COMBUSTION OF COAL

COMBUSTION OF CARBON

When Carbon burns in sufficient quantity of Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide is produced

(along with, area of large amount of heat,)is represented by the following equation:

C + O2 CO2

1 Mole of C + 1 mole of O2 = 1 mole CO2 …………………(By Volume )

12 Kg. of C + 32Kg of O2= 44Kg. of CO2………………………( By Mass)

(Since molecular weight of C=12, and O=16)

i.e. 1Kg. of C + 8/3 Kg. of CO2 = 11/3 kg. of CO2

(dividing the LHS. By 12)

It means that 1Kg. Carbon requires 8/3 Kg. of Oxygen for its complete combustion
and produces 11/3 Kg. Carbon Dioxide gas.

If sufficient Oxygen is not available, then the combustion is incomplete, it then

produces Carbon Monoxide instead of CO2.

It is represented by the following chemical reaction.

2 mole of C + 1 mole of O2 = 2 mole of CO

(2C + O2 = 2 CO2)

2x12 Kg. of C +2x16 Kg. of O2 =2x28 Kg. of CO

24 Kg. of C + 32 Kg. of O2=56 Kg. of CO…………………(1)

(Since molecular weight of C=12, and O=16)

(Dividing (1) by 24)

It means that 1 Kg. of Carbon requires 4/3 Kg. of Oxygen and produces 7/3 Kg. of
Carbon monoxide

If we supply some additional air Carbon Monoxide is burnt with O2 and Carbon
dioxide is produced 2CO+ O2...........>2CO2

2 mole of CO + 1 mole of O2= 2 mole of CO2………………….By Volume

2x28 Kg. of CO + 2x16 Kg. of O2 = 2x44 Kg. of O2……………..By mass………….(2)

i.e. 1 Kg. of CO + 4/7 Kg. of CO2 =11/7 Kg. of CO2

It means 1 Kg. of CO requires 4/7 Kg. of O2 and produces 11/7 Kg. of CO2
( Divide (2) by 56)
 COMBUSTION OF SULPHUR

When Sulphur burns with Oxygen it produces Sulphur Dioxide, this is

represented by the following equation:

S + O2…………..> SO2
molecular weight of sulphur is 32

12 mole of sulphur + 1 mole of Oxygen = 1 mole of SO2………………..By Volume

32 Kg. of S +2x16 Kg. of CO2= 64 Kg. of SO2…………………………………….By

weight……………(3)

i.e. 1 Kg. of S + 1 Kg. of O2 = 2 Kg. of SO2… ( Divide 3 by 32)

it means that 1 Kg. of Sulphur requires 1 Kg. of Oxygen for complete combustion
and produces 2 Kg. of SO2

COMBUSTION OF HYDROGEN
When Hydrogen burns with Oxygen it produces Water

2H2 + O2………….2H2O

2 mole of H2 + 1mole O2………….> 2 mole of H2 O…………..By Volume

2x2 Kg. of H2 + 32 Kg. of O2 ………..> 2x 18 Kg. of H2 O……….By Weight

i.e. 1 Kg. of H2 + 8 Kg. of O2= 9 Kg. of H2 O

It means that 1 Kg. of hydrogen requires 8 Kg. of Oxygen for complete combustion
and produces 9 Kg. of water

DETERMINATION OF MINIMUM AIR REQUIRED PER KG. OF SOLID FUEL FOR

COMPLETE COMBUSTION

Minimum Air or Theoretical Air

The air required for complete combustion of fuel is called minimum air or theoretical
air. The theoretical air is calculated as below:

Let, Ma is the theoretical air,

If the content of C, H2,S, O2 in the fuel by mass are C,H,S and O per cent
respectively. Then the mass of Oxygen required for the complete combustion is
given by

Oxygen per Kg. of fuel for complete combustion is given = 1/100[ 8/3C + 8H + S- O]

Generally air contains 23% of Oxygen by mass.

Therefore,Kg. of Air required for complete combustion is given by:

Ma = 1/100[8/3C + 8H + S – O] X 100/3

Ma theoretical = 1/23[8/3C + 8H + S –O] Kg./ Kg. of fuel