Lecture 11

Combustion Processes
LECTURE 11. Combustion Processes

A Combustion Process

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LECTURE 10. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Reactive Processes

Chemical Reactiions Associated with Combustion Processes

C + O2 ========> CO2

C + 0.5O2 ========> CO

2H + 0.5O2 ========> H2O

S + O2 ========> SO2

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LECTURE 10. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Reactive Processes

Terms Associated with Combustion Processes

Orsat Analysis
Refers to the type of gas analysis which eliminates water
as a component (dry-free basis). If water is included in the
report, it is termed wet-basis analysis.

Theoretical Air
The amount of air required for complete combustion of
C, H, and S. It does not depend on how much material is
actually but what can be burned.

Excess Air
The amount of air in excess of that required for complete
combustion. The % excess air is the same as % excess O2.

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LECTURE 10. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Reactive Processes

Example 11-1. Theoretical and Stoichiometric Air

In a given process, 100 kmol of carbon is burned in a

furnace. It has been found that 20% of the carbon
undergoes incomplete combustion resulting to CO
production.

The rest of the carbon undergoes complete

combustion. Determine the amount of air required (in
kmol) if 50% excess O2 must be satisfied.

Relevant Reactions:

C + O2 ========> CO2
C + 0.5O2 ========> CO

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LECTURE 10. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Reactive Processes

Example 11-1. Theoretical and Stoichiometric Air

Calculate for theoretical O2 needed:

Assume that all the carbon is burned completely to CO2.

100 kmol C (1/1) = 100 kmol O2

It is not correct to do the following:

C CO2: 100 kmol C (0.80)(1/1) = 80 kmol O2

C CO: 100 kmol C (0.20)(0.5/1) = 10 kmol O2

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LECTURE 10. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Reactive Processes

Example 11-1. Theoretical and Stoichiometric Air

Total O2 required stoichiometrically based on the actual

process:

Stoichiometric O2 = (80 + 10) kmol = 90 kmol

Theoretical O2 is based not on what is stoichiometrically
needed according to what is actually burned.

Theoretical Air = (100 kmol)(1/0.21) = 476.2 kmol

And the actual air supplied:

Actual Air = 476.2 kmol (1.5) = 714.3 kmol

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LECTURE 10. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Reactive Processes

Example 11-2. Combustion of Propane (C3H8)

Fuels for motor vehicles other than gasoline are being

eyed because they generate lower levels of pollutants than
does gasoline.

Compressed propane (C3H8) has been suggested as a

source of economic power for vehicles. Suppose that in a
test, 20 kg of C3H8 is burned with 400 kg of air to produce
44 kg of CO2 and 12 kg of CO.

Calculate the percent excess air.

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LECTURE 10. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Reactive Processes

Example 11-2. Combustion of Propane (C3H8)

Write the overall combustion reaction for the fuel

assuming it is burned completely:

C3H8 + 5O2 ========> 3CO2 + 4H2O

For 20 kg of C3H8, the theoretical O2 required is:

20kg C 3 H 8
1kmol C 3 H8 5O2 =2.27 kmol O2
1C H
44.09kg C 3 H 8 3 8

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LECTURE 10. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Reactive Processes

Example 11-2. Combustion of Propane (C3H8)

The actual O2 supplied is

1kmol air 1air

400kg air =2.90kmol O2
29kg air 0.21O2

The percent excess air (or O2) is

2.90kmol O -2.27kmol O
%excess air = 2 2

×100=28% 2.27 kmol O2

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LECTURE 10. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Reactive Processes

Example 11-3. Combustion of Methane (CH4)

Generation of methane-rich biogas is a way to avoid high

waste-disposal costs, and burning it can meet up to 60% of
the operating costs for such waste-to-energy plants.

Consider the complete combustion of 16.0 kg of methane

(CH4) in biogas with 300 kg of air. Determine the % excess
of air, and the total moles and composition of the flue gas.

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LECTURE 10. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Reactive Processes

Example 11-3. Combustion of Methane (CH4)

Degrees of Freedom Analysis: Atomic Balance

Unit: Reactor

unknowns (P,x1,x2,x3,x4) +5
independent atomic specie(s)
independent nonreactive molecular specie(s)
other equations:
Degrees of freedom 0

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LECTURE 10. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Reactive Processes

Example 11-3. Combustion of Methane (CH4)

Write the atomic species balances (mole basis):

(1) C: 16 kg CH4 (1/16)(1) = Px1

(2) H: 16 kg CH4 (1/16)(4) = Px4

(3) O: 300 kg Air (1/29)(0.21)(2) = 2Px2 + 2Px1 + Px4

(4) N:300 kg Air (1/29)(0.79)(2) = 2Px3

(5) x: x1 + x2 + x3 + x4 = 1

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LECTURE 10. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Reactive Processes

Example 11-3. Combustion of Methane (CH4)

Simplifying the equations

(1) C: 1 = Px1

(2) H: 4 = Px4

(3) O: 4.34 = 2Px2 + 2Px1 + Px4

(4) N:16.34 = 2Px3

(5) x: x1 + x2 + x3 + x4 = 1

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LECTURE 10. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Reactive Processes

Example 11-3. Combustion of Methane (CH4)

If composition of flue gas is expressed in terms of actual

number of moles (n’s) instead of mole fractions (x’s)

C: 1 = n1
H: 4 = n4
O: 4.34 = 2n2 + 2n1 + n4
N: 16.34 = 2n3
n: n1 + n2 + n3 + n4 = P

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LECTURE 10. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Reactive Processes

Example 11-3. Combustion of Methane (CH4)

Solving for the n’s and P:

n1 = 1 kmol CO2 n2 = 0.17 kmol O2

n3 = 2 kmol H2O n4 = 8.18 kmol N2
P = 11.35 kmol

Solving for the mole fractions:

x1 = (1/11.35) = 0.09 kmol CO2/kmol P

x2 = (0.17/11.35) = 0.01 kmol O2/kmol P
x3 = (8.18/11.35) = 0.72 kmol N2/kmol P
x4 = (2/11.35) = 0.18 kmol H2O/kmol P

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LECTURE 10. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Reactive Processes

Example 11-3. Combustion of Methane (CH4)

Solving for % excess air:

Write the overall combustion reaction for the fuel

assuming it is burned completely:

CH4 + 2O2 ========> CO2 + 2H2O

For 16 kg of C3H8, the theoretical air required is:

1kmol CH 4
2O 2
1Air29 kg Air
16kg CH4 = 276kg Air
1CH
16kgCH4 8 0.21O2 1kmolAir

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LECTURE 10. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Reactive Processes

Example 11-3. Combustion of Methane (CH4)

Solving for % excess air:

Overall combustion reaction for the CH4:

CH4 + 2O2 ========> CO2 + 2H2O

For 16 kg of C3H8, the theoretical air required is:

1kmolCH 4
2O 2
1Air 29 kg Air
16kgCH4 = 276kgAir
16kgCH4 1CH8 0.21O2 1kmolAir

300kg Air - 276kgAir

%excessair = ×100 = 8.7%
276kgAir
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LECTURE 10. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Reactive Processes

Example 11-4. Combustion of Coal

A local utility burns coal having the following

composition on a dry basis:

Component Percent
C 83.05
H 4.45
O 3.36
N 1.08
S 0.70
Ash 7.36
Total 100.00
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LECTURE 10. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Reactive Processes

Example 11-4. Combustion of Coal

The average Orsat analysis of the flue gas during a 24-

hr test was:

Component Percent
CO2 + SO2 15.4
CO 0.0
O
2 4.0
N2 80.6
Total 100.00

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LECTURE 10. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Reactive Processes

Example 11-4. Combustion of Coal

Moisture in the fuel was 3.90% and the air on the

average contained 0.0048 lbm H2O/lbm dry air.

The refuse showed 14.0% combined elements as in the

coal (i.e. C, H, O, N, S) and the remainder being ash. It may
be assumed that these combined elements occur in the
same proportions as they do in the coal.

Estimate the amount of amount of flue-gas (dry

basis), amount of water coming out of the process,
and the %excess air.

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LECTURE 10. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Reactive Processes

Example 11-4. Combustion of Coal

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LECTURE 10. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Reactive Processes

Example 11-4. Combustion of Coal

Basis: 100 lbm of coal

Ash Balance: 0.0736(100 lbm) = 0.86R

R = 8.56 lbm

Combustible elements in refuse

0.14(8.56 lbm) = 1.20 lbm

Assuming the combustible elements (C, H, O, N, S) occur in

the same proportions as they do in the coal, the quantities
of the combustibles in R on an ash-free basis are:

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LECTURE 10. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Reactive Processes

Example 11-4. Combustion of Coal

mass ash-free Amt. in R Amt. in R

Component
(lbm) mass % (lbm) (lbmol)

C 83.05 89.65 1.076 0.0897

H 4.45 4.80 0.058 0.0537

O 3.36 3.63 0.0436 0.0027

N 1.08 1.17 0.014 0.0010

S 0.70 0.76 0.009 0.0003

Total 92.64 100.00 1.200 0.1474

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LECTURE 10. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Reactive Processes

Example 11-4. Combustion of Coal

Find the lbmol of H and O due to water in coal:

H: 100 lbm (3.9/96.1)(1/18)(2/1) = 0.451 lbmol H

O: 100 lbm (3.9/96.1)(1/18)(1/1) = 0.225 lbmol O

Find the mole fraction of H and O due to moisture in air:

H: 0.0048 lbm H2O/lbm DA (29/18)(2/1) = 0.0154

O: 0.0048 lbm H2O/lbm DA (29/18)(1/1) = 0.0077

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LECTURE 10. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Reactive Processes

Example 11-4. Combustion of Coal

Solve A, W, and P using (C+S), H, and N balances

(C+S) Balance (mole basis):

(83.05/12) + (0.70/32) = P(0.154) + 0.0897 + 0.0003

H Balance (mole basis):

(4.45/1) + 0.451 + 0.0154A = 2W + 0.0537

N Balance (mole basis):

(1.08/14) + 2(0.79A) = 2P(0.806) + 2(0.001)

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LECTURE 10. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Reactive Processes

Example 11-4. Combustion of Coal

Solving the balance equations gives

P = 44.5 lbmol
A = 45.4 lbmol
W = 2.77 lbmol

Determine the theoretical air required to burn

completely all the C, H, and S in the coal.

C: (83.05/12)(1/1) = 6.92 lbmol O2

H: (4.45/1)(1/4) = 1.11 lbmol O2
S: (0.70/32)(1/1) = 0.022 lbmol O2

Total O2 required = (6.92 + 1.11 + 0.022) = 8.052 lbmol O2

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LECTURE 10. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Reactive Processes

Example 11-4. Combustion of Coal

Since there is already O present in the coal, this amount

is subtracted from the theoretical requirement.

O2 in coal = (3.36/16)(1/2) = 0.105 lbmol O2

Corrected O2 required = (8.052 – 0.105) = 7.947 lbmol O2

Actual O2 supplied = 45.35 (0.21) = 9.524 lbmol O2

And the % excess air is calculated as:

9.524kmolO - 7.947kmolO
%excessair = 2 2 ×100
= 19.8% 7.947 kmolO2

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