COURSE UNIT

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL

ENGINEERING: MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
LABORATORY 1

COURSE MODULE COURSE UNIT WEEK

6 6
Calorific Test of Gaseous Fuels

CHECKLIST
 Read course and unit objectives
 Read study guide prior to class attendance
 Read required learning resources; refer to unit
terminologies for jargons
 Proactively participate in classroom discussions
 Participate in weekly discussion board (MS Teams)
 Answer and submit course unit tasks

UNIT EXPECTED OUTCOMES (UEOs)

At the end of this unit, the students are expected to:

Cognitive:
1. Use measuring instruments in the performance of laboratory exercises.
2. Analyze the significance of the quantities determined using engineering measuring devices.
3. Analyze the properties of fuels and lubricants using different methods.
4. Design an experiment involving measurement of properties.

Prepared by: Engr. Sandra E. Abancio, RMEE

Affective:
1. Listen attentively during class discussions
2. Demonstrate tact and respect when challenging other people’s opinions and ideas
3. Accept comments and reactions of classmates on one’s opinions openly and graciously.

Psychomotor:
1. Participate actively during class discussions and group activities.
2. Express opinion and thoughts in front of the class.

STUDY GUIDE
How do we calculate the calorific value of a fuel?

 Calorific value is the amount of heat energy produced on complete combustion of 1 kg of

fuel
 Calorific Value = Heat Produced/Amount of Fuel used for burning in KJ/Kg
Example:
If 4.5 Kg of fuel is completely burnt and amount of heat produced stands measured at 1,800,000
KJ, what is the calorific value?
Calorific value = 1,800,000 KJ/4.5 Kg = 400,000 KJ/Kg

Bomb Calorimeter for Determination of Calorific Value of Solid and Liquid Fuel

 It is used to measure the calorific value (CV) of solid as well as liquid fuel. But to determine
the CV of the gas, one need to choose Junker’s calorimeter.
 Calorimeter contain thick walled cylindrical vessel and it consists of lid which supports two
electrodes which are in contact with fuse and fuel sample known weight.
 Lid also contain oxygen inlet valve through which high pressure oxygen gas (at about 25 to
30 atm) is supplied.
 Entire lid with fuel sample is now held in copper calorimeter containing known weight of
water. Mechanical stirrer is provided to stirred well for uniform heating of water.
 A thermometer is also provided to measure the change in temperature of water due to
combustion of fuel in Lid

Procedure of Bomb Calorimeter Experiment

 A known quantity of fuel sample is added in crucible

 Start the stirrer and not the initial temperature of the water
 Start current through the crucible and let fuel sample burn in presence of oxygen
 Heat release during the combustion of fuel is taken by water and temperature of it rises

Prepared by: Engr. Sandra E. Abancio, RMEE

  Note final steady state temperature of water

High Calorific Value of Fuel

 High calorific value of fuel = (m1+m2)x(Tc+T1-T2)xCw/mf

Where,
M1 and m2 are mass of water in copper calorimeter and water equivalent of bomb calorimeter
respectively.
Mf is mass of fuel sample whose calorific value is to be determined.
T1 and T2 are final and initial temperatures water sample.
Tc is temperature correction for radiation losses.
Cw is specific heat of water

REFERENCES

1. Power Plant Testing By Moyer

2. Figliola, R.S. & Beasley, D.E., Theory & Design for Mechanical Measurements, 5th edition,
2011, J. Wiley & Sons, Inc.
3. Halman, J.P., Experimental Methods for Engineers, McGraw-Hill, Inc.
4. Doebelin, E.O., Measurement System: Application & Design, McGraw-Hill, Inc.
5. Beckwith, T.G., Marangoni, R.D. & Lienhard, J.H., Mechanical Measurements, Addison
Wesley, Inc.
6. Robert B. Northrop, Introduction to Instrumentation and Measurements, Second Edition,
Jun 28, 2005.
7. Alan S. Morris, Reza Langari, Measurement and Instrumentation Theory and Application
8. Alan S. Morris, Measurement and Instrumentation Principles, 3rd edition.

UNIT TASK

Objective:
 To find the calorific value or heating value of natural gas using gas calorimeter

Standard Reference:

 ASTM D1826-094(2010): Standard Test Method for Calorific Heating Value of Gases in
Natural Gas Range by Continuous Recording Calorimeter

Significance:

Prepared by: Engr. Sandra E. Abancio, RMEE

 Calorific values represent amount of heat produced during combustion. People use calorific
values to determine how efficient and effective fuels are, looking for fuels with high calorific
values to use in energy generation

Background:

 Calorific value or the Heating value for gaseous fuels is the measure of the heating power
and is dependent upon the composition of the gas. The CV refers to the amount of energy
released when a known volume of gas is completely combusted under specified conditions.
Analytically, CV can be obtained using the Dulong’s Formula
14,600 C +62,000 (H-O/8) + 4000 S

Equipment:

 Gas Calorimeter, Thermometer, Water container, Weighing scale, Wet-gas meter, burner

Procedures:

 With water flowing through the calorimeter, light the burner outside the calorimeter
 Adjust the gas flow to give a medium flame and insert the burner in the calorimeter
 Get the temperatures of both inlet and outlet of both the water and the gas sample

Prepared by: Engr. Sandra E. Abancio, RMEE

Prepared by: Engr. Sandra E. Abancio, RMEE