INTRODUCTION
Fuel is any material that is used to react with other
substances in order to produce heat or energy
needed to do work.
There are three general types of chemical fuels; that
is, solid, liquid, and gas fuels. Solid fuels are solid
material that are used to produce heat usually by
combustion. Liquid fuels are liquids from fossilized
remains of dead plants and animals by exposure to
heat and pressure by Earths crust. Gaseous fuels
are usually from biomass materials.
The calorific value of a fuel is the quantity of heat
produced by its combustion at constant pressure
and at normal condition (i.e. 0oC and 1 atm).
In this experiment the fuel analyzed are coke and
coal which is a solid fuel. In which the calorific
value is determined.
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
This study aims to differentiate the calorific values
of coal and coke as fuels.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This study will show the calorific values of coal
and coke obtained from bomb calorimeter.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Materials and Equipment:
The materials and equipment used in the activity
are the following: coke and coal samples, pellet
press, aluminum pan, spoon, desiccator, and bomb
calorimeter, oven, water.
Procedure:
Preparation of Sample:
The sample coal pellet was prepared by a
pellet press to pelletize coal passing 70 mesh sieve.
Water was added to be a binder and then the pellets
were dried at 110 C for one hour.
Oxygen Charging:
The pellet sample together with the capsule was
weighed. The sample with the capsule and fuse
wire was set up. In setting up the wire it
recommended that the fuse is set slightly above the
surface of the sample and be sure that the wire will
not touch the cap to prevent short circuit which will
damage the device. In closing the bomb care must
be taken not to disturb the sample in moving the
bomb head. Connect the hose from the oxygen tank
to the bomb. Fill the bomb slowly so that the
sample will not be disturb due to strong pressure,
the pressure used is 30psi.
Calorimeter set-up and operation:
The calorimeter bucket was filled with about 2 L
tap water and measure the water temperature.
Bucket was set in calorimeter with a lifting handle
being attached to the two holes in the side of the
screw cap and the bomb was lowered into the water
with its feet spanning the circular boss in the
bottom of the bucket. The handle was slowly
removed and droplets of water were tapped back to
the bucket. Two ignition lead wires were pushed
into the terminal socket on the bomb head.
The cover on the jacket with the thermometer
facing towards the front. The stirrer was turned by
hand to make sure that it runs freely; then the drive
belt was slipped onto the pulleys and the motor
started to run. It was stirred for 5 minutes to reach
the equilibrium before starting a measured run.
The time and temperature was recorded at the end
of the period. The thermometer was constantly
tapped before taking a reading or the use of
thermometer vibrator was suggested. Initially, the
temperature was read and recorded at one minute
intervals for 5 minutes. Then during 6th minute, the
bomb was fired by pressing the ignition button and
holding it down within 5 seconds regardless of the
light indicator. It was observed to never move
closer to the calorimeter when firing is exhibited.
Afterwards, rapid increase in bucket temperature
was observed and it was recorded every 12 seconds
for 7th, 8th, and 9th minutes.
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 (g)
Capsule Wt. 12.425 12.478
Cleaning up and data gathering: (g)
Capsule and 13.545 13.152
After the last temperature reading, the motor was Sample Wt.
stopped. The belt was removed and the cover was (g)
lifted from the calorimeter. Thermometer bulb and Fuse Wire Wt. 0.023 0.018
stirrer were cleaned with a cloth. The bomb was before
lifted out of the bucket. Ignition leads were burning (g)
removed and the bomb was cleaned with a towel. Fuse Wire Wt. 0.0031 0.009
after burning
(g)
The knurled knob on the bomb head was opened to
release the gas pressure before attempting to Dry Bulb 30 30
remove the cap (note: do not attempt to open the temperature,
0
bomb without releasing the pressure to prevent C
impact due to pressure difference. This release Wet Bulb 27.3 27.3
should proceed slowly over a period of not less temperature,
0
than one minute to avoid entrainment losses. After C
all the pressure has been released, the cap was Water 25 25
unscrewed, the head was lifted out of the cylinder Temperature,
0
and was placed on the support stand. All interior C
surfaces of the bomb were washed with a jet of Bar Pressure, 30 30
distilled water and the washings were collected in a Hg
beaker. All unburned fuse wires were removed. Table 1: Data sheet of two samples
Their combined weight and length measured.
This length was subtracted from the initial length of Table 1 shows the values data needed in order to
10 centimeters and was input on the data sheet as calculate the length of fuse wire after burning,
the amount of wire burned. using this formula;

Sample
Preparation (lengthcm)(2.3 cal /cm)
weight of fuse wire= eq .1
cal
1400
g
Thus, applying the formula the final length of fuse
Oxygen wires are 1.89cm and 5.48cm, coke and coal,
charging respectively, which will be needed to calculate for
the correction factor for heat of combustion of fuse
wire (ewire).
Calorimete
r set-up

Experiment
operation

Recording
and data
analysis
Flowsheet 1. This figure shows the process in fuel
analysis.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Time Temperature

0
Min Sec C
Coke Coal
0 30.4
Sample Wt. 1.12 0.674

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 1 31.46 e wire = (length of fuse wire consumed in cm) (2.3 cal /cm
2 32.42
3 32.42
4 32.86 Using the data above, ewire = (1.89cm)(2.3cal/cm).
5 32.86 Therefore ewire = 4.347cal.
6 32.86
7 0 32.86 The energy equivalent of the oxygen bomb
12 32.86 calorimeter (W) is calculated using
24 32.86
36 32.86 (m)(Hg)
48 32.86 W= eq . 4
t
0 32.86
12 32.86
24 32.86 Where Hg is the known heat of combustion of the
36 32.87 standard material, m is the weight of benzoic acid
48 32.87 sample, and t is the temperature rise. All these
9 0 32.87 values are determined empirically by burning a
12 32.87 sample of a standard material with a known heat of
24 32.87 combustion under controlled and reproducible
36 32.87 operating conditions. Benzoic acid is used almost
48 32.87 exclusively as a reference material for fuel
10 32.87 calorimetry because it burns completely in oxygen
11 32.86 and it is readily available in very pure form. Hg for
12 32.86 benzoic acid is 6318 cal/g. Since standardization
13 32.85 was not performed during this activity, the
following calculation from a standardization test
14 32.84
using the same model of bomb calorimeter is used:
15 32.84
16 32.83
17 32.82 (1.651 g)(6318 cal/ g)
W= =
18 32.82 3.047
19 32.82 2416 cal/oC
20 32.81
Table 2. Coke rate of temperature during experiment
Now, the gross heat of combustion of the coal
The recorded temperature for coke before ignition sample can be obtained with equation 2:
is 30.4oC and the temperature at the time when the
temperature stops increasing is 32.87oC; therefore, ( 2.47 ) (2416 cal/ )4.347 cal
the adjusted rise is t = 2.47oC. Hg=
1.12 g
= 5324.26 cal/g coke
The gross calorific value or gross heat of
combustion (Hg) of the coal can be determined with
the formula:

( t )(W )e wire
Hg= eq .2
m

Where t is the adjusted temperature rise, m is

the weight of coal sample, ewire is the correction for
heat of combustion of fuse wire and W is the
energy equivalent of the oxygen bomb calorimeter
or the energy required to raise temperature of the
calorimeter by one degree.

The correction for heat of combustion of fuse wire

(ewire) can be calculated by the formula:

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 t = 3.15oC
Time Temperature W = 2416 cal/oC
0
Min Sec C
e wire = 12.604 cal
0 29.28
1 30.10 m = 0.674 g
2 30.32
3 30.40 thus, Hg= 11272.69 cal/g coal
4 32.42 Ideally coke must have greater colorific
5 32.42 value than coal but in this experiment it is coal that
6 32.42 has greater value; it is because of the inert nature of
7 0 32.42 the sample. Not all coal has the same colorific
12 32.43 value (Coal Basics, 2016).
24 32.43
36 32.43
48 32.43 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
0 32.43
12 32.43 In this experiment it is concluded that the calorific
24 32.43 value of coal sample are higher than coke sample
36 32.43 which has a value of 11,272.69 cal/g. In performing
48 32.43 this experiment it is recommended that after
9 0 32.43 heating the pelletize sample the calorific value
12 32.43 should be measured immediately in to minimize the
24 32.43 breaking of sample which commonly occur during
36 32.43 transfer of sample from one container to another
48 32.43 container.
10 32.43
11 32.43 REFERENCES
12 32.43
13 32.43 Ratcliff, Brian; et al. (2000). Chemistry 1.
14 32.43 Cambridge University press.
15 32.43
Basics of coal retrieve from
16 32.42
http://www.coalmarketinginfo.com/coal-basics/
17 32.42
18 32.42
19 32.42
20 32.42
Table 3. Coal rate of temperature during experiment

Table 3 shows the rate of temperature change of

coal. To calculate for the gross calorific value of
coal same calculation is done with coke.

( t )(W )e wire
Hg= eq .2
m
Where:

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