Combustion

Solid Fuel
SOLID FUEL
 Coal – originated from the arrested decay of
the remains of trees, bushes, ferns, mosses,
etc.
 Coke - is a fuel with few impurities and a high
carbon content, usually made from coal. It is
the solid carbonaceous material derived from
destructive distillation of low-ash, low-sulfur
bituminous coal
SOLID FUEL
Contentsof solid fuel
Free moisture
Combined moisture
Carbon, C
Net hydrogen, H
Nitrogen, N and sulfur, S
Ash
SOLID FUEL
Free moisture – amount of water the solid
fuel adsorbed in its surface. It is obtained
experimentally by heating the sample for
one hour at 104oC to 110oC. The loss in
weight is called moisture content.
SOLID FUEL

Combined moisture – water that maybe

formed theoretically from the oxygen and
hydrogen present in the fuel.

Total moisture – equivalent to oxygen in

the ultimate analysis.
 SOLID FUEL
 Nethydrogen – hydrogen other than that in the
moisture and combined moisture. It is the
burnable hydrogen.
N and S – usually present in small amount. Often
neglected though present in amounts ranging from
1-3%.
 Ash– the mineral contents of coal. The inorganic
constituents which are not burned.
 Two types of analysis
1.Proximate Analysis – laboratory method of analysis based
on the volatilization characteristics of solid fuel 
Moisture – the loss in weight after heating at 104 oC for one
hour
Volatile Combustible Matter (VCM) – the loss in weight of
the sample upon ignition in a covered crucible for 7 minutes
at 250oC. Mostly combined water, C and H.
Fixed carbon (FC) – combustible matter left after ignition. It
is pure carbon.
Ash – residue left from complete combustion of the sample in
open air at 725oC.
Two types of analysis
2. Ultimate Analysis (Air-dried/as fired basis) – reports the percentage by
weight of ash and each element in coal
 Elemental composition of the solid fuel expressed as
 %C
 %H
 %S
 %N
 %Ash
 and the balance %O.
 Two types of analysis
Example: Proximate and Ultimate Analysis of Pennsylvania
Coal

PROXIMATE ULTIMATE
  Moisture 3.2% Carbon 79.9%
VCM 21.0% Hydrogen 4.85%
FC 69.3% Sulfur 0.69%
Ash 6.5% Nitrogen 1.30%
Ash 6.50%
(Oxygen 6.76%)
Relation of Proximate and Ultimate
Analysis
C in VCM
Total C = C in VCM + Fixed C
 Net H
Total H = Net H + H equiv to O (H2O)
 Combined H 2O
Total H2O = Combined H2O + Free H2O
Sample Problem
 Coal from Kentucky, has the following
ultimate analysis on a dry basis, percent by
mass: 79.2% C, 5.7% H, 1.5% N, 0.6% S,
3.0% Ash
Complete the ultimate analysis
Modify the analysis showing the combined
water and the net hydrogen
If the moisture content of the coal is 3.0 %,
complete the ultimate analysis on a wet basis
Sample Problem
Sample Problem
 Estimation of Coal
 Dulong Formula 

HHV = 14,544 C + 62,028 (H – O/8) + 4050 S 

where : HHV - higher heating value of the coal [BTU/lb]

C & S - weight fractions of carbon & sulfur, respectively
(H – O/8) - weight fraction of the net hydrogen
 
Estimation of Coal

 Calderwood Equation

C = 5.88 + 0.00512 (B – 40.5 S) +/- 0.0053 | [80 – 100(VCM/FC)] |1.55

Use negative (-) 0.0053 if [80 – 100(VCM/FC)] < 0

where : C, S, VCM & FC – in weight percent
B - higher heating value (HHV) in BTU/lb
Conversion

 BTU (thermochemical) = 1054.35 Joules

 lb = 0.45359 kg

 BTU (thermo) /lb = 2324.44 Joule per kg

Sample Problem
 Coalfrom Kentucky, has the following
ultimate analysis on a dry basis, percent
by mass: 79.2% C, 5.7% H, 1.5% N,
0.6% S, 3.0% Ash
Estimate the HHV
Sample Problem
 Coal from Kentucky, has the following
ultimate analysis on a dry basis, percent
by mass: 79.2% C, 5.7% H, 1.5% N,
0.6% S, 3.0% Ash
Using Dulong Formula

HHV = 14,544 (0.792) + 62,028 (0.057 – (0.1)/8) + 4050 (0.006)

Sample Problem
HHV = 14,544 (0.792) + 62,028 (0.057 – (0.1)/8) + 4050 (0.006)

Or Using the calculated net H

HHV = 14,544 (0.792) + 62,028 (0.0445) + 4050 (0.006)

HW