UNIT V

Combustion stoichiometry and kinetics, flames and

types
Combustible substances
Substances which burn in air to produce heat &
light are called combustible substances.
Eg :- wood, coal, charcoal, kerosene, petrol, diesel,
liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), compressed natural
gas (CNG) etc.
Wood Coal LPG Kerosene
Combustion

 The chemical process in which a substance reacts

with oxygen to produce heat is called combustion.
 The substance which undergoes combustion is
called a combustible substance. It is also called a
fuel.
 Sometimes light is also produced during
combustion either as a flame or as a glow.
 Air is necessary for combustion.
Types of combustion process
 Combustion with stationary flames. E.g. combustions in
ovens and furnaces
 Surface combustion or flameless combustion. E.g. A tunnel
burner
 Combustion with explosion flame. E.g. mine explosion,
combustion in a gasoline engine.
 Combustion of solid fuels on grate. E.g. combustion of coal.
Combustion of solid fuels
 Burned in beds in lumps (or pellet form) or in pulverized form
suspended in the air stream.
Combustion of liquid fuel
 Burned by vaporizing and mixing with air before ignited.
 Or in fine droplets which gets evaporated while mixing with
the air stream.
Combustion of gaseous fuel
 They are burned in burners where fuel and air are premixed.
Fuel contains basic elements
 Carbon
 Hydrogen
 Sulphur
 Or its compounds
 Various combustion reactions
 C + O2 = CO2 – 97650 kcal/kmol  Exothermic reaction

 C + ½ O2 = CO – 29430 kcal/kmol  Exothermic reaction

 CO + ½ O2 = CO2 – 68220 kcal/kmol  Exothermic reaction

 C + CO2 = 2CO + 38790 kcal/kmol  Endothermic reaction

 H2 + ½ O2 = H2O – 57810 kcal/kmol  Exothermic reaction

 S + O2 = SO2 – 69800 kcal/kmol  Exothermic reaction

 C + H2O = CO + H2 + 23380 kcal/kmol  Endothermic reaction

  CH4 + 2O2 = CO2 + 2H2 – 192400 kcal/kmol  Exothermic reaction
 C2H2 + O2 = 2CO2 + H2O – 312400 kcal/kmol  Exothermic
reaction
 CmHn + O2 = m CO2 + n H2O – exothermic reaction
 CnH2n+2 + O2 = nCO2 + (n+1)H2O – exothermic reaction
 H2S + O2 = H2O + SO2 – 124850 kcal/kmol  Exothermic reaction
Requirements for combustion
 Fuel (oil, gas, coal etc)
 Oxygen (air)
 The 3 “T’s”
 Time (for complete combustion)
 Temperature (to reach ignition temperature)
 Turbulence (for proper fuel – air mixture)
 Air Fuel ratio

AF = mass of air/mass of fuel

Equivalence ratio
Ø = (F/A)actual/(F/A)stoichiometric

This ratio is dimensionless and whereas air fuel

ratio is expressed in terms of mass
This ratio describes whether a fuel oxidizer is
rich, lean or stoichiometric
For fuel rich mixture Ø is greater than 1
For fuel lean mixture Ø is less than 1
% stoichiometric air

% stoichiometric air = 100/ø

Percent excess air

% excess air = (1-ø)/ø

Problem on Air Fuel ratio
 The gasoline (C8H18) is burnt with dry air. The volumetric
analysis of products on dry basis is CO2= 10.02%, CO=
0.88%, O2= 5.62% and N2= 83.48%. Determine (a) A/F ratio,
(b) equivalence ratio (c) % stoichiometric air used and (d) %
excess air
Problem
 From the following combustion process, develop the combustion
equation and determine the air-fuel ratio for the complete combustion of
propane with a) theoretical air, and b) 75% excess air.
Composition of air
 Oxygen – 23%
 Nitrogen – 77% By weight

 Oxygen – 21%
By mole or volume
 Nitrogen – 79%
 % Theoretical air = Actual moles of air/ stoichiometric moles of air
Propane (C3H8) is burned with 61% excess air, which
enters a combustion chamber at 25°C. Assuming
complete combustion and a total pressure of 1 atm
(101.32 kPa), determine a) the air-fuel ratio [kg-
air/kg-fuel], b) the percentage of carbon dioxide by
volume in the products, and c) the dew point
temperature of the products.
In this problem Ethane (C2H6) is burned with
atmospheric air, and the volumetric analysis of the dry
products of combustion yields the following: 10% CO2,
1% CO, 3% O2, and 86% N2. Develop the combustion
equation, and determine a) the percentage of excess air,
b) the air-fuel ratio, and c) the dew point of the
combustion products.
Heat of reaction/Heat of combustion
CH4 + 2O2 CO2 + 2H2O

Assume reaction proceeds in steady flow reactor with negligible change in

kinetic energy and potential energy and involves no shaft work.

Then from first law of thermodynamics, we have

Q = dH = HP - HR = Ʃ niPhiP – Ʃ niRhiR = ∆H0R,298

Heat of Combustion = Heat of reaction/ Mass of fuel

One mole of CH4 is reacted with O2 in
stoichiometric ratio. Consider that reactants
are at temperature of 298.15 K and
pressure of 101,325 Pa. Determine the heat
of combustion
Internal energy and enthalpy of
species
 

Umix = Ʃ Xiui
hmix = Ʃ Xihi
The enthalpy of a species can be expressed as
given below
hoi,T(T) = hof,298.15 +
Adiabatic flame temperature
 The temperature of the products in an adiabatic combustion of
fuel without applying any shaft work, is defined as the
“Adiabatic Flame Temperature”.
 In a combustion process the heat produced during the
exothermic chemical reaction is released to their product and
the temperature of the products is raised.
 There is no possibility for dissipation of the heat to the
surrounding and the process will be adiabatic as there is no
heat loss to the surrounding.
 As a result, the temperature of the products suddenly increases
and it produces a flame. This will heat up the product gases in
flame region and the temperature rise will be maximum. This
highest temperature is known as the adiabatic flame
temperature.
 For equilibrium reaction,
The Orsat analysis of the flue gases
from a boiler house chimney gives
CO2: 11.4%, O2: 4.2% and N2: 84.4%
(mol%). Assuming that complete
combustion has taken place. Calculate
% excess air and C:H ratio in the fuel
A furnace burning a hydrocarbon fuel has a stack gas analysis
on dry basis as follows:
CO2 – 10.2%, O2 – 8.3% and N2 – 81.5%
Calculate:
 % excess air used
 Calculate the proportion of the heat of fuel carried away by the
flue gases for the following data.
Calorific value of coal coal: 30 MJ/kg
Element C H O2 N2 S Ash

Mass % 78 5 8 2 2 5

It is burnt in a furnace with 50% excess air. The flue gas leaving the
chimney is at 327 °C and the atmospheric temperature is 15 °C.
Assume perfect combustion. Specific heat for dry products is 1045
J/kg; heat carried away per kg of moisture in the flue gases is 3000
kJ/kg. The composition of air by mass is O2 = 23% and N2 = 77%.
Gravimetric analysis
Problem 1
 The volumetric composition of a gaseous fuel is the following
H2 = 50%, CH4 = 20%, C2H2 = 2%, CO2 = 5%, CO = 16%, N2 = 7%.
a. Determine the molecular weight, and the density of the mixture
at S.T.P. if the total pressure of the mixture is 1.03 kgf/cm2.
b. Determine the gravimetric composition or composition by
weight.
 Combustion of solid fuels inside boiler
• For obtaining maximum fuel combustion efficiency it is required to complete
combustion of fuel inside the boiler furnace.
• For that, the sufficient supply of air and proper mixing of air with fuel are
primary requirements.

• The combustion should produce designated temperature of the

steam boiler and maintains it consistently

• In addition to these, the methods of firing steam boiler are such that, the
system may easily be handled and also, operation and maintenance should
be minimum.

• There are mainly two methods of firing steam boiler with coal as fuel
.
One is solid fuel firing
other is pulverized fuel firing.
 Solid fuel firing

1. Hand Firing
2. Mechanical Stroke Firing
There are mainly two types of mechanical stoker firing systems.

1. Under Feed Mechanical Stoker Firing

2. Travel Grate Stoker Solid Coal Firing
 Under Feed Mechanical Stoker Firing

Here, combustion takes place on the grate. The primary air is fed below the grate.
The secondary air is allowed at the top of the grate. When the coal is burnt, it is
pushed down by fresh coal. The fresh coal is pushed on the grate using rams as
shown.
The ignition occurs downwards against the primary air flow. The volatile matter
filters through the bed and is completely burnt. The combustion rate is high. The
light ash contents and combustion gases fly away to the atmosphere along with
primary air. Heavier ash contents come down over the grate and ultimately fall
into the ash pit.
 Travel Grate Stoker Solid Coal Firing

Here, the coal is burnt on a chain grate which continuously travels forwards slowly, and
combustion takes place during the journey of coal from the first end to the last end of
the furnace. At the end of the combustion, heavier ash contents fall into ash pit by
gravitational force as the grate chain moves like a conveyor belt. The lighter ash
particles and combustion gases fly away with primary air.
 Pulverized Fuel Firing
• For obtaining the most calorific value of coal, the coal is pulverised in fine
powder and then mixed with sufficient air.
• The mixture of coal powder and the air is fired in the steam boiler furnace to
achieve most efficient combustion process.
• Pulverized fuel firing is most modern and efficient method of boiler firing.
• Due to pulverization, the surface area of coal becomes much larger, and in this
method air required for combustion is much less.
• As the quantity of required air and fuel both are less, loss of heat in this
method of boiler firing is much less. Hence temperature can easily be reached
to the designated level.
• As the combustion is most efficient pulverized coal firingincreases the overall
efficiency of a steam boiler.
Burners and Types of burners

1.Gas burners
2.Vaporizing burner
3.Atomizing burners
A solution of specific gravity 1.0 consists of 35% A
by weight and the remaining B. If the specific
gravity of A is 0.7, calculate specific gravity of B

Ans: 1.3