Measurement of the Heat of Combustion of a Gaseous Fuel Using a

Continuous Flow Gas Calorimeter

Objective:
To determine the heat of combustion of natural gas by the continuous flow calorimeter method
and to become familiar with the calculations and corrections used in precision calorific work.
Definitions:

The higher heating value (total calorific value, or gross heat of combustion) of a gas is the
number of Btu’s evolved by the complete combustion at constant pressure of one standard cubic
foot of gas with air, if the temperature of the gas, air, and products of combustion are all 60oF
and if all the water formed by the combustion reaction is condensed.
The lower heating value (net calorific value, or gross heat of combustion) of a gas is the number
of Btu’s evolved by the complete combustion at constant pressure of one standard cubic foot of
gas with air, if the temperature of the gas, air, and products of combustion are all 60oF and if all
the water formed by the combustion reaction would remain in the vapor state.
The lower heating value is equal to the higher heating value minus the latent heat of evaporation
at the standard temperature, 60oF, of the water formed by the combustion reaction. The latent
heat of evaporation at 60oF is 1059.9 Btu/lb (steam table value for hfg at 60oF).
Theory:

In the flow calorimeter method, the gaseous fuel is burned at a steady rate, the heat of
combustion being transferred to a stream of water flowing through the calorimeter. This water is
collected during the test and weighed afterwards. The temperature rise of the water in the
apparatus is recorded, so that the total amount of heat transferred to the water can be calculated.
The natural gas is fed to a burner, which is placed inside the calorimeter, at a constant pressure
and the volume of flow is metered so that the total quantity used can be determined.
The combustion process takes place at constant pressure (atmospheric), and the role of the
calorimeter is that of a steady state heat exchanger.

Let:

HHV = Higher heating value of the gaseous fuel (Btu/standard ft3)

W = Weight of the heated water collected during run (lbs)
Cp = Specific heat of water at constant pressure (Btu/lb oF)
Tout = Water outlet temperature (oF)
Tin = Water inlet Temperature (oF)
Vs = Standard volume of gaseous fuel (ft3)

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The heat absorbed by the water in a run is equal to WCp (Tout- Tin). Ignoring minor corrections:

In order to compare the heating values of different gases measured at various pressures and
temperatures, it is necessary to use standard conditions. This means calculating Vs, the volume of
gas used, referred to standard conditions. Two sets of standard conditions are recognized. ASTM
(American Society of Testing and Materials) recommends 60 oF and 30 inch Hg, while ASME
(American Society of Mechanical Engineers) recommends 68 oF and 29.921 inch Hg. Both
mercury columns are specified at
32 oF. We shall use ASTM standards.

Let subscript S refers to the ASTM standard condition and subscript m refer to the condition
of the gas in the gas-meter. We assume that gas is saturated with water vapor as it leaves the
wet gas-meter. Then, by applying the ideal gas law to the gas without water vapor:

So:

Where:

Vm is the measured volume of gas in ft3

Ps and Pm are partial pressure of the gas:

Ps = Pstandard – PH2O at 60 F = 30in Hg – 0.52 in Hg = 29.48 in Hg

Pm = Patm + Pgas – Psat @ Tgas

Ts = Standard Temperature = 60 oF + 459.7 = 519.7 R

Tm = Tgas ( R )

2
Corrections:
The following corrections must be applied to the calculations of HHV and LHV of the gas:

Cs : Correction to account for the fact that the specific heat of water is not always exactly
1.00 Btu/lb oF

∆𝑯 = 𝑪𝑷 ∆𝑻

Note: Since the change in temperature of water is small, Cp is

considered constan

Ce : Correction for heat loss from the calorimeter when the inlet water is at combustion air
temperature
𝑪𝒆 = 𝒉𝒄 𝑨 𝒕 ∆𝑻

Where:

hc is the convective heat transfer coefficient of the

calorimeter = 5 Btu/hr.ft2 oF A is the surface area of the

calorimeter shell= 2.1 ft2

t is the time of run in hour

∆T= Tshell - Troom (The temperature difference between the shell and the surrounding air in
oF)

Ct : Correction to refer the results of the test to the standard temperature of 60 oF

The heat evolved is measured with the gaseous fuel entering at Tfuel, air entering at Tair,
exhaust gases leaving at TExhaust, and the condensate leaving at TCondensate, The HHV of
the gas refers to the heat evolved when all reactants and products are at standard temperature of
60oF. To find the correction, the following analysis must be done:

CH4 + 3(O2 + (79/21)N2) → CO2 +2 H2O(L) + O2 + 11.285 N2

Note: Actual combustion reaction requires 50% excess air, which contains 79% Nitrogen and
21% of oxygen, to assume complete combustion.

Heat evolved from this reaction would be equal to the difference between the enthalpy of the
products and the reactants:

Q = HP - HR
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 𝑇𝑒𝑥ℎ 𝑇
Hp = HP at 60 oF + [∫60 ( 𝐶𝑃𝐶𝑂2 + 𝐶𝑃𝑂2 + 11.285 𝐶𝑃𝑁2 )𝑑𝑇 + ∫60𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑑 2 𝐶𝑃𝐻2𝑂 𝑑𝑇)]
𝑇𝑔𝑎𝑠 𝑇
HR = HR at 60 oF + [∫60 𝐶𝑃𝐶𝐻4 + ∫60𝑎𝑖𝑟 (3 𝐶𝑃𝑜2 + 11.285 𝐶𝑃𝑁2 ) 𝑑𝑇]
Hp - HR = (HP at 60 oF - HR at 60 oF) +
𝑇𝑒𝑥ℎ 𝑇 𝑇𝑔𝑎𝑠 𝑇
{[∫60 ( 𝐶𝑃𝐶𝑂2 + 𝐶𝑃𝑂2 + 11.285 𝐶𝑃𝑁2 )𝑑𝑇 + ∫60𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑑 2 𝐶𝑃𝐻2𝑂 𝑑𝑇)] − [∫60 𝐶𝑃𝐶𝐻4 + ∫60𝑎𝑖𝑟(3 𝐶𝑃𝑜2 + 11.285 𝐶𝑃𝑁2 ) 𝑑𝑇] }

Or:

Q = HHV + Ct

Where:

𝑇𝑒𝑥ℎ 𝑇 𝑇𝑔𝑎𝑠 𝑇
Ct = {[∫60 ( 𝐶𝑃𝐶𝑂2 + 𝐶𝑃𝑂2 + 11.285 𝐶𝑃𝑁2 )𝑑𝑇 + ∫60𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑑 2 𝐶𝑃𝐻2𝑂 𝑑𝑇)] − [∫60 𝐶𝑃𝐶𝐻4 + ∫60𝑎𝑖𝑟 (3 𝐶𝑃𝑜2 + 11.285 𝐶𝑃𝑁2 ) 𝑑𝑇] }

Since the temperature differences are small, the Cp values can be taken as constant over the
temperature range of integration. Using a constant Cp (the average Cp) converts the integral into:

Average Cp values are provided in the table below:

Substanc Average Cp in
e Btu/lbmol-oF
O2 7.00

N2 6.984

CO2 8.88

H2O 18

CH4 8.48

Therefore the correction term will be simplified to:

Ct = [(CpCO2 + CpO2 + 11.285 CpN2)(Texh - 60) + 2CpH2O (Tcond -60)]- [(3CpO2 +

11.285 CpN2)(Tair - 60) + CpCH4 (Tgas -60)]

4
This correction must be subtracted from the measured heat evolved to find the HHV of the gas.
Please note that Ct has the unit of Btu/lb-mole, which must be converted to Btu/ft3 before
subtraction. Also note that 1 lb-mole of any gas at standard temperature and pressure of 60oF and
3
30 inHg has a volume of 379.6 ft
Other corrections are as follow:
Cd: Correction to account for any difference between the temperatures of inlet water, combustion
air, and air surrounding the calorimeter
Ch: correction (only for the higher heating value) to account for the fact that the amount of water
vapor entering the calorimeter is not equal (it is lower) to that leaving it. This is very difficult to
apply without having equipment to measure the percentage of excess air. It is possible to compute
this if we assume saturated gas and 40% excess air, using dry ad wet bulb temperature to evaluate
the humidity of the combustion air. The correction is equal to the difference of the water vapor
amounts multiplied by the condensation heat. This correction must be added to the computed higher
heating value.
Finally, the HHV of natural gas in Btu/SCF can be found from:

𝑊𝐶𝑝 (𝑇𝑜𝑢𝑡 − 𝑇𝑖𝑛 ) + 𝐶𝑒

𝐻𝐻𝑉 = + 𝐶𝑡
𝑉𝑠
Where:

W= weight of the heated water collected during run (lbs)

Cp= corrected specific heat of water

(Btu/lb oF) Tout=Water outlet

Temperature (oF)

Tin = Water inlet Temperature (oF)

Vs = Standard volume of gaseous fuel (ft3)

Ce = Correction for heat loss from the calorimeter (Btu)

Ct = Correction to refer the results of the test to the standard temperature of 60 oF in Btu/SCF And the LHV
can be found from:
LHV = HHV – (mcondensate / Vs )× ( hfg @ 60 F)

Heat of vaporization of water at 60oF (hfg) = 1059 Btu/lbm,

𝑚𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑎𝑡𝑒 × 1059
𝐿𝐻𝑉 = 𝐻𝐻𝑉 −
𝑉𝑠
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Procedure:

1. Inspect the gas supply hose for leaks by closing the burner valve, and momentarily opening the
supply valve. After closing the supply valve, watch the pressure manometer. A loss of pressure
in approximately a minute or two indicates that a leak is present.
2. Open water faucet slowly and allow water to flow through the calorimeter, making sure it overflows
in the weir.
3. Light the burner on the bench. Using the gas supply valve, and the burner valve, adjust gas flow
to 3000 Btu/hr, or for the natural gas being tested, to one revolution of the 0.1 ft3 meter hand in
120 seconds. Adjust to within 5%. The gas meter pressure should be not more than 2 inches of
water. Adjust the weights on the pressure regulator if necessary.
4. Place the lighted burner, adjusted to a blue flame, centrally in the combustion chamber and adjust
water flow rate until the outlet water temperature is about 20 oF higher than the inlet temperature.
If the flame goes out (to be noted by a mirror or from any drop in the water outlet temperature),
wait 10 minutes and then light again.
5. Allow the calorimeter to warm up for approximately 10 minutes. Then, when the
temperatures, water flow, and condensate drip are steady, start a series of three identical
runs. Each run should be exactly five minutes long.
6. Start each run by the following simultaneous operations after steady state has been reached:

A. Start timer
B. Use two 2000 ml graduated cylinders to collect the heated water
C. Use a small graduated cylinder to collect the condensate
D. Collect the following data in each 5 minute run
a) Water inlet temperature ( 5 readings at interval of one minute)
b) Water outlet temperature (5 readings at interval of one minute)
c) Exhaust gas temperature (5 readings at interval of one minute)
d) Gas Pressure (at the beginning and end of each run)
e) Gas temperature (at the beginning and end of each run)
f) Gas meter readings at the beginning and end of run
g) Volume of the heated water
h) Volume of the condensate
i) Temperature of condensate
j) Barometric pressure

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Calculations and Analysis:

Calculate the following values for all three runs and include them in the following table of results:

Run #1 Run #2 Run#3

WHeated water (lbm)
WCondensate (lbm)
hf @ Tin (Btu/lbm)
hf @ Tout (Btu/lbm)
Ave. CpH2O (Btu/lbm °F)
Psat @ Tgas (in Hg)
Pm (in Hg)
Vs (ft3)
Ce (Btu)
Ct (Btu/mole)
Ct (Btu/ft3)
HHV (Btu/ft3)
HHV (% error)
LHV (Btu/ft3)
LHV (% error)

Use table A-4E to find enthalpies of liquid water (hf) at average temperatures of water in and out (Tin
and Tout and saturation pressure (Psat) of water at gas temperature

Discuss the following in your “Discussions and Analysis”:

a) Compare the calculated HHV for each run with the provided referenced HHV and explain if
the %error is acceptable
b) Compare the results of the three runs and explain the reasons behind the discrepancy of the
results.
c) What’s the uncertainty in reading each data? Which data is the least accurate and why?
d) Explain all possible sources of error in running the apparatus and collecting data

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 EXP#1 Data Sheet

Temperature of water in (oF)

Time(min) Run#1 Run#2 Run#3

0
1
2
3
4
5
Temperature of water out (oF)

Time(min) Run#1 Run#2 Run#3

0
1
2
3
4
5
Exhaust Temperature (oF)

Time(min) Run#1 Run#2 Run#3

0
1
2
3
4
5

Run#1 Run#2 Run#3

Gas Pressure (in H2O)
Gas Temperature (oF)
Volume of gas used (ft3)
Weight of heated water (g)
Weight of condensate (g)
Temperature of condensate (oF)
Shell Temperature (oF)

Room Temperature (oF)=

Room Pressure (in Hg)=

8
References

1. Çengel, Yunus A. and Boles, Michael A, Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach, 8th ed. New
York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2015.
2. GREET, The Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation Model,
GREET 1.8d.1, developed by Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, released August 26, 2010.
[Link]
3. Previous laboratory Handouts, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, California State
University at Long Beach (CSULB)
4. A Dictionary of Mechanical Engineering, Tony Atkins and Marcel Escudier, Oxford University Press,
2014