Chemical Plant: Module 2 – EHCAY3C

Test 1
Date: 25 August 2017 Marks:60 marks
Time :1 hour
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Question 1 (30 marks)

1.1. Define the term Fuel

(3)

1.2. Discuss the Ultimate Analysis of Coal (you need to include all elements and
their influence)
(10)

1.3. What are the advantages of liquid fuels(give 5) and give two examples of liquid
fuels.
(7)

1.4. Compare Water gas and Producer gas.

(10)

Question 2 (33 marks)

2.1. The pulveriser is the heart of any solid-fuel suspension-firing system. Explain
how it works?
(9)

2.2. What are the different burner configuration that can be used in suspension-
firing (pulverised coal firing)?
(5)

2.3. Explain how Fluidised bed combustion work and give 2 advantages of the
process
(7)

2.4. Discuss the principles involved in Fluid Atomisation including the advantages
and disadvantages of the process.
(6)

2.5. Compare the terms hydroxylation and cracking as they apply to gas
combustion
(6)
 Chemical Plant: Module 2 – EHCAY3C
Memorandum Test 1
Date: 25 August 2017 Marks:60 marks
Time :1 hour
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Question 1 (26 marks)

1.1. Define the term Fuel

(3)
Fuel is a substance that reacts with the oxygen in air to produce heat.
Once raised to its ignition temperature it burns continuously if sufficient oxygen or air is available
Fuel contains one or several combustible elements like carbon, hydrogen, sulphur, etc

1.2. Discuss the Ultimate Analysis of Coal (you need to include all elements and their influence)
(10)
Ultimate Analysis
Gives a more precise indication of the chemical composition of the of coal
Composition is given in terms of carbon (½), hydrogen (½), oxygen (½), nitrogen (½),
sulphur (½) and ash (½)
This is useful in combustion calculations and finding the composition of flue gasses

• Ash – reduces the heating value, increase the transport, handling and storage cost. It also
involves additional cost in ash disposal, which can be even more relevant for solid waste
combustion.

• Fixed carbon – the higher the percentage of fixed carbon, the greater the calorific value.

• Carbon and Hydrogen – the higher their values the higher the calorific value of the coal will
be.

• Nitrogen – nitrogen does not have any calorific value and its presence is not of much
significance for combustion, but it has an influence on the air pollution problems associated
with the fuel.

• Sulphur – increases the calorific value of the fuel, but the combustion products have
corrosive properties and will cause air pollution.

1.3. What are the advantages of liquid fuels (give 5) and give two examples of liquid fuels.
(7)
• Higher calorific value per unit mass compared to solid fuels (Usually expressed as kJ/kg)
• Burns without dust, ash, clinkers, etc
• Firing and extinguishing is easier (?)
• Easy to transport through pipes
• Can be stored indefinitely without loss
• Clean to use and economic to handle
• Low heat loss in the chimney, due to cleaner burning
• Less air needed for complete combustion
• Less furnace space needed for combustion any 5

Petrol, Diesel, Kerosene, Heavy Oil anything that makes sense

Paraffin, Compressed natural gas, Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), Bio-diesel, Alcohols – methanol, ethanol, butanol
1.4. Compare Water gas and Producer gas.
Water Gas
• It is made by passing steam and a
small amount of air through a bed of red
hot coal / coke maintained at 900 -
1000°C in a reactor vessel lined with fire
bricks.
(6)
Producer Gas
• It is made in very much the same way as
Water Gas but air and a small amount
of steam is used and the temperature is
slightly higher.

Question 2 (36 marks)

2.1. The pulveriser is the heart of any solid-fuel suspension-firing system. Explain how a pulveriser works?
(11)
• Air is used to dry coal, transport it through the pulveriser
• Air is also used to classify the coal , and transport it to the burners, where the transport air
provides part of the air for combustion .
• The pulverisers themselves are classified according to whether they are under positive or
negative pressure and whether they operate at slow, medium or high speed .
• Pulverization occurs by impact , attrition or crushing .

• The capacity of a pulveriser depends on the grind-ability of the coal and the fineness desired .
• Capacity can also be seriously reduced by excessive moisture in the coal, but it can be
restored by increasing the temperature of the primary air .

2.2. What are the different burner configurations that can be used in suspension-firing (pulverised coal firing)?
(5)
• Vertical firing
• Tangential
• Horizontal firing
• Cyclone firing
• Opposed inclined firing

2.3. Explain how Fluidised bed combustion work and give 2 advantages of the process
(7)
• In fluidized-bed combustion (FBC) fuel is burned in a bed of particles supported in an agitated
state by an upward flow of air introduced via an air distributor. (Solid fuel particles are
suspended on upward-blowing jets of air during the combustion process)
• The result is a turbulent mixing of air and solids. (½)
• The tumbling action, much like bubbling fluid, provides more effective chemical reactions and
heat transfer (½)
• The bed particles may be sand or ash derived from the fuel, but usually they are a sulphur
sorbent, like limestone or dolomite.

• Good heat-transfer characteristics, and even distribution of temperatures within the combustion
chamber
• Provide good contact between the gas and solids
• Low slag and fouling with reduced NOX formation
• Effective sulphur capture (**less SO2 emissions)
• High combustion efficiency at lower temperatures(compared to PC furnaces) any 2
2.4. Discuss the principals involved in Fluid Atomisation including the advantages and disadvantages of the process.
(6)
Principles of atomisation: Fluid Atomisation
• It results from the shearing effect of a high velocity stream acting on a liquid fuel
• Atomisation thus occurs through momentum exchange between to streams (eg. fuel & air or
fuel & steam)
• Air as the atomising fluid can enter either low, medium or high pressure

Advantages:
• Increase in turn down ratio - (Turn down ratio compares the maximum to minimum heat output. Turn down ratio for
direct gas fired burners is 25:1, which means that the burner can modulate from 4% to 100% of full fire. Indirect gas turn down ratio is typically 2:1, which
limits the heat output from 50% to 100% of full fire.)
Disadvantages:
• Costly
• Complexity of supplying fluid under pressure

2.5. Compare the terms hydroxylation and cracking as they apply to gas combustion
(7)
• Combustion of gaseous fuels takes place in two ways, depending upon when gas and air are
mixed.
• When gas and air are mixed before ignition , as in a Bunsen burner, burning proceeds by
hydroxylation.
• The hydrocarbons and oxygen form hydroxylated compounds that form become aldehydes ;
the addition of heat and additional oxygen breaks down the aldehydes to H2, CO, CO2 and
H2O.
• Cracking occurs when oxygen is added to hydrocarbons after they have been heated ,
decomposing the hydrocarbons into carbon and hydrogen , which when combined with
sufficient oxygen, form CO2 and H2O .