Chemical Engineering Department

Xavier University- Ateneo de Cagayan

Engr. Dexby P. de Guzman
Thought for the Day
Our Great Desire is that Each one of You Keep us
His Eagerness to the End, so that the Things you
Hope for Will Come True
Hebrews 6:11

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Course Description
This course deals on material and energy balances in
industrial processes.
This includes
combustion of gaseous, liquid and solid fuels
production of sulphuric acid
nitrogen compounds
lime and cement

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Units and Equivalent Hours
2 lecture units, 1 unit computing lab
2 hours lecture, 3 hours computing lab

Prerequisite: Chemical Engineering Calculations 1

(ChE 10)

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Course Objectives
After completing this course, the student must be able
to:
1. Develop necessary skills and techniques in solving mass
and energy balances in fuel combustion and industrial
processes.
2. Learn to apply the mass and energy balance techniques
learned from particular industries to other related
industries.

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Course Outline
I. Principles of Combustion
1.1 Terms and Definitions
1.2 Introduction to Heat Effects
II. Gaseous Fuels
III. Liquid Fuels
IV. Solid Fuels
V. Sulfur and its Compounds
VI. Nitrogen based products
VII. Lime and Cement

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Fuel Combustion
- An important step in almost any chemical process industry
where heat generation is desired.
- Is a unit process in which oxidation reaction takes place.
- However, not all oxidation reactions are termed as
combustion
Oxidation of benzene to benzaldehyde
Oxidation of hydrogen chloride to chlorine
- Is a chemical reaction in which one of the reactants is oxygen
from the air and the other is a fuel.

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Complete Combustion
C + O2 CO2
H2 + O2 H2O
S + O2 SO2

CwHxOySz + [2w + x/2 + 2z y] O2

wCO2 + x/2 H2O + zSO2

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Theoretical Oxygen
- Oxygen required for complete combustion.
- There are two methods of determining theoretical O2

Method 1
- The individual balanced equation for the oxidation of each
combustible is written. The theoretical oxygen is the sum of all
oxygen used in each complete combustion.

Theo O2 = () ( 2)

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Method 2
- The components of fuel are broken down into corresponding
atoms of C, S, H and O2 present.
- The total moles of O2 is subtracted from the O2
requirements to give the theoretical O2 from air.

Theo O2 = atC + atS + atH/4 moles O2

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Example 1
Determine the theoretical moles of dry air required for the
combustion of one mole of refinery gases containing 6% H2S,
5% H2, 57% C3H8, 2% CO2, and 30% C4H10.

Answer: Theo O2 = 4.915 moles

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Theoretical Air
Air that contains the exact amount of theoretical O2.
Air for combustion calculations is assumed to be 21% O2 and
79% N2 by volume.
N2 in air is non-combustible (inert).

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Example 2
A furnace is fired with petroleum oil containing 80% C, 13% H,
3% S, 1% N and 3% O. Determine the moles theoretical air
required for the combustion of one kg of oil.

Answer: 0.4722 kg-moles theo. air

Erratum: N is not included in the computation.

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Percent Excess Air
- Theoretical air is not sufficient to get complete combustion.
- Three phenomenon of incomplete or partial combustion are
(1) CO and H2 formation in the flue gas, (2) soot in the
exhaust gas, and (3) the presence of unburned combustibles
in the refuse.
- Excess air supply is needed for complete combustion.

Excess O2 = Actual O2 supply Theo O2

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Percent Excess Air
Excess O2
% Excess Air= x 100%
Theoretical O2

Incomplete Combustion
- Represent loss of heat

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Try This!
1. The CO2 that will theoretically be formed when a mixture of
50 g of CH4 and 100 g of O2 is ignited? B
A. 34.4 g B. 68.8 g C. 103.1 g
D. 137.5 g
2. Ethane reacts with pure oxygen to form water and carbon
dioxide. If 3 moles of ethane and 12 moles of oxygen is mixed, and
80% of the ethane reacts, what is the percent excess of oxygen? A
A. 14.3% B. 20.5% C. 30.2%
D. 50%

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Answer Key
1. B
2. A

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Reference:
Laurito, Evelyn R. (1994). Stoichiometry of Fuel Combustion and Related Process Industries. Quezon City:
National Bookstore.

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