CALORIFIC VALUE OF FUELS

y It is defined as the heat liberated in kJ by complete

combustion of 1 kg of fuel, solid or liquid.
y For gases it is the heat liberated in kJ per cubic metre
at STP.
y For example:
Fuel kJ/kg kCal/kg
Hydrogen 141900 33900
Butane 49200 11800
Diesel 45000 10700
Anthracite 27000 7800
Wood 15000 3600
Natural Gas 54000 13000
TYPES OF CALORIFIC VALUES
y Higher Calorific Value: It is the total heat liberated
when all the products of combustion are brought back
to pre-combustion temperature and in particular,
condensing any vapour produced. (kJ/kg)
y Lower Calorific Value: It is determined by
subtracting the latent heat of vaporization of the water
produced from the Higher Calorific value. (kJ/kg)
Thus, (HHV)p = (LHV)p + m hfg
(HHV)v = (LHV)v + m(ug uf )
COMPARISON OF HCV AND LCV
y Here is a comparison of HCV and LCV of some fuels.
FUEL HCV (MJ/kg) HCV (kj/mol) LCV (MJ/kg)
Hydrogen 141.80 286.00 121.00
Butane 49.50 20900 45.75
Gasoline 47.30 - 44.40
Propane 50.35 2220 46.35
Anthracite 2700 - -
Kerosene 46.20 - 43.00
Paraffin 46.00 - 41.50
THE JUNKERS GAS CALORIMETER
APPARATUS
The apparatus mainly consists of a cylindrical shell
with copper coil arranged in two pass configuration
with water inlet and outlet to circulate through the
copper coil, a pressure regulator, a wet type gas flow
meter & a gas Bunsen burner, temperature sensors for
measuring inlet, outlet water temperature, and for flue
gas temperature and a measuring jar.
WORKING PRINCIPLE
This Gas Calorimeter works on the Junker's principle
of burning of a known volume of gas and imparting
the heat with maximum efficiency to steadily flowing
water and finding out of the rise in temperature of a
measured volume of water.
The formula, Calorific Value of Gas X Volume of Gas =
Volume of water X Rise in Temperature, is then used to
determine the Calorific Value of the Gas (assuming
that heat capacity of water is unity).
DETERMINATION OF CALORIFIC
VALUE
y This Calorimeter covers a wide range between 120 BTU
(1000 to 26000 K Cal/m
3
).
y The Calorimeter is fixed on a tripod stand having
levelling screws to keep the Calorimeter in perfectly
vertical position.
y A constant water head maintenance device provided
in the feed water pipe along with the inlet water flow
regulator is fixed to the outer housing of the
calorimeter.
PROCEDURE(Contd.)
y The gas source is connected to the pressure regulator,
gas flow meter and the burner respectively in series.
y The water and gas flows are started to flow at a
constant rate and the burner is lighted outside the
calorimeter.
y The gas flow is regulated at a steady state to any
designed flow (volume).
y The burner is inserted into the calorimeter and the
outlet water is allowed to attain a steady temperature.
PROCEDURE(Contd.)
y The outlet is let into a 1000mL flask and started and
the initial gas flow rate is noted.
y The time taken for the 1000mL flask to be filled and
the final gas flow rate is also noted.
FORMULA TO BE USED
CVg=( Vwx wx CPwx T ) / Vg x g
where
wis the density of water
Vw is the volume of water collected in litres
CPwis the specific heat of water
T is the change in temp. of water
Vg is the volume of gas burnt in litres
g is the density of the gas burnt
APPLICATIONS
y Petroleum Industries
y Coke Oven Batteries
y Thermal Power Houses
y Cement Industries
y Fuel Gas Producers & Consumers
y Steel Plants
y Fertilizer Units