BOYS GAS CALORIMETER

Naveen S Patil
181ME154
EXP NO: 3A LABORATORY TEMPERATURE: 30º C
DATE: 11-3-2021 LABORATORY PRESSURE: 76.8 cm of Hg

AIM: To determine the calorific value of the given gaseous fuel using Boys gas Calorimeter.
APPARATUS REQUIRED: (Refer Fig.2A.) Boys gas calorimeter, Rotameter, Thermometer,
Stopwatch.

Fig. 2A Boys Gas Calorimeter

THEORY: The calorific value of a gaseous fuel is the amount of heat produced by burning unit
volume of the fuel at normal temperature and pressure. The gaseous fuel is made to burn and
the heat liberated is absorbed by the water. The calorific value of the fuel can be calculated by
knowing the volume of the fuel at N.T.P. (Normal temperature and pressure) DESCRIPTION:
It consists of two gas burners in which a known volume of gas is burned. The hot gases
produced by combustion pass up a copper chimney, which is surrounded by a double coil of
ribbed metal tubing through the chimney; the hot gases are deflected downwards through the
space containing the inner coil. From here they are again deflected upwards through the space
containing the outer coil. By the time the gases reach the top of this passage, practically the
whole of their heat passed away into the atmosphere. The cooling water enters from the outer
coil and leaves out from the inner coil, the inlet and outlet temperatures of which are measured
using thermometers. The outlet temperature of exhaust gases is also noted with a thermometer.
Any water formed by the combustion of hydrogen is condensed on the coils and collects at the
base of the instrument, from where it drains, through a pipe and is collected in a measuring jar.
The latent heat of this condensed steam, when subtracted from the measured heat of combustion
will give the lower calorific value of the fuel.
The rubber tube connected to the outlet water dips into a double funnel. One of the
double funnel outlets is meant for connecting it to the drain and other to collect the water for
measuring purpose.
Gas is supplied from the main through the control cock and passes through a flow- meter
to the calorimeter. A U tube manometer is connected to the supply to determine the pressure of
the gas.

PROCEDURE:
The gas rotameter is checked and leveled. Water is poured into the calorimeter shell
until it emerges from the over-flow spout.
The gas cock is now turned on and gas allowed to flow for a few moments until the
matter is clear of air.
The burners in the calorimeter are then ignited and gas flow is adjusted in rotameter.
Water supply to the constant head device is turned on and adjusted until the flow from
the outlet is observed.
Before taking the readings, calorimeter should be left for about 30 minutes to reach
steady state.
Measure the amount of water circulating and its rise in temperature and the volume of
the gas burned in any chosen interval. Tabulate the results.

OBSERVATIONS: (Batch-1)
Volume of water collected/min, (Q) = 380.0 (cc).
Mass of water collected/min. (W) = 380.0 (gm)
Temperature of circulating water. Inlet (t1) = 30.2 (°C)
Outlet (t0) = 32.7 (°C)
Temperature rise = (t0 - t1) = 32.7-30.2 = 2.5 (oC)

Water manometer reading = 0.8 (cm)

Pressure of gas (absolute) P1 = Barometric pressure + Manometer reading.
= 76.8+0.8/13.6 = 76.8588 (cm. of Hg)
 Temperature of gas (t1) = 28.3 (°C)
Absolute temperature of gas T1 = 273 +t1 = 273+28.3 = 301.3 (K)
Time for 200 cc. of gas flow = 182 (sec)
Vol. of gas / min (V1) = 200*60/182 = 65.934 (cc/min)

CALCULATIONS:

Heat carried away by water = W× (t0-ti) ×Cw= 380*2.5*1= 950 cal/minute (J/min) Where,
Cw is the specific heat of water.

Volume of the gas at N.T.P.

P *V1*T
V = P*1 T 1 = (76.8588*65.934*273)/(76*301.3) = 60.4161 (cc/min)

T = 273°K, P = 76cm of Hg

.
w Cal/cc.(J/cc).
wCalorific value of the gas = W( T0 –T1) C
C
V

= 950/60.4161
=15.7242 Cal/cc
= 15724.2 Kcal/m3

RESULTS:
Calorific value of gas =15724.2 kcal/m3 = 15724.2*4.187

= 65837.22 kJ/m3
 PLANIMETER
Naveen S Patil
181ME154
EXP NO: 3B LABORATORY TEMPERATURE: 30º C DATE: 11-3-2021 LABORATORY
PRESSURE: 76.8 cm of Hg

AIM: To determine the area of two dimensional figures.

THEORY: Engineers often have to determine the value of the area enclosed by an irregular
boundary. Some of the most frequently encountered instances occur in connection with
determining the average ordinate of an indicator diagram (IC Engines), average ordinate of a
plotted velocity profile etc. There are devices called planimeters for mathematically
determining the area of such surfaces. Although many types of planimeters are available
including those designed for special purposes, the polar planimeter is the most commonly used.
DESCRIPTION: (Refer Fig.2B) The ordinary polar planimeter consists of two arms pivoted
to each other. The arm known as the pole arm has a pin to serve as a fixed pivot point about
which the arm may turn. The other arm, the tracing arm has a tracing point which can be moved
along the boundary of the area to be measured. Mounted on the tracing arm is a small wheel,
which either turns or slides, depending upon the motion of the tracing point. The movement of
this wheel is indicated by a scale attached thereto, and this movement or roll is an index of the
area traversed.
It should be noted that for a given wheel size, the area indicated will depend upon the
length (L) of the tracing arm. For example, suppose that a certain planimeter has a wheel
diameter of 0.75 units, that the scale attached to the wheel is graduated into 100 equal parts.
Further suppose that it is desired to have the arm length such that one revolution of the wheel
represents an area of 10 sq. units. The circumference of this wheel would be 2.36 units. The
corresponding length of arm would be 10/2.356 =4.25 units. Some planimeters are made with
adjustable arms so that the length thereof may be varied to suit the desired unit of area.

Fig. 2B. Planimeter

 PROCEDURE:
Firmly attach the figure to be planimetered to a smooth surface.
Suitably locate the pivot point outside the area to be measured such that arc trace
always keeps planimeter arm to an acute angle.
Do not touch the periphery of the tracing wheel unless absolutely necessary.
Trace the path in a clockwise direction starting and ending at the same point.
For accurate results, trace the path several times and use the average of the values
obtained.
Do not attempt to set the wheel in a zero position of the scale at the start.
Move the tracing point to the starting position and record the reading.
The area will be the difference between the readings multiplied by a scale constant.
Select three regular figures: a triangle, a rectangle and a circle whose areas can be
calculated.
Using the planimeters determine the areas and determine percentage error in each case.

Formulae:
Total Reading = MSR x 0.01(SSR) MSR: Main scale reading

SSR: Secondary scale reading Scale factor (SF): 20 units

Circumference of wheel (Cw): 5.0 cm

Measured Area = |(IR-FR)|x SF x Cw

Error = |Measured Area − True Area|

% of Error = E/A

OBSERVATIONS:

Area of given triangle: (5.2 x 4.4)/2 = 11.44 cm2

RESULTS:
Percentage of errors for Triangle, Rectangle and Circle are shown in the table.
 Initial Final Measured True Area
Trial Geometry Reading (IR) Reading(FR) Area from by Error in Percentage
No. (cm) MSR SSR MSR SSR planimeter calculation measurement of error

1 4 55 4 66 11 cm2 11.44 cm2 0.44 cm2 3.84%

2 4 65 4 54 11 cm2 11.44 cm2 0.44 cm2 3.84%

Height: 5.2
3 Base: 4.4 4 54 4 66 12 cm2 11.44 cm2 0.56 cm2 4.89%