Example:

A diesel power plant uses fuel that has a density of 892.74 kg/m3 at 15.6˚C. Find the
heating value of fuel.
Given:
ρf = 892.74 kg/m3
tf = 15.6˚C
Find:
HHV
Solution:
HHV = 41,130 + 139.6 (˚API)
𝜌𝑓 892.74
SGf = = = 0.89274
𝜌𝑤 1000

SGf
SGs = = 0.89274
1−0.0007 (tf −15.6)

141.5 141.5
˚API = – 131.5 = – 131.5 = 27
SGs 0.89274

HHV = 41,130 + 139.6 (˚API) = 41,130 + 139.6 (27)

𝐤𝐉
HHV = 44,899.2
𝐤𝐠
Example:
A diesel engine consumed 945 liters of fuel per day at 30˚C. If the fuel was purchased at
15.6˚C and 30˚API at P5.00 per liter. Determine the cost of fuel to operate the engine per
day.
Given:
V30˚C = 945 liters/day
tf = 30˚C
P5.00
Fuel = 30˚API, L

Find:
Cost of fuel per day
Solution:
141.5 141.5
SG15.6˚C = = = 0.876
131.5 + ˚API 131.5 + 30
ρ15.6˚C = SG15.6˚C (ρw) = 0.876 (1 kg/L) = 0.876 kg/L
SG30˚C = SG15.6˚C [1 – 0.0007(tf – 15.6)]
SG30˚C = 0.876 [1 – 0.0007(30 – 15.6)] = 0.867
ρ30˚C = SG30˚C (ρw) = 0.867 (1 kg/L) = 0.867 kg/L
m15.6˚C = m30˚C
V15.6˚C ρ15.6˚C = V30˚C ρ30˚C
L kg
(945 )(0.867 )
day L L
V15.6˚C = kg = (935.29 day)
0.876
L

P5.00 L
Cost = ( ) (935.29 day)
L

𝐏𝟒,𝟔𝟕𝟔.𝟒𝟓
Cost =
𝐝𝐚𝐲
Example:
A logging firm in Isabela operates a Diesel Electric Plant to supply its electric energy
requirements. During a 24-hour period, the plant consumed 250 gallons of fuel at 80˚F
and produced 2700 kW-hr. Industrial fuel used is 30˚API and was purchased at P3.00
per liter at 60˚F. Determine the overall thermal efficiency of the plant.
Given:
gal
V80˚F = 250
day
kW−hr 1 day
Power Output = 2700 x = 112.5 kW
day 24 hr
P3.00
Fuel = 30˚API, L
80˚F = 26.67˚C
60˚F = 15.6˚C
Find:
Overall Efficiency
Solution:
Power Output
Overall Efficiency =
Q H mf

QH = HHV = 41,130 + 139.6(˚API) = 41,130 + 139.6(30)

kJ
QH = HHV = 45,318 kg
mf 26.67˚C = (Vf 26.67˚C)(ρf 26.67˚C)
ρf 26.67˚C = (SGf 26.67˚C)(ρw)
SGf 26.67˚C = (SG15.6˚C)[1-0.0007(tf – 15.6)]
141.5 141.5
SG15.6˚C = = = 0.876
131.5 + ˚API 131.5 + 30
SGf 26.67˚C = (0.876) [1-0.0007(26.67 – 15.6)] = 0.869
kg kg
ρf 26.67˚C = (0.869)(1 ) = 0.869
L L
gal 3.785 L 1 day kg kg
mf 26.67˚C = (250 day x x 86400 sec) (0.869 ) = 0.00952 sec
gal L
kJ
112.5
sec
Overall Efficiency = kg kJ x 100%
(0.00952 )(45318 )
sec kg

Overall Efficiency = 26.08 %

Example:
A boiler burns fuel oil with 15% excess air. The fuel oil may be represented by C14H30.
Calculate the molal air fuel ratio.
Given:
EA = 15%
Fuel = C14H30
Find:
molal air fuel ratio
Solution:
Fuel + Air = Product of Combustion
1(C14H30) + x (O2) + x (3.76)N2 = y (CO2) + z (H2O) + x (3.76)N2
1(C14H30) + x (O2) + x (3.76)N2 = y (CO2) + z (H2O) + x (3.76)N2

Carbon Balance Hydrogen Balance Oxygen Balance

14C = y (C) 30H = 2z (H) 2x (O) = 2y (O) + z (O)
y = 14 2z = 30 2x = 2y + z
z = 15 2x = 2(14) + 15
x = 21.5

1(C14H30) + 21.5O2 + 21.5(3.76)N2 = 14CO2 + 15H2O + 21.5(3.76)N2

mol air 21.5 mol O2 + 21.5(3.76) mol N2 4.76 (18.5) 102.34 mol air
A:F = mol fuel = = =
1 1 mol fuel

A:F’ = A:F (1+EA) = 102.34 (1.15)

𝐦𝐨𝐥 𝐚𝐢𝐫
A:F’ = 117.69
𝐦𝐨𝐥 𝐟𝐮𝐞𝐥

S.C. formula:
m
A:F molal = (n + 4 ) (4.76)
30
A:F molal = (14 + ) (4.76) = 102.34
4

A:F’ = A:F (1+EA) = 102.34 (1.15)

𝐦𝐨𝐥 𝐚𝐢𝐫
A:F’ = 117.69
𝐦𝐨𝐥 𝐟𝐮𝐞𝐥
 Example:
A steam generator burns fuel oil with 20% excess air. The fuel oil may be represented
by C14H30. The fuel gas leaves the preheater at 0.31 MPa. Determine the partial pressure
of H2O.
Given:
EA = 20%
Fuel = C14H30
Pressure = 0.31 MPa = 310 kPa
Find:
Partial Pressure of H2O
Solution:
z
Partial Pressure of H2O = P
mT
Fuel + Air = Product of Combustion
1(C14H30) + x (O2) + x (3.76)N2 = y (CO2) + z (H2O) + x (3.76)N2

Carbon Balance Hydrogen Balance Oxygen Balance

14C = y (C) 30H = 2z (H) 2x (O) = 2y (O) + z (O)
y = 14 2z = 30 2x = 2y + z
z = 15 2x = 2(14) + 15
x = 21.5

C14H30 + 21.5O2 + 21.5(3.76)N2 = 14CO2 + 15H2O + 21.5(3.76)N2

Combustion reaction with 20% excess air:

C14H30 + 1.20(21.5)O2 + 1.20(21.5)(3.76)N2 = 14CO2 + 15H2O + (1.20)21.5(3.76)N2 + .20(21.5)O2

Total mols of product = y + z + (1+EA)(x)(3.76) + (EA)(x)

Total mols of product = 14 + 15 + (1.20)(21.5)(3.76) + (0.20)(21.5)
Total mols of product = 130.308 mols
z 15
Partial Pressure of H2O = P= (310 kPa)
mT 130.308

Partial Pressure of H2O = 35.7 kPa

Example:
There are 20 kg of flue gases formed per kg of fuel oil burned in the combustion of a fuel
oil C12H26. What is the excess air in percent?

Given:
mg kg gas
= 20
mf kg fuel

Fuel = C12H26

Find:
Percent of excess air

Solution:
Using S.C. Formula:
m MW air
A:F = (n + ) (4.760) (MW fuel)
4

26 29 kg air
A:F = (12 + ) (4.76) ( ) = 15.022
4 170 kg fuel

mg = ma + mf m
A:F’ = m air
fuel
mg = (A:F’)(mf) + mf mair = (A:F’)(mfuel)
mg = mf (A:F’ + 1)
mg
= A:F’ – 1
mf
mg kg air
A:F’ = – 1 = 20 -1 = 19
mf kg fuel

A:F’ = A:F (1 + EA)

A:F′ 19
EA = –1= – 1 = 0.2648 x 100%
A:F 15.022

EA = 26.48 %
Example:
A volumetric analysis of a gas mixture is as follows:
CO2 = 12% O2 = 4% N2 = 82% CO = 2%
What is the percentage of CO on a mass basis?
Solution:
Converting the volumetric analysis to mass analysis:
CO2 = % x MW = 0.12 x 44 = 5.28
O2 = % x MW = 0.04 x 32 = 1.28
N2 = % x MW = 0.82 x 28 = 22.96
CO = % x MW = 0.02 x 28 = 0.56
Total mass of product = 5.28 + 1.28 + 22.96 + 0.56
Total mass of product = 30.08 kg
0.56
% mass of CO =
30.08

% mass of CO = 1.9 %
Example:
The dry exhaust gas from an oil engine has the following the volumetric analysis:
CO2 = 21.6% O2 = 4.2% N2 = 74.2%
kg
Calculate the specific gravity if the molecular weight of air is 29 kg .
mol

Solution:
Converting the gravimetric analysis to volumetric analysis:
% 0.216
CO2 = = = 0.004909
MW 44
% 0.042
O2 = = = 0.001312
MW 32
% 0.742
N2 = = = 0.026500
MW 28
mols
0.032721 kg
mol

1
Molecular Weight =
0.032721
kg
Molecular Weight = 30.56 kg
mol

MW gas 30.56
SG = =
MW air 29

SG = 1.054