FUELS and COMBUSTION

Fuel – is any substance, natural or artificial which upon

combustion releases heat energy. 4. Specific Gravity at temperature (t)

Combustion – is synonymous to oxidation and is the 𝑺𝑮𝒕 = (𝑺𝑮@𝑺𝒕𝒅. 𝑻𝒆𝒎𝒑. )(𝑪𝑭)

union of oxygen with combustible materials.
where:
CF → correction factor
CF = 1 − 0.00072(t − 15.6) → temp. in ℃
 Classifications of Fuels
CF = 1 − 0.0004(t − 60) → temp. in ℉
 Solid Fuels
- Such as coal, coke, wood, charcoal, bagasse,
5. Heating Value or Calorific Value:
coconut shells, rice husks, and briquetted
fuels.
a. Higher Heating Value or Gross Calorific Value - is
the heating value obtained when the water in
 Liquid Fuels
the products of combustion is in the liquid
- Such as crude petroleum and its distillates
state.
(gasoline, alcohol, kerosene, diesel, bunker,
and other fuel oils)
b. Lower Heating Value or Net Calorific Value – is
the heating value obtained when the water in
 Gaseous Fuels
the products of combustion is in the vapor
- Such as natural gas, artificial gas, blast
state.
furnace gas, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG),
methane, acetylene, propane, etc.
 Higher Heating Value of Solid Fuels
 Atomic Fuels
 Dulong’s Formula
- Such as natural uranium, thorium and
artificially produced fuel like plutonium. 𝑸𝒉 = 𝟑𝟑, 𝟖𝟐𝟎 𝑪 + 𝟏𝟒𝟒, 𝟐𝟏𝟐 𝑯 −
𝑶
+ 𝟗, 𝟑𝟎𝟒 𝑺
𝒌𝑱
𝟖 𝒌𝒈

 Properties of Fuels
 ASME Formula for Petroleum Products
1. Analysis of Composition 𝒌𝑱
𝑸𝒉 = 𝟒𝟏, 𝟏𝟑𝟎 + 𝟏𝟑𝟗. 𝟔 (°𝑨𝑷𝑰) 𝒌𝒈
a. Proximate Analysis – is an analysis of the
composition of fuel which gives, on mass basis,
the relative amounts of moisture content,  Bureau of Standards Formula
volatile matter, fixed carbon and ash. 𝒌𝑱
𝑸𝒉 = 𝟓𝟏, 𝟕𝟏𝟔 + 𝟖𝟕𝟗𝟑. 𝟖 (𝑺𝑮)𝟐 𝒌𝒈
b. Ultimate Analysis – is an analysis of the
composition of fuel which gives, on mass basis,
the relative amounts of carbon, hydrogen,
oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur ash and moisture.  Lower Heating Value of Solid Fuels:
𝒌𝑱
𝑸𝑳 = 𝑸𝒉 − 𝟗𝑯𝟐 (𝟐𝟒𝟒𝟐) 𝒌𝒈
2. Specific Gravity
where:
H = 26 − 15 S. G. (in %)
𝝆𝑺 𝜸𝑺
𝑺𝑮𝒔 = =
𝝆𝑹𝑺 𝜸𝑹𝑺
where:
ρ or γ → density or sp. weight of the substance
ρ or γ → density or sp. weight of the reference substance

3. API and Baume Gravity Units

𝟏𝟒𝟏. 𝟓
°𝑨𝑷𝑰 = − 𝟏𝟑𝟏. 𝟓
𝑺𝑮@𝟏𝟓. 𝟔℃
*API (American Petroleum Institute)

𝟏𝟒𝟎
°𝑩𝒂𝒖𝒎𝒆 = − 𝟏𝟑𝟎
𝑺𝑮@𝟏𝟓. 𝟔℃