FUELS AND COMBUSTION

FORMULA

API GRAVITY UNIT BAUME GRAVITY UNIT

o
𝟏𝟒𝟏.𝟓 o
𝟏𝟒𝟎
API = – 131.5 Baume = – 130
𝐒.𝐆.@𝟏𝟓.𝟔𝐂 𝐒.𝐆.@𝟏𝟓.𝟔𝐂

SPECIFIC GRAVITY at a CERTAIN TEMPERATURE

S.G.t = (S.G.15.6C)(CF)

CF = 1 - 0.00072 (t-15.6): oC

CF = 1 – 0.0004 (t-60): oF

HEATING VALUE OF FUELS

- Heating or Calorific values of fuel is defined as the total heat produced when a unit mass of
fuel is completely burnt with pure oxygen
- When water is present in the flue gases, the heating value is said HIGHER HEATING VALUE
(HHV)
- If the water is present in the liquid form it is said LOWER HEATING VALUE (LHV)

HIGHER HEATING VALUE/ GROSS CALORIFIC VALUE

Dulong’s Formula

𝐎
HHV = 33,820 C + 144,212 (H- ) + 9,304 S KJ/KG
𝟖

ASME Formula

HHV = 41,130 + 139.6 (oAPI) KJ/KG

Bureau of Standards

HHV = 51,716 – 8793.8 (S.G.@15.6oC)2 KJ/KG

For HYDROCARBON (CnHm)

HHV = 13,500 C + 60,890 H BTU/lb

𝟏𝟐𝐧 𝟒𝐦
C= H= ; C+H=1
𝟏𝟐𝐧 + 𝟒𝐦 𝟏𝟐𝐧 + 𝟒𝐦
LOWER HEATING VALUE/ NET CALORIFIC VALUE

LHV = HHV – 10.55(M + 9H) BTU/lb

HHV – BTU/lb

M – weight % of moisture in fuel

H – weight % of hydrogen in fuel

NOTE: CONVERSION

1 BTU/lb = 2.326 KJ/kg = 0.5556 Kcal/kg

THEORETICAL A/F RATIO OF SOLID FUELS

If the Ultimate Analysis is Available:

𝐎
(A/F)ta = 11.5C + 34.5 (H- ) + 4.3S kg-air/kg-fuel
𝟖

If the Ultimate Analysis is not Available:

𝐇𝐇𝐕 (𝐊𝐉/𝐤𝐠)
(A/F)ta = kg-air/kg-fuel
𝟑𝟏𝟏𝟕

𝐇𝐇𝐕 (𝐤𝐂𝐚𝐥/𝐤𝐠)
(A/F)ta = kg-air/kg-fuel
𝟕𝟒𝟓

𝐇𝐇𝐕 (𝐁𝐭𝐮/𝐥𝐛)
(A/F)ta = kg-air/kg-fuel
𝟏𝟑𝟒𝟎

SAMPLE PROBLEMS

1. A bituminous coal has the following composition:

C= 71.5% O= 7.0% S= 3.6% M= 3.4% H= 5.0% N= 1.3% ASH=8.2%
Calculate the HHV, LHV, and A/F of coal

2. Calculate the HHV and A/F of liquid Dodecane (C12H26)

3. Fuel oil in a day tank for use of an industrial boiler is tested with hydrometer. The
hydrometer reading indicates a S.G.= 0.924 when the temperature of the oil in the tank is
35oC. Calculate the HHV and A/F of the fuel

4. The ultimate analysis of coal-as-fired is as follows:

C=65.65% O=18.61% M=3% H=5.87% S=1.51% ASH=5.36%
Calculate the HHV, LHV, and A/F of coal