BKG3741 Fuel and Combustion Lab

Sem 11-2012/2013

Faculty of Chemical & Natural Resources Engineering

BKG3721
Fuel & Combustion Lab
Experiment 2
BOYS CALORIMETER-LPG

Name
Matric No.
Group
Program
Section
Date

Sem. 11 - Session 2012/2013

1.0 Objective

BKG3741 Fuel and Combustion Lab

Sem 11-2012/2013

1.

To investigate the calorific value of LPG.

2.

To use and understand techniques for accurate calorimetric

analysis

2.0 Introduction

Boys Calorimeter
The Boys Non-recording Gas Calorimeter was designed by the late Sir
Charles Boys F.R.S. as simple but accurate equipment for ascertaining
the calorific values of a large range of gaseous fuels. The gas is fed to
the two burners mounted in the base of the calorimeter where it is
burnt in air. The exhaust gases from the burners are fed through the
calorimeter over the water filled calorimeter coils and leave the
apparatus through a vent in the top of the unit. A thermometer for
measuring the exhaust gas temperature is suspended in this vent. An
outlet drain is provided for any condensate, which is formed from the
exhaust gas. Coolant water is fed through the coils of the calorimeter
from the constant head overflow funnel fixed above the unit. The
water outlet from the calorimeter is fed into a changeover funnel,
which is used for diverting the outlet water from waste into a
measuring vessel or vice-versa. This enables the flow rate of water
through the calorimeter to be determined. The temperature of both
the inlet and outlet water is monitored by mercury in glass
thermometers. When the calorimeter is not in use during short
periods during the testing, the coils of the unit are kept immersed in a
tank containing an alkaline solution. This serves to neutralize any
acidic products deposited on the coils by the combustion of the gas.
Hyde Gas Meter
The gas for the calorimeter is fed via a Hyde type gas meter, which
consists of a specially designed measuring drum housed in a gas-tight
casing and sealed with water. On entry to the-meter the gas is
introduced into a space above the water in the outer casing and the
gas must pass through the measuring drum, causing it to rotate, to
get to the outlet connection of the meter. The measuring drum is
coupled to the pointer on the front of the meter.

3.0

DESCRIPTION

BKG3741 Fuel and Combustion Lab

Sem 11-2012/2013

The Boys Gas Calorimeter Set can be used to determine the calorific
value of a selection of gaseous fuels. The Cussons Type P5615 Boys
Gas Calorimeter set consists of the following items.
1.
A Boys non-recording gas calorimeter.
2.
3.
4.
5.

6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.

15.

A constant head overhead funnel with water connecting tubes,

2 thermometers engraved on stem 0-50 C for temperate
climates or 0-75 C for tropical climates, for inlet and outlet
water temperatures.
2 adjustable reading lenses, chromium plated, with spring clips
for attaching to stems of thermometers in item 3.
2 thermometers engraved on stem 0-35 C for temperate
climates or 0-50 C for tropical climates, for effluent gas and
room temperatures.
3 litre collecting vessel and 1000 ml graduated glass vessel, for
measuring outflow from calorimeter.
Graduated glass vessel, capacity 50 ml, for collecting
condensed products.
General purpose burner set comprising
Town gas and coke oven gas burner, - 14.9 - 22.35 MJ / m3
(400 - 600 BTU / ft 3.) Ref. No. 3 burner
Burner to BS3804; 22.3 - 33.5 MJ / m3 (600 - 900 BTU / ft 3.)
Ref. 5034/100
Natural gas and methane burner, 33.5 - 44.7 MJ / m3 (900 1200 BTU / ft 3.) Ref, 7443/60
Butane, propane, acetylene, ethylene & propylene burner, 44.7
- 130.4 MJ / m3 (1200 -3500 BTU / ft 3.) Ref. 7445/35
Gas control valve (quadrant cock).
A "Hyde" pattern meter of 2.0 liters per revolution capacity. The
dial is divided into 100 divisions and is enclosed by a glass
front. The casing and measuring drum are of tinned copper and
all brass fittings are lacquered. A spirit level, point setting key
and height gauge are provided for setting up the meter
together with fittings for a 0 - 35 C thermometer for
measuring the inlet temperature of the gas.
Cylindrical metal vessel to contain alkaline solution into which
the coils portion of the calorimeter is placed when not in use.

Three accessories are available for use with the calorimeter set.
These are a type P5617 reducing valve, a P5616 set of additional
burners and an automatic gas cut-off device. The reducing valve type
P5617 is intended to reduce the pressure of the incoming gas from
valves up to 30 cm H2O to 5 cm HA If gases at pressures higher than
30 cm H20 are to be used, then a primary stage of pressure reduction
should be used. The P5617 may not be required when testing high CV
bottled gases such as Butane and Propane mixtures if a suitable
pressure reducing valve and control valve are provided on the bottle.
The P5616 set of additional burners contains 3 extra burners to
extend the range of the calorimeter. The burners are suitable for

BKG3741 Fuel and Combustion Lab

Sem 11-2012/2013

Blast furnace gas and low calorific value gas 3.7 MJ / m 3 (150 - 300
BTU / ft3.) " Ref, No. 7 burner.

Propane only 93.1 MJ / m3 (2500 BTU / ft3.) - Ref. 5428/25 or

7458/25.
Butane-air 23.3 - 24.2 MJ / m3 (625 - 650 BTU / ft3.) - Ref.
5034/100.
The Automatic Gas Cut-off device is used for shutting off the gas
supply in the event of the water supply failing.

4.0

Experimental Procedures
1.

Check all the equipment is in good condition and is installed in

the right sequence

2.

Ignite the fire sources, followed by flowing the gas

3.

Put the burner into the calorimeter

4.

Flow the water into the boys calorimeter

5.

Keep the water flow constantly until the changes of temperature

constant.

6.

Note the inlet and outlet temperature for every cycle of the
hydro meter. Meanwhile, collect the water by the container.
Note it for 4 cycles.

7.

Remove the container and weight it

8.

Turn off the gas and the water source.

5.0
Results

BKG3741 Fuel and Combustion Lab

5.1

Sem 11-2012/2013

Calculating for Calorific Value

Table 5.1: Experimental Data

Set 1
Ti1

To1

Set2
Ti2

Set3
To2

Ti3

To3

Average
Temperature, (oC)
Ti
To

1st
Quadrant
2nd
Quadrant
3rd
Quadrant
4th
Quadrant
Mass of
collected
water

Mass of empty beaker, (g)

: ______________________________

Mass of (beaker + water), (g)

: _____________________________

Ambient Temperature,(oC)

: ______________________________

Barometric Pressure, (mmHg)

: ______________________________

Average Inlet Temperature, Ti ,(oC)

:_____________________

Average Oulet Temperature, To ,(oC)

:_____________________

Average Difference of Temperature, T , ( C)

o

:_____________________

6.0 ANALYSIS
6.1 Calculating for Calorific Value , CV (MJ/m3):
Formulae;

BKG3741 Fuel and Combustion Lab

Sem 11-2012/2013

1
4
CV = T W 4.187 GVF
10
3
metersize
,
(
m
)

revs

Where:
W
GVF
Meter Size
Revs

= collected water, (ml)

= gas volume factor (Appendix 1, Table 1)
= 20dm3,capacity of one revolution of the meter in m3
= number of revolutions of the meter (Appendix 1, Table 2)

Calculation examples:-

6.2

Calculating for gas volume correction at other pressures and

temperatures.
Formulae;
V

n a
Vo =

1 + 0.00367 t 760 ao

Where:

V0 = Gas volume at 0C and 760mmHg pressure

V = Gas volume at ambient temperature and pressure
n = Barometric pressure in mmHg
a0 = Vapor pressure in mmHg at temperature t
a = Vapor pressure in mmHg at temperature 0C
t = Ambient temperature
Calculation examples:-

BKG3741 Fuel and Combustion Lab

Sem 11-2012/2013

a)

From the result, described briefly process occurred in the calorimeter?

b)

Why is it important to determine the calorific value of gaseous fuels?

BKG3741 Fuel and Combustion Lab

Sem 11-2012/2013

BKG3741 Fuel and Combustion Lab

Appendix

Sem 11-2012/2013

BKG3741 Fuel and Combustion Lab

Sem 11-2012/2013

Table 1: Gas Volume Factors relative to 0"C and 760 mmHg. Note A formula for calculating the gas volume at
other temperatures and Pressures is given in the text.
mm 10C 11C 12C 13C 14C 15C 16C 17C 18C 19C 20C 21C 22C 23C 24C 25C 26C mmH
Hg 1.09 1.09 1.10 1.10 1.10 1.11 1.11 1.12 1.12 1.15 1.13 1.14 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.16 1.17 730
g
730
732 1.09 1.09 1.09 1.10 1.10 1.10 1.11 1.11 1.12 1.12 1.13 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.15 1.16 1.16 732
734 1.08 1.09 1.09 1.09 1.10 1.10 1.11 1.11 1.12 1.12 1.13 1.13 1.14 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.16 734
736 1.08 1.08 1.09 1.09 1.09 1.10 1.10 1.11 1.11 1.12 1.12 1.13 1.15 1.14 1.15 1.15 1.16 736
738 1.08 1.08 1.08 1.09 1.09 1.09 1.10 1.10 1.11 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.15 1.14 1.14 1.15 1.16 738
740 1.07 1.08 1.08 1.08 1.09 1.09 1.10 1.10 1.11 1.11 1.12 1.12 1.13 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.15 740
742 1.07 1.07 1.08 1.08 1.08 1.09 1.09 1.10 1.10 1.11 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.13 1.14 1.14 1.15 742
744 1.07 1.07 1.07 1.06 1.08 1.09 1.09 1.10 1.10 1.11 1.11 1.12 1.12 1.13 1.13 1.14 1.15 744
746 1.06 1.07 1.07 1.07 1.08 1.08 1.09 1.09 1.10 1.10 1.11 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.13 1.14 1.14 746
748 1.06 1.06 1.07 1.07 1.08 1.08 1.08 1.09 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.11 1.12 1.12 1.13 1.13 1.14 748
750 1.06 1.06 1.07 1.07 1.07 1.08 1.08 1.09 1.09 1.10 1.10 1.11 1.11 1.12 1.12 1.13 1.14 750
752 1.05 1.06 1.06 1.07 1.07 1.07 1.08 1.08 1.09 1.09 1.10 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.12 1.13 1.13 752
754 1.05 1.06 1.06 1.06 1.07 1.07 1.08 1.08 1.09 1.09 1.10 1.10 1.11 1.11 1.12 1.12 1.13 754
756 1.05 1.05 1.06 1.06 1.06 1.07 1.07 1.08 1.08 1.09 1.09 1.10 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.12 1.13 756
758 1.05 1.05 1.05 1.06 1.06 1.06 1.07 1.07 1.08 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.10 1.11 1.11 1.12 1.13 758
760 1.04 1.05 1.05 1.05 1.06 1.06 1.07 1.07 1.08 1.08 1.09 1.09 1.10 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.12 760
762 1.04 1.04 1.05 1.05 1.05 1.06 1.06 1.07 1.07 1.08 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.10 1.11 1.11 1.12 762
764 1.04 1.04 1.04 1.05 1.05 1.06 1.06 1.07 1.07 1.08 1.08 1.09 1.09 1.10 1.10 1.11 1.12 764
766 1.03 1.04 1.04 1.05 1.05 1.05 1.06 1.06 1.07 1.07 1.08 1.08 1.09 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.11 766
768 1.03 1.04 1.04 1.04 1.05 1.05 1.05 1.06 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.08 1.09 1.09 1.10 1.10 1.11 768
770 1.05 1.03 1.04 1.04 1.04 1.05 1.05 1.06 1.06 1.07 1.07 1.08 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.10 1.11 770
772 1.03 1.03 1.03 1.04 1.04 1.04 1.05 1.05 1.06 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.08 1.09 1.09 1.10 1.10 772
774 1.02 1.03 1.03 1.03 1.04 1.04 1.05 1.05 1.06 1.06 1.07 1.07 1.08 1.08 1.09 1.09 1.10 774
776 1.02 1.02 1.03 1.03 1.03 1.04 1.04 1.05 1.05 1.06 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.08 1.09 1.09 1.10 776
778 1.02 1.02 1.03 1.03 1.03 1.04 1.04 1.05 1.05 1.06 1.06 1.07 1.07 1.03 1.06 1.09 1.09 778
780 1.02 1.02 1.02 1.03 1.03 1.03 1.04 1.04 1.05 1.05 1.06 1.06 1.07 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.09 780

BKG3751 Fuel and Combustion Lab

mmH
730
732
734
736
738
740
742
744
746
748
750
752
754
756
758
760
762
764
766
768
770
772
774
776
778
780

27C
1.18
1.17
1.17
1.17
1.16
1.16
1.16
1.15
1.15
1.15
1.14
1.14
1.14
1.13
1.13
1.13
1.13
1.12
1.12
1.12
1.11
1.11
1.11
1.10
1.10
1.10

28C
1.18
1.18
1.18
1.17
1.17
1.17
1.16
1.16
1.16
1.15
1.15
1.15
1.14
1.14
1.14
1.14
1.13
1.13
1.12
1.12
1.12
1.12
1.11
1.11
1.11
1.10

29C
1.19
1.19
1.18
1.18
1.18
1.17
1.17
1.17
1.16
1.16
1.16
1.15
1.15
1.15
1.14
1.14
1.14
1.13
1.13
1.13
1.13
1.12
1.12
1.12
1.11
1.11

30C
1.20
1.19
1.19
1.19
1.18
1.18
1.1B
1.17
1.17
1.17
1.16
1.16
1.16
1.15
1.15
1.15
1.14
1.14
1.14
1.13
1.13
1.13
1.13
1.12
1.12
1.12

31C
1.20
502.
1.20
1.19
1.19
1.19
1.18
1.18
1.18
1.17
1.17
1.17
1.16
1.16
1.16
1.15
1.15
1.15
1.14
1.14
1.14
1.14
1.13
1.13
1.13
1.12

32C
1.21
1.21
1.20
1.20
1.20
1.19
1.19
1.19
1.18
1.18
1.18
1.17
1.17
1.17
1.16
1.16
1.16
1.15
1.15
1.15
1.15
1.14
1.14
1.14
1.13
1.15

33C
1.22
1.22
1.21
1.21
1.20
1.20
1.20
1.20
1.19
1.19
1.16
1.18
1.18
1.18
1.17
1.17
1.17
1.16
1.16
1.16
1.15
1.15
1.15
1.14
1.14
1.14

Sem II-2007/2008

34C
1.23
1.22
1.22
1.22
1.21
1.21
1.21
1.20
1.20
1.20
1.19
1.19
1.19
1.18
1.18
1.18
1.17
1.17
1.17
1.16
1.16
1.16
1.15
1.15
1.15
1.14

35C
1.23
1.23
1.23
1.22
1.22
1.22
1.21
1.21
1.21
1.20
1.20
1.20
1.19
1.19
1.19
1.13
1.13
1.13
1.17
1.17
1.17
1.16
1.16
1.16
1.15
1.15

36C
1.24
1.24
1.24
1.23
1.23
1.23
1.22
1.22
1.22
1.21
1.21
1.20
1.20
1.20
1.19
1.19
1.19
1.18
1.18
1.18
1.17
1.17
1.17
1.16
1.16
1.16

37C
1.25
1.25
1.24
1.24
1.24
1.23
1.23
1.23
1.22
1.22
1.22
1.21
1.21
1.21
1.20
1.20
1.20
1.19
1.19
1.19
1.18
1.18
1.13
1.17
1.17
1.16

38C
1.26
1.26
1.25
1.25
1.25
1.24
1.24
1.24
1.23
1.23
1.22
1.22
1.22
1.21
1.21
1.21
1.20
1.20
1.20
1.19
1
1.19
1.1B
1.18
1.18
1.17

39C
1.27
1.27
1.26
1.26
1.26
1.25
1.25
1.24
1.24
1.24
1.23
1.23
1.23
1.22
1.22
1.22
1.21
1.21
1.21
1.20
1.20
1.20
1.19
1.19
1.18
1.18

11

40C
1.26
1.26
1.27
1.27
1.26
1.26
1.26
1.25
1.25
1.25
1.24
1.24
1.23
1.23
1.23
1.22
1.22
1.22
1.21
1.21
1.21
1.20
1.20
1.20
1.19
1.19

mmH
730
732
734
736
738
740
742
744
746
748
750
752
754
756
758
760
762
764
766
768
770
772
774
776
778
780

BKG3751 Fuel and Combustion Lab

Sem II-2007/2008

Table 2: Meter Gas Rates & Water Collection Rates

Approximate
Calorific Value

Time for 1
rev of Meter
Pointer

Number of
rev of Meter
Pointer in
test

Water
Collected
during
Pointer in
test

Factor to be
used in
calculation 1/
(0.2m3xrevs)

18-19 MJ per m3
(500
B.
Th.
Us /cu ft)

52s-54s

2160-2260g

37-38 MJ per m3
(1000 B. Th. Us
/cu ft)

1min44s1min49s

864-904g

2.5

75-76 MJ per m3
(2000 B. Th. Us
/cu ft)

3min34s3min-38s

432-452g

12

BKG3751 Fuel and Combustion Lab

Sem II-2007/2008

Example:Outlet Temperature, C

Inlet Temperature, C
16.2
16.2
16.2
16.2

36.4
36.5
36.6
36.5

Average Inlet Temperature = 16.2C.

Average Outlet Temperature = 36.5C
Gives Average difference of temperature = 20.3 C
Number of revs
Meter Capacity
Water collected
Barometer
Meter temp.
G.V. Factor

5
0.2m3
2100 ml.
754 mm,
17.8C
1,089

Calorific Value =20.3*2100*4.187*1.089*(1 / (0.2 *5))*10 -4

=19.438MJ/m3
To convert MJ / m3 into BTU/ ft3. multiply MJ / m3
by 26.8413 Therefore in example A calorific value
in BTU/ ft3
19.438 x 26.8413 = 521.7 BTU/ ft3

13