EUGINE L.

BUSTAMANTE
BSABE-3B
AB POWER ENGINEERING

CHARACTERISTICS OF PARAFFIN HYDROCARBONS

Paraffin wax is primarily found as a white, odorless, tasteless solid that has a
density of about 900 kg/m3. Its melting point is typically between 46 and 68 °C (115
and 154 °F), and it is soluble in ether, benzene, and some esters but insoluble in
water. The majority of common chemical reagents have no effect on paraffin, but it
burns easily. It burns at 42 MJ/kg of heat.

Paraffin consists of a mixture of hydrocarbon molecules containing between

20 and 40 carbon atoms. Paraffin is an organic compound that contains only
hydrogen and carbon. It burns after being used as fuel, though most similar
compounds aren’t as reactive. Both the products produced and the amount of heat
generated per mole are dependent on the oxygen available while burning.

Alkanes are made up entirely of hydrogen and carbon atoms joined by a single
covalent bond. There are primarily two kinds: cycloalkanes and open-chain alkanes.
Mineral oil, petroleum oils, and natural gas are examples of natural sources that
contain it. Saturated hydrocarbons or alkanes are used to make paraffinic or paraffin
wax, which is used to make candles, wax paper, polishes, cosmetics, electrical
insulators, perfumes, and medications.

GENERAL FORMULA OF PARAFFIN

Paraffin hydrocarbons are known as alkanes. Any of the saturated

hydrocarbons with the general formula CnH2n+2, where C is a carbon atom, H is a
hydrogen atom, and n is an integer, is referred to as a paraffin hydrocarbon. Natural
gas and petroleum contain a large amount of paraffin. At normal temperature, paraffin
with fewer than 5 carbon atoms per molecule are gaseous, those with 5 to 15 carbon
atoms are liquids, and straight-chain paraffin with more than 15 carbon atoms per
molecule are solids. Branched-chain paraffin has a higher octane number than
straight-chain paraffin, making them the more desirable gasoline component. Water is
immiscible with hydrocarbons.
GRAVITY (API & SPECIFIC)

API gravity is a commonly used index of the density of a crude oil or refined
products. API stands for the American Petroleum Institute, which is the industry
organization that created this measure.

 Calculation of API gravity

API is calculated from a hydrocarbon's specific gravity using this formula:

API = (141.5/Specific Gravity) - 131.5

BOILING TEMPERATURE

It is solid at room temperature and begins to melt above approximately 37 °C

(99 °F), and its boiling point is above 370 °C (698 °F).

As the number of carbon atoms in a chain increases, the size of molecules

increases. With increase in size, the intermolecular force of attraction also increases.
So, more energy will be needed to break the force of attraction between the atoms.
Thus, the boiling point of alkanes increases with increasing carbon atoms in a chain.

SELF IGNITION TEMPERATURE

 The tables and figures below show the auto ignition temperature (AIT) and
flash point (FP) for different hydrocarbons. In the figures, the AIT and FP are shown
as function of number of carbon atoms in the hydrocarbons, which are grouped as n-
alkanes, 1-alkenes, 2-methylalkanes, 3-methylalkanes, 2,2, dimethyl alkanes, 2-
methylalkenes, cycloalkanes, alkyl cyclohexane, cycloalkanes, alkyl benzenes and
alkyl naphthalene.

 Auto ignition temperature = kindling point

o is the temperature at which a material spontaneously ignites in a normal
atmosphere without an external source of ignition?
o is the temperature required to supply the activation energy for
combustion?
o is usually applied to combustible fuel mixtures
 Flash point - the lowest temperature at which vapor of a volatile material can
be ignited whit an ignition source present

 Values of auto ignition temperature are generally higher than flash point, as
given for pure hydrocarbons in the tables and figures below.
 With an increase in pressure the auto ignition temperature decreases. This is
particularly important from a safety point of view when hydrocarbons are
compressed.
 Hydrocarbons with high vapor pressures (lighter compounds) have low flash
points. Generally, flash point increases with an increase in boiling point.
 Flash point is an important parameter for safety considerations, especially
during storage and transportation of volatile petroleum products (i.e., LPG,
light naphtha, gasoline) in a high-temperature environment. The surrounding
temperature around a storage tank should always be less than the flash point
of the fuel to avoid possibility of ignition.
 Flash point should not be mistaken with fire point, which is defined as the
minimum temperature at which the hydrocarbon will continue to burn for at
least 5 s after being ignited by a flame.
 Temperature classification of equipment in hazardous areas are related to
surrounding substances auto-ignition temperature.
HEATING VALUE

Selected "best" values for the heats of combustion and formation of the paraffin
hydrocarbons: