NAME OF SCHOOL

FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC, EDE

DEPARTMENT
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

NAME OF STUDENTS
 ELUFOWOHAN ANUOLOWAPO IMOLE.
ME20220104878
 MONDAY EMMANUEL OREYIN.
ME20220101079
 AKINWUNMI MICHAEL SEGUN.
ME20220101858
 TOROMADE TEMIOLUWA ADEKUNLE.
ME20220100733
 AWOSEYE ADEDAMOLA DAVID.
ME20220100150
 AMOO SEGUN ISAAC.
ME20220102361
 FATOBERU SHIKEMI FAVOUR.
ME20220100781
 TIJANI IBRAHIM ADEKUNLE.
ME20220103014
 BABATUNDE JOSHUA IFEOLUWA.
ME20220105241
 ADEBIYI VICTOR ADEBAYO.
ME20220102692
 GANIYU OLALEKAN ASAFA.
ME20220101766

LEVEL
ND 1 FT
 COURSE TITLE
THERMODYNAMICS 1

COURSE CODE
MEC 122

LECTURER
ENGR. OLOGUNYE O.B.

ASSIGNMENT
EXPLAIN BOMB CALORIMETER

BOMB CALORIMETER

The calorimeter used to determine the energy change during a reaction accurately is known as
a bomb calorimeter. The modern Bomb calorimeter is a development of the original
calorimeter of Berthelot. The modern bomb calorimeter is made of corrosion resisting steel
in which the combination Bomb Calorimeter.

The bomb calorimeter is a laboratory instrument used to measure the amount of a sample's
combustion heat or heat power when excess oxygen combustion occurs. It is an instrument
used to determine the heat emitted from a given quantity of biomass sample combustion and
to calculate the HHV (Higher Heating Value) of that biomass fuel. Approximately one gram
of sample fuel is ground and diluted after each test to fit into a capsule for bomb combustion.

Bomb calorimetry is used mainly in the scientific study of thermodynamic processes. It

measures the heat of combustion produced in a chemical reaction. Also, it measures reaction
enthalpy and change in enthalpy throughout the reaction. It is an instrument used to measure
the heat of reaction at a fixed volume and the measured heat which is called the change of
internal energy (ΔE). In chemistry, the changes of heat of a reaction can be measured at fixed
pressure or volume.
 IMAGE OF BOMB CALORIMETER

WORKING PRINCIPLE OF BOMB CALORIMETER

The bomb calorimeter is a type of constant-volume calorimeter used to measure the

combustion heat of oxygen-burnable samples. Four critical parts are needed in every bomb
calorimeter:

1. A bomb or vessel in which the combustible charges can be burned

2. A bucket or container for holding the bomb in a measured quantity of water, together with
a stirring mechanism
3. An insulating jacket to protect the bucket from transient thermal stresses during the
combustion process, and
4. A thermometer or other sensor for measuring temperature changes within the bucket.

The bomb must be a strong, thick-walled metal vessel which can be opened for inserting the
sample, for removing the products of combustion and for cleaning. Valves must be provided
for filling the bomb with oxygen under pressure and for releasing residual gases at the
conclusion of a test. Electrodes to carry an ignition current to a fuse wire are also required.
Since an internal pressure up to 1500 psig can be developed during combustion, most oxygen
bombs are constructed to withstand pressures of at least 3000 psig.

If the heat capacity of the calorimeter is known, then one can determine the heat change
during a chemical reaction by noting the change in the temperature in the process.

The heat Q = Cv(Tf –Ti)

where, q is the amount of heat according to the change in temperature measured in joules

Cv is the heat capacity of the calorimeter

Tf is the final temperature

Ti is the initial temperature

CONSTRUCTION OF BOMB CALORIMETER

The bomb calorimeter is used to determine the calorific values of solid and liquid fuels. It
consists of a strong steel shell known as a bomb.

It consists of a base which supports the platinum crucible and is screwed to the body of the
bomb. The top of the bomb carries an oxygen supply connection and a valve to release the
product. One gram of powdered sample coal is taken for the test and the calorimeter is filled
with 2000cm3 of water. The sample is placed in the platinum crucible. The iron fuse wire
which surrounds the sample of coal, is connected to the lower end of the two electrodes. The
electrodes extend through the base of the bomb and connect the fuse wire to an electric
circuit. The coal can be ignited by closing the electric circuit.

The bomb is placed inside a copper vessel which contains water. There is a stirring device for
agitating the water within the calorimeter. The calorimeter containing the bomb is placed in
another container which acts as a heat insulator. The temperature of water in the calorimeter
is measured by a thermometer.

The oxygen cylinder is coupled to the bomb and oxygen is admitted to the bomb through the
value until the pressure gauge in the cylinder indicates a pressure of 25 atmospheres. The fuel
is ignited by passing a current through the fuse wire. The temperature of both starts
increasing and the readings on the thermometer are taken at one minute intervals for 10
minutes, after the maximum intervals for 10 minutes, after the maximum temperature is
reached. Thereafter the temperature starts falling slowly. When the temperature fall shows a
steady rate the readings are taken at regular intervals for an additional five minutes.

Heat given by the combustion of coal + Heat given by the combustion of fuse wire = Heat
taken by the water and calorimeter.

USES OF BOMB CALORIMETER

Bomb calorimeters are devices which are useful to compute the heat of combustion of a
chemical reaction. Such information collected from a bomb calorimeter during a chemical
reaction will tell scientists whether certain food products are safe for use or not. Some
popular uses are as follows:

 Thermodynamic Studies:
Bomb calorimetry is used mainly in the scientific study of thermodynamic processes. It
measures the heat of combustion produced in a chemical reaction.
Also, it measures reaction enthalpy and change in enthalpy throughout the reaction.
Obviously Bomb calorimeter is very essential to scientific and theoretical thermodynamic
studies.
 Educational Training
This is another use of bomb calorimeters which is in education training. Calorimetry is
being studied in university-level science courses and also in some high school classes.
 Fuel Testing
These are used to test the calorific value of solid and liquid fuels, which are traded based
on these values. Fuels such as coal and oil must meet the regulations regarding the total
calorific value, quality, and purity of the fuel. Bomb calorimetry can also test liquid fuels
such as gasoline and kerosene.
 Waste and Refuse Disposal
The cement industry uses hazardous waste as an alternative fuel. But the use of hazardous
waste as fuel is regulated by the government, by Environmental Protection Agency. Using
Bomb calorimetry we can determine whether hazardous waste fuel meets the regulations
or not.
 Metabolic Studies
 Bomb calorimetry can also determine the calorie content of a product. Using this process
one can examine the effects of energy content in food on humans and animals. These
studies are showing implications that extend into nutritional considerations and the effects
of diet on the body.
 Propellant and Explosive Testing
We use bomb calorimeter to test propellants and explosives to find the product’s heat of
detonation..

A bomb calorimeter is an instrument used to determine the heat emitted from a given quantity
of biomass sample combustion and to calculate the HHV of that biomass fuel. Approximately
one gram of sample fuel is ground and diluted after each test to fit into a capsule for bomb
combustion. The emitted heat increases the temperature of the water covering the bomb by
combusting the fuel. The total heat of the fuel is determined by increasing the temperature
and the real mass of the fuel.

In different industries and academic environments, calorimeters are helpful, and an industrial
pilot plant may use a DSC to assess a shift in the formula of a substance and how it impacts
the formula itself. To calculate the amount of heat (calories) in food, oxygen bomb
calorimeters are useful in food testing laboratories.

RELEVANT EQUATION FOR THE BOMB CALORIMETER

Due to reaction taking place in the calorimeter, the temperature of the water bath changes. It
is a fact that in an ideal calorimeter, heat exchange must take place with the water. But, in
real life, the materials from the calorimeter itself exchange heat with the system. We can
make corrections for this by considering a heat capacity for the calorimeter also. Since it
exchanges all the heat inside the calorimeter, so we can set the total heat to zero.

Here we have three parts of our calorimeter: calorimeter itself, water bath, and chemical
reaction. The equation below explains it:

qcal + qwater + qrxn = 0

Now, by substituting the equations for the heat of the water and the heat of the calorimeter,
the detailed equation:

Ccal.ΔTcal + mCp.ΔTwater+ qrxn = 0

Here term for qcal has no mass because it assumes that the mass of the calorimeter is constant
and therefore we can combine it with Ccal. Also, we can calculate ΔT as

Tf (final temp) – Ti (initial temp).

Cp is the specific heat capacity for water and is 1 cal/g°C.

Thus solve for qrxn :

qrxn = – (Ccal.ΔTcal + mCp.ΔTwater)