COMBUSTION

THERMODYNAMICS
Definitions :-

(a) Theoretical air (stoichiometric air) :-

The amount of air required to react with the reactants to

produce complete combustion.

(b) Enthalpy of Formation :-

The amount of energy absorbed or released as a compound is

formed from its stable elements during a steady flow
process, both the stable elements and the compound being at
standard reference state.

(c) Heating value :-

It is the amount of energy released when a fuel is burnt

completely in a steady flow process and the products are
returned to state of the reactant i.e., the standard reference
state
(d) Combustion Efficiency :-

The ratio of ideal air-fuel ratio to actual air-fuel ratio.

(e) Adiabatic Temperature :-

It is the temperature of the frame for complete combustion of

fuel with theoretical air when the combustion chamber is
completely insulated.

(f) Dew Point Temperature :-

The temperature at which the water vapor starts condensing

(or dew starts forming).

(g) Internal Energy of Combustion :-

It is the difference of internal energies of products and

reactants at the standard reference state.
Orsat Apparatus :-

Valve
Flue
Gas
P Eudiometer
X Y Z

patm
Aspirator
NaOH Bottle
Solution
CuCl2 Water
Pyrogallic Solution
Acid L

Flexible
Hose

Q.1) Methane is whirled with atmospheric air. The analysis of

the products on dry basis is as follows.

CO2 – 10 % ; O2 – 2.37 % ; CO – 0.53 % ; N2 – 87.1 %

Find the actual combustion equation. Also, calculate the

air- fuel ratio for this combustion. Find the percentage
of theoretical air. Find the air-fuel ratio on molar basis
as well as the mass basis.

Solution :-

Actual combustion equation is :-

aCH4 + b(O2 + 3.76 N2) =

10CO2 + 2.37O2 + 0.53CO + 87.1N2 + dH2O
C : a = 10 + 0.53 = 10.53

H : 4a = 2c ; c = 21.06

O : 2b = 20 + 4.74 + 0.53 + c ; b = 23.16

Actual combustion equation is :

10.53CH4 + 23.16(O2 + 3.76 N2) =

10CO2 + 2.37O2 + 0.53CO + 87.1N2 + 21.06H2O

For 1 mole of CH4, the equation is :

CH4 + 2.2(O2 + 3.76 N2) =

0.95CO2 + 0.22O2 + 0.05CO + 8.27N2 + 2H2O

Theoretical combustion equation is :

CH4 + 2(O2 + 3.76 N2) = CO2 + 2H2O + 7.52 N2

(A / F)molal = [2.2 (1 + 3.76)] / 1 = 10.47

(A / F)mass = [(2.2*32) + (2.2*3.76*28)] / [(1*2.2) + (2*3.76*28)]

= 1.1 = 110 % theoretical air

= 10 % excess air

Q.2) The mass analysis of gaseous mixture is given below :

Gas :- CO2 CO O2 N2

16.1 0.9 7.7 75.3

Determine the percentage of individual gases on volume

basis.
Solution :-

Constituent Mass of Molecular Moles / 100 Volumetric

Gases Gases Weight, M Kg of Percentage
mixture (%)
CO2 16.1 44 0.366 11
CO 0.9 28 0.032 0.964
O2 7.7 32 0.241 7.21
N2 75.3 28 2.68 80.57
Total :- 100.0 3.326 100.0

xa = Va /V = 0.365 / 3.326 = 0.11

na = ma / Ma = 16.1 / 44 = 0.365

Q.3) The volumetric analysis of dry flue gas is given as :

Gas :- CO2 CO O2 N2

10 1.5 8 80.5

Determine :

(a) percentage of each gas by mass

(b) mass of O2 per kg of dry flue gas

Solution :-

Constituent Percentage Mole Molecular Mass / Mass

Gases By Fraction, Weight, mole of Percent-
volume(%) x M mixture age
CO2 10 0.1 44 4.4 14.7

CO 1.5 0.015 28 0.42 1.4

O2 8 0.08 32 2.56 8.56

N2 80.5 0.805 28 22.54 75.33

Total :- 100.0 1.0 29.92 100.0

Q.4) Ethane is burned with 200 % excess air during a

complete combustion process. The total pressure of the
products is 100 kPa. Determine the air-fuel ratio and the
dew point temperature of the products.

Solution :-

The theoretical combustion equation is :

C2H6 + 3.5 (O2 + 3.76 N2 ) -------- 2 CO2 + 3 H2O + 13.16 N2

Actual combustion equation is :

C2H6 + 3*3.5 (O2+3.76 N2) -------- 2CO2 + 3H2O + 39.48N2+ 7O2

A/F = ma / mf

= [ 3 * 3.5 * ( 1 * 32 + 3.76 * 28 ) ] / [ 1 * (2 * 12 + 6)]

= 48.05

pwv,prod / pprod = nwv,prod / nprod

Assuming that the products of combustion are ideal gases,

pwv,prod = 3 / 51.48 * 100 = 5.83 kPa

From the saturated steam table,

for 5.83 kPa, the saturated temperature = 36.18 ◦C

So, dew point temperature = 36.18 ◦C.

Q.5) The products of combustion of hydrocarbon fuel of
unknown composition have the following percentage of
products on dry basis :

CO2 – 8 % ; O2 – 0.8 % ; CO – 8.8 % ; N2 – 82.4 %

Calculate the (a) Air fuel ratio on mass basis

(b) Composition of the fuel on mass basis

(c) Percentage of theoretical air on mass

basis

Solution :-

CaHb + d ( O2 + 3.76 N2 ) --------

0.08 CO2 + 0.008 CO + 0.088 O2+ 0.824 N2 + e H2O

C: a = 0.08 + 0.008 = 0.088

H : b = 2e

O : 2d = 2 * 0.08 + 0.008 + 2 * 0.088 + e

N : 2d * 3.76 = 2 * 0.824

So, d = 0.219

e = 0.093

b = 0.185
(a) ( A / F )mass = ma/mf

= 0.219 * ( 32 + 3.76 * 28) / ( 12 * 0.089 + 0.185 )

= 24

(b) % of C = 12 * 0.089 / ( 12 * 0.089 + 0.185 )

= 85 %

% of H2 = 0.185 / ( 12 * 0.089 + 0.185 )

= 15 %
(c) Theoretical combustion equation is :

C0.089H0.185 + .1355 ( O2 + 3.76 N2 ) -------- 0.089 CO2 + 0.088 O2

+ (0.1355 * 3.76) N2 + 0.093 H2O

So , % Theoretical air = (ma)actual / (ma)theoretical

= 0.219 * ( 32 + 3.76 * 28 ) / 0.1355 ( 32 + 3.76 * 28)

= 162 %

= 62 % excess air
Q.6) Determine the enthalpy of combustion of liquid octane
(C8C18) at 25 ◦C and 1 atm. using enthalpy of formation
data.
Assume that water in the products is in the liquid form.
What is the HHV of the same fuel ?

Solution :-

The combustion equation is :

C8H18 + 12.5 ( O2 + 3.76 N2 ) --------- 8 CO2 + 9 H2O + 47 N2

ħc = Hproducts - Hreactants

= nCO2 * ħf,CO2 + nH2O * ħf,H2O – nC8H18 * ħf,C8H18

= 8 * ( -393796 ) + 9 ( -286043 ) – 1 ( -250131 )

ħc = - 5474624 kJ / kg-mol of fuel

So, HHV = | ħc | = 5474624 kJ / kg-mol of fuel

Molecular wt. of fuel = 12 * 8 +18 = 114 kg / kg-mol

So, HHV = 5474624 / 114 = 48003.6 kJ / kg of fuel