to control combustion operation and
(d) high handling cost.
(a) relatively higher cost as compared with solid fuel
(b) costly storage tank

(c) easy to fire and also easy to extinguish by simply (c) fire hazards especially in case od inflammable and
stopping the supply of fuel volatile liquid fuel
(d) clean to use and economical to handle (d) emits bad odor

(a) easy to convey though pipes lines to actual place (a) need large storage tanks and
Gaseous

of need hence no need of manual labor in the (b) high flammable with high chances of fire
Fuel

transport of fuel hazard.

(b) easy to ignite or lighted
(c) high heat content giving high temperature
Topic 4. Fuels and Combustion ABE11

Characteristics of Fuel

Density

It is the ratio of the mass of fuel to its volume at a reference temperature of 15oC. It is important in the
quantitative calculation and in assessing the ignition qualities of fuel.

Specific Gravity

It is the ratio of weight of a given volume of fuel to the weight of the same volume of water. It is important in
the calculation involving weight and volume. The gravity of liquid fuel is usually expressed in API (American
Petroleum Institute) degrees.

Flash Point

It is the lowest temperature at which liquid fuel is heated in order to give off sufficient vapor forming an
inflammable air-gas mixture.
Topic 4. Fuels and Combustion ABE11

Characteristics of Fuel

Pour Point

It is the lowest temperature at which liquid fuel flow under prescribed condition. It is very rough
indication of the lowest temperature at which fuel is ready to be pumped.

Cloud Point

It is the temperature at which the sample has visibly shown cloudiness.

Vapor Pressure

Too low vapor pressure may cause liquid fuel to undergo vapor lock problem.

Thermal Stability

It is the resistance of the fuel to thermal degradation measure by heating the fuel to specified
temperatures filtering and comparing residue with standard coloration filters.
Topic 4. Fuels and Combustion ABE11

Characteristics of Fuel

Viscosity

It is the measure of the resistance of liquid fuel to flow. It decreases as the temperature increases. It is important in
the storage and in the use of fuel. It influences the degree of preheating require for handling, storage and
satisfactory automation. Too viscous fuel is difficult to pump and hard to light the burner and difficult to handle.

Specific Heat

It is the amount of heat in kcal needed to raise one kilo of fuel one degree C. It determines the amount of electrical
energy needed to heat the fuel to a desired temperature. Usually, light oil has low specific heat compared with heavy
oil.

Calorific Value

It is the measurement of heat or energy produced. Gross calorific value assumes all vapor produced during the
combustion process in fully condensed. Net calorific value assumes all the water leaves from the fuel without fully
condensed.
Topic 4. Fuels and Combustion ABE11

Characteristics of Fuel

Volatility

Gasoline is more volatile than diesel oil or kerosene not only because of the base constituents but also
because of additive. In hot weather, less volatile fuel is needed to minimize the problem of what is called
vapor lock, which is the failure of the fuel to start for liquid fuel tend to become vapor in fuel lines. In cold
weather, on the other hand, low volatile fuel is difficult to start.

Sulfur

The amount of sulfur determines the risk of corrosion as a result of sulfuric acid formed during and after
combustion and condensation in cool parts of the machine such as chimney or stock, air pre-heater and
economizer.

Ash Content

It is an impurity in fuel which does not burn. It reduces handling and burning capacity of the fuel and
increases handling cost.
Topic 4. Fuels and Combustion ABE11

Characteristics of Fuel
Octane Number

It measures the ignition quality of fuel in the engine. The higher the number, the lesser the fuel is susceptible to
“knocking” (explosion caused by its premature burning in the combustion chamber) when burned in a sparck ignition
engine.

Cetane Number

It measures the ignition quality of diesel fuel. The higher the number, the easier it is to start a compression-ignition
engine. Also, fuel with higher cetane number has shorter ignition delay periods than fuel with lower cetane number.

Corrosion

Sulfur compounds are corrosive to metals.

Existent gum

Fuels have tendency to form viscous liquids or solids called gum. The presence of large quantities of gum usually
causes sticking of intake valve and heavy deposit at intake manifold of the engine.
Topic 4. Fuels and Combustion ABE11

Calorific Value of Fuel

Topic 4. Fuels and Combustion ABE11

COMMONLY USED
FUEL
Producer
Gasoline Diesel Kerosene Bioethanol Biodiesel LPG Natural Gas Wood Fuel Biomass Biobutanol
Gas

Straight- Cracked Blended

Natural Gas
run Gasoline Gasoline
 Topic 4. Fuels and Combustion ABE11

Gasoline is a product of distillation of crude oil. It is a transparent,

petroleum-derived liquid that is used primarily as fuel for small internal
combustion engines commonly used in agriculture operations. It
consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional
distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives.

Natural gas gasoline

Manufactured from the gas that is taken from oil well or is obtained from the
distillation of crude oil.
Straight-run gasoline or raw gasoline
Produced from distillation of crude oil
Cracked gasoline
Manufactured from heavier distillation fraction, particularly gas oil.
Blended gasoline
Consists of all types of natural raw or cracked gasoline and are mixed together
in the refining process
Topic 4. Fuels and Combustion ABE11

Diesel

Diesel fuel is obtained between

250oC to 320oC during fractional
distillation of crude oil. It generally
contains 85%C and 12% H. Density
is around 0.82-0.89 g/cc while the
calorific value is about 11,000
kcal/kg. Diesel includes the heaviest
oils used in compression-ignition
internal combustion engine. They are
commonly used in larger engines
since they are cheaper than gasoline
or kerosene fuel.
Topic 4. Fuels and Combustion ABE11

Kerosene

Kerosene is a heavier product

of the distillation of crude oil
than gasoline. It is obtained
between 180 to 250oC during
fractional distillation of crude
oil. The density is 0.78 – 0.84
g/cc while the Octane number
is 30 -40. It is used as
illuminant and fuel for tractors.
Spark ignition engine cannot
start with kerosene fuel only
because the initial point of
kerosene is higher than that of
gasoline.
Topic 4. Fuels and Combustion ABE11

Bioethanol

Bioethanol (C2H5OH) is a biofuel

substitute for gasoline. It is an
ethanol obtained from biomass and
is used as a gasoline blend.
Bioethanol is produced from
fermentation of biomass which is
rich in sugar, carbohydrates and
cellulosic materials followed by
distillation process.
Topic 4. Fuels and Combustion ABE11

Biodiesel

Biodiesel is a biomass-derived fuel

which can be used as direct
substitute for diesel oil in CI engines.
However, biodiesel is more
expensive than diesel fuel. Biomass
oil or used cooking oil is filtered and
then pre-process with alkali to
remove free fatty acids then mixed
with alcohol and catalyst to form
esters and glycerol. The product is
then separated and purified.
Topic 4. Fuels and Combustion ABE11

Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG)

LPG consists of propane and butane. They are hydrocarbons which are
gaseous at normal atmospheric pressure and by the application of
moderate pressure, may condense to liquid state at normal temperature.
As engine fuel, the fuel supply system for LPG engines differs from that
of the gasoline engine. Butane is about twice the weight of the air while
propane is one and a half times heavier than that of air which allows the
gas to flow on the ground making it possible to be ignited even at a
considerable distance.
Topic 4. Fuels and Combustion ABE11

Producer Gas Wood fuel Biobutanol

It is essentially a Wood is the most Biobutanol is butyl
mixture of
Natural Gas commonly used Biomass alcohol produced
combustible gases Natural gas is used and easily biologically which
containing carbon obtainable solid It is essentially a is considered as
directly as it comes fuel. It is made of mixture of
monoxide and primary alcohol
hydrogen with from the oil well vegetable tissue of combustible gases with a 4 carbon
non-combustible without subjecting it trees and bushes containing carbon structure and
gases such as N2, to any complex consisting mainly monoxide and molecular formula
CO2 etc. It is of cellular tissues hydrogen with of C4H9OH. It
refining or purifying non-combustible
prepared by and lignin and usually used as
process. It consists lesser parts of fat gases such as N2,
burning fuel with fuel, solvent, and
little amount of air largely of 95% and tar as well as CO2 etc. It is an intermediate in
or with the use of methane and the sugar. The prepared by chemical
steam in a reactor remaining calorific value of burning fuel with synthesis.
called “gas wood is around little amount of air Biobutanol with
percentage of other
producer”. 4000 to 5000 or with the use of 85% strength can
hydrocarbon gases kcal/kg. steam in a reactor be used for spark-
such as ethane, called “gas ignition engine
propane, butane, producer”. without
pentane, nitrogen, modification.
carbon dioxide, etc.
Topic 4. Fuels and Combustion ABE11

Combustion Process

Combustion refers to the rapid

oxidation of fuel accompanied by
the production of heat and light.
Rapid fuel oxidation results in a
large amount of heat. Solid or
liquid fuel must be changed to gas
before it is burned. Heat is
required to change liquid or solid
fuel into gas.
Topic 4. Fuels and Combustion ABE11
Good combustion can
be attained by
(a) high temperature
enough to ignite and
maintain ignition of
fuel, (b) Turbulence or
intimate mixing of fuel
and oxygen and (c)
sufficient time to
complete combustion.
Topic 4. Fuels and Combustion ABE11
Topic 4. Fuels and Combustion ABE11

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