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

Eudiometer

patm
NaOH
Solution
Pyrogallic
Acid

Aspirator
Bottle
Water

CuCl2
Solution
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
Gases

Mass of
Gases

Molecular
Weight, M
44

Moles / 100
Kg of
mixture
0.366

Volumetric
Percentage
(%)
11

CO2

16.1

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
10

CO

O2

N2

1.5

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 Percentvolume(%)
x
M
mixture
age
CO2

10

0.1

44

4.4

14.7

CO

1.5

0.015

28

0.42

1.4

O2

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 )

=

(b)

24

% 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
c = Hproducts - Hreactants
= nCO2 * f,CO2 + nH2O * f,H2O nC8H18 * f,C8H18
= 8 * ( -393796 ) + 9 ( -286043 ) 1 ( -250131 )
c = - 5474624

kJ / kg-mol of fuel

So, HHV = | c | = 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