FACULTY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Lab Bomb Calorimetric

BMA2523 Internal Combustion Engine

Lab Objectives

 To study determination of Calorific Value of Fuels by using Bomb

calorimeter.

Date: ____________________

Group 2 Section 01B

No Name ID
1 MOHAMAD SYAFIQ BIN MOHD TAHIR MH16067
2 NUR ATHIRAH BINTI ZAINAL ABIDIN MH17001
3 NUR AIN SYUHADA BINTI RUSLI MH17015
4 NUR FARRA NADZIRAH BINTI ROHAMI MH17017
5 NUR SYUHADA BINTI AHMAD SUHAIMI MH17019
6 MUHAMMAD AMIRUL AIZAT BIN RAMLAN MH17003
7 MUHAMMAD ASYRAAF BIN ABDUL WAHAB MH17016
1.0 Introduction

Combustion is one of the most important chemical reactions in today's energy seeking
world. The combustion process involves the oxidation of constituents in the fuel. The heat
liberated during this reaction is called the heat of combustion, and the amount of heat
corresponding to a unit mass of the fuel is called the heating value. The terms Higher
Heating Value (HHV) and Lower Heating Value (LHV) are used to distinguish cases in
which water in the combustion products is either liquid (HHV) or gaseous (LHV). The
difference between these two values may be written as

HHV- LHV = m * hfg

Where m is the mass of water produced per unit mass of fuel and hfg is the latent heat of
vaporization of water at the standard reference state.

Bomb calorimeter:
The calorific value of solid and liquid fuels is determined in the laboratory by ‘Bomb
calorimeter’. It is so named because its shape resembles that of a bomb. Fig. 1 shows the
schematic sketch of a bomb calorimeter. The calorimeter is made of austenitic steel which
provides considerable resistance to corrosion and enables it to withstand high pressure. In
the calorimeter is a strong cylindrical bomb in which combustion occurs. The bomb has
two valves at the top. One supplies oxygen to the bomb and other releases the exhaust
gases. A crucible in which a weighted quantity of fuel sample is burnt is arranged between
the two electrodes as shown in Fig. 1. The calorimeter is fitted with water jacket which
surrounds the bomb. To reduce the losses due to radiation, calorimeter is further provided
with a jacket of water and air. A stirrer for keeping the temperature of water uniform and a
thermometer to measure the temperature up to accuracy of 0.001°C is fitted through the
lid of the calorimeter.
2.0 Equipment List

1. adiabatic calorimeter
2. 2 high precision thermometers (24 - 30°C)
3. drive belt
4. site magnifying glasses
5. calorimeter bucket
6. 1108 oxygen bomb
7. screw cap
8. bomb cylinder
9. bomb head
10. lifting handle
11. crucible
12. oxygen tank
13. fuse wire
14. Parr oxygen regulator and filling apparatus
15. 2000 grams distilled water
16. safety glasses
17. watch
18. wire cutters
19. paper towels
20. Shop-Vac vacuum cleaner
21. hot water supply
22. cold water supply
3.0 Experiment Procedure

1. Prepare the sample in the bomb. The fuel sample is put in the crucible. A known length
of fuse wire is passed through the sample with both ends of the wire being attached to the
2 electrodes of the bomb.
2. Closing the bomb. Care must be taken not to disturb the sample when moving the bomb
head to the bomb cylinder. Check the sealing ring to be sure that it is in good condition
and moisten it with a bit of water so that it will slide freely into the cylinder, then slide
the head into the cylinder and push it down as far as it will go. For easy insertion, push
the head straight down without twisting and leave the gas release valve open during this
operation. Set the screw cap on the cylinder and turn it down firmly by hand to a solid
stop. When properly closed, no threads on the cylinder should be exposed.
3. Filling the bomb. Connect the oxygen supply to the bomb and close the gas release
valve. Open the filling connection control valve slowly and watch the gauge as the bomb
pressure rises to the desired filling pressure (usually 30 atm never more than 40 atm),
then close the control valve.
4. Fill the calorimeter bucket. Put the bomb inside the calorimeter bucket by attaching the
lifting handle to the screw cap and lowering the bomb with its feet spanning the circular
boss in the bottom of the bucket. Handle the bomb carefully during this operation so that
the sample will not be disturbed. Remove the lifting handle and add 1.2 liters of water
inside the bucket.
5. Final settings. Connect the power source to the bomb and put the thermometer inside the
bucket. Set the cover on the jacket and start the stirrer.
6. Read and record temperatures. Let the stirrer run for 5 minutes to reach equilibrium
before starting a measured run. At the end of this period start a timer and read the
temperature. Read and record temperatures at one-minute intervals for 5 minutes.
7. Stand back from the calorimeter and fire the bomb.
8. Recording change in temperature. The bucket temperature will start to rise within 30
seconds after firing. This rise will be rapid during the first few minutes, and then it will
become slower as the temperature approaches a stable maximum. Record temperatures at
one minute intervals until the difference between successive readings have been constant
for 3 minutes. Usually the temperature will reach a maximum, and then drop very slowly.
But this is not always true since a low starting temperature may result in a slow
 continuous rise without reaching a maximum. As stated above, the difference between
successive readings must be noted and the readings continued at one-minute intervals
until the rate of the temperature change becomes constant over a period of 3 minutes.
9. Opening the bomb. After the last temperature reading, stop the motor and lift the cover
from the calorimeter. Lift the bomb out of the bucket and open the gas release valve on
the bomb head to release the gas pressure before attempting to remove the cap. After all
pressure has been released, unscrew the cap and lift the head out of the cylinder. Examine
the interior of the bomb for soot or other evidence of incomplete combustion. If such
evidence is found, the test will have to be discarded.
10. Fuse wire burnt. Remove all unburned pieces of fuse wire from the bomb electrodes;
straighten them and measure their combined length in centimeters. Subtract this length
from the initial length of fuse wire used and enter this quantity on the data sheet as the net
amount of wire burned.
.
Calculation
The heat released by the fuel on combustion is absorbed by the surrounding water and the
calorimeter.
From the above data the calorific value of the fuel can be found in the following way:
Let:-
Wf = Weight of fuel sample (kg),
W = Weight of water (kg),
C = Calorific value (higher) of the fuel (kJ/kg),
We = Water equivalent of calorimeter (kg),
T1 = Initial temperature of water and calorimeter,
T2 = Final temperature of water and calorimeter,
Tc = Radiation corrections,
c = Specific heat of water

Heat released by the fuel sample = Wf × C

Heat received by water and calorimeter =
(Ww + We) × c × [(T2 – T1) + Tc].
Heat lost = Heat gained
Wf × C = (W + We) × c × [(T2 + T1) + Tc]

[Value of c is 4.18 in SI units and unity in MKS units.]

4.0 Results

Length of fuse wire inserted (cm):

Length of fuse wire left after firing (cm):
Mass of fuel (grams):
5.0 References
 Parr Instrument Company, "Introduction to Bomb Calorimetry," Technical Manual
130, 1968.
 Parr Instrument Company, "Operating Instructions for the 1241 Oxygen Bomb
Calorimeter," Technical Manual 203M, 1988.