BOMB CALORIMETER

&
JUNKERS CALORIMETER
What’s calorific value?

 The calorific value of a fuel may be defined as the amount

of heat generated by burning one kg of fuel completely.
 The unit of C.V incase of Solid and Liquid Fuels is kJ/kg
 The unit of C.V incase of Gaseous Fuels is kJ/m3
What’s a CALORIMETER?

 A calorimeter (from Latin calor,

meaning heat) is a device used for
calorimetry, the science of
measuring the heat of chemical
reactions or physical changes as well
as heat capacity.
 In short it is a device used to
calculate the Calorific Value of Solid ,
Liquid & Gaseous Fuels.
Bomb Calorimeter :
 A bomb calorimeter is a type of constant-volume calorimeter used in
measuring the heat of combustion of a particular reaction.
 The fuel is kept on a crucible supported by ignition rods and fuse
wires made up of platinum or nichrome.
 Electrical energy is used to ignite the fuel; as the fuel is burning, it
will heat up the Stainless Steel Container.
 Thus the heat is transferred to the water outside the container. The
temperature of the water allows for calculating calorie content of the
fuel.
Overview :

 Basically, a bomb calorimeter consists of a

a. Small cup to contain the sample,
b. Oxygen,
c. A stainless steel bomb,
d. Water,
e. A stirrer,
f. A thermometer,
g. The dewar (to prevent heat flow from the calorimeter to the
surroundings) and ignition circuit connected to the bomb.
Calculations:
 mf = Mass of fuel sample burnt in the bomb in kg
 H.C.V = Higher Calorific Value of the fuel sample in kJ/kg
 mw =Mass of water filled in calorimeter in kg
 me = Water equivalent of apparatus in kg
 t1 = Initial temperature of water and apparatus in C
 t2 =Final temperature of water and apparatus in C
 We know that heat liberated by fuel = mf x H.C.V
 Heat Absorbed by water and apparatus = (mw + me) cw (t2 - t1)
 Since the heat liberated is equal to the heat absorbed …
 tc = cooling correction
Junkers calorimeter :

 Similar Principle to that of the Bomb calorimeter

 Junkers Calorimeter used to determine the calorific value

of GASEOUS fuels while the Bomb Calorimeter is used to
determine the calorific value of SOLID AND LIQUID fuels.
Working:
 Gas of particular amount is supplied through the inlet through the
GAS METER
 Burnt in the combustion chamber
 The heat is then transferred to the water tubes called the flue tubes
 Cold water is supplied through the bottom and Hot water leaves at
the top.
 The difference in temperatures of the water at two ends is used to
find the higher calorific value of the gas.
 Calculations are similar to that of the Bomb calorimeter.