PROXIMATE AND ULTIMATE ANALYSIS – SAMPLE FOR LIQUID FUELS

Sample for Analyzing Bunker Fuel

Ultimate Analysis of Untreated Fuel

Carbon 84.71%
Hydrogen 12.35%
Oxygen 0%
Nitrogen 0%
Sulfur 1.9%
Water and Sediments 0.96%
Ash 0.09%
TOTAL 100%

After the undergoing fuel treatment, most of the contaminants present on the bunker
fuel have been removed and because if this, the ultimate analysis of the bunker fuel had been
changed. In order to obtain a new ultimate analysis, computation of remaining contaminants must
be made. It is assumed that the percent reduction of all contaminants be equal to overall percent
reduction of sludge removed by the fuel treatment.
 %𝑤𝑡𝑆𝑙𝑢𝑑𝑔 𝑒 𝑅𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑑
%𝑤𝑡𝑅𝐶 = %𝑤𝑡𝐶 × (1 − )
%𝑤𝑡𝑆𝑙𝑢𝑑𝑔𝑒
wherein:
%𝑤𝑡𝑅𝐶 = remaining percent weight composition of contaminant, %
%𝑤𝑡𝐶 = percent weight composition of contaminant, %
%𝑤𝑡𝑆𝑙𝑢𝑑𝑔𝑒 𝑅𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑑 = percent weight composition of removed sludge, 2.53%
%𝑤𝑡𝑆𝑙𝑢𝑑𝑔𝑒 = percent weight of composition of sludge in the fuel, 2.95%
The contaminants considered in the bunker fuel are sulfur, water, and ashes.
Substituting their percent weight composition to the formula provides the remaining
contaminant in the fuel.
For remaining Sulfur
2.53%
%𝑤𝑡𝑅𝑆 = 1.9% × (1 − )
2.95%
%𝑤𝑡𝑅𝑆 = 0.271 %
For remaining Water
2.53%
%𝑤𝑡𝑅𝑊 = 0.96% × (1 − )
2.95%
%𝑤𝑡𝑅𝑆 = 0.137%
For remaining Ashes
2.53%
%𝑤𝑡𝑅𝐴 = 0.09% × (1 − )
2.95%
%𝑤𝑡𝑅𝐴 = 0.013%
With the remaining percentage of contaminants computed, the new ultimate analysis
of bunker fuel can now be obtained. This is done by knowing what the new percent
composition of the contaminant in relation with carbon and hydrogen which is left
undisturbed during the fuel treatment. It can be obtained by letting a percent in
weight composition be equal to a gram mass of fuel. For this, the formula shown
below will be used.

𝑚
%𝑤𝑡𝑁𝑒𝑤 = × 100%
%(𝑚 𝐶 + 𝑚 𝐻 + 𝑚 𝑆 + 𝑚 𝐻2 𝑂 + 𝑚𝐴𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑠 )
wherein:
%𝑤𝑡𝑁𝑒𝑤 = new percent weight composition of the element, %
%𝑚 = mass of the element, g
%𝑚 𝐶 = mass of carbon, 84.71
%𝑚 𝐻 = mass of hydrogen, 12.35
%𝑚 𝑆 = mass of sulfur, 0.271
%𝑚 𝐻2 𝑂 = mass of water, 0.137
%𝑚𝐴𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑠 = mass of ashes, 0.013
Substituting the values in the formula will give the new percent weight composition of
bunker fuel. The computations are shown below.
For percent composition of carbon

84.71
%𝑤𝑡𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑏𝑜𝑛 = × 100%
84.71 + 12.35 + 0.271 + 0.137 + 0.013
%𝑤𝑡𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑏𝑜𝑛 = 86.9%

For percent composition of hydrogen

12.35
%𝑤𝑡ℎ𝑦𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑔𝑒𝑛 = × 100%
84.71 + 12.35 + 0.271 + 0.137 + 0.013
%𝑤𝑡𝐻𝑦𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑔𝑒𝑛 = 12.67%

For percent composition of sulfur

0.271
%𝑤𝑡𝑆𝑢𝑙𝑓𝑢𝑟 = × 100%
84.71 + 12.35 + 0.271 + 0.137 + 0.013
%𝑤𝑡𝑆𝑢𝑙𝑓𝑢𝑟 = 0.28%

For percent composition of water

0.137
%𝑤𝑡𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = × 100%
84.71 + 12.35 + 0.271 + 0.137 + 0.013
%𝑤𝑡𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 0.14%

For percent composition of ashes

0.137
%𝑤𝑡𝐴𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑠 = × 100%
84.71 + 12.35 + 0.271 + 0.137 + 0.013
%𝑤𝑡𝐴𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑠 = 0.013%
 Comparison of Percentage Composition for Untreated and Treated Bunker
Fuel

Composition Untreated Bunker Fuel Treated Bunker Fuel

(% ) (% )
Carbon 84.71 86.9

Hydrogen 12.35 12.67

Oxygen 0 0

Nitrogen 0 0

Sulfur 1.9 0.28

Water and Sediments 0.96 0.14

Ash 0.09 0.013

Total 100 100

With the ultimate analysis of the treated bunker fuel, the amount of expected
SO2 emission of the engine from using the bunker fuel can now be obtained. Based
on the Allowable Emission of Sulfur Dioxide by the World Bank 2007/2008, the
allowable sulfur content in the fuel is 0.5% for a plant operating at 50 – 300 MW.
With the treated bunker fuel having a sulfur content of only 0.28%, the sulfur dioxide
emission of the plant is within the allowable emission of sulfur dioxide. This means
that it is not required to further reduce its emissions.
Sample for Analyzing Hydrocarbons
An important class of binary compounds are the hydrocarbons. As the name
implies hydrocarbons consist of only hydrogen and carbon atoms. There are thousands
of possible hydrocarbon molecules. However, the simplest type are called "alkanes".
Alkanes have the formula CnH2n+2, where n = 1,2,3 etc.. For example for n=1 we have
CH4, for n=2 we have C2H6 etc..

Formula(state at
Name
room temperature)
CH4 (gas) methane
C2H6 (gas) ethane
C3H8 (gas) propane
C4H10 (gas) butane
C5H12 (liquid) pentane
C6H14 (liquid) hexane
C7H16 (liquid) heptane
C8H18 (liquid) octane
C9H20 (liquid) nonane
C10H22 (liquid) decane
C18H38 (solid) octadecane
 Chemical Formula for Hydrocarbon
Without excess air (Balancing Method):
CnHm + a[O2 + 3.76N2] = b[CO2]+ c[H20] + 3.76a[N2 ]

Fuel + Air = Products of Combustion

With excess air, e:

CnHm + (1+e)a[O2 + 3.76N2] = b[CO2]+ c[H20] + 3.76a[N2 ]

Actual air- fuel ratio considering excess air

(A/F)actual = (A/F)t (1 + e)

Molecular Weight of common combustible elements

C = 12 H=1 O = 16 N = 14 S= 32

Composition of air by volume

Oxygen in air = 21% Nitrogen in air = 79%

Composition of air by weight

Oxygen = 23.20% Nitrogen = 76.80%
Alternate Method:

Given a Hydrocarbon, CnHm ,

where:

Solving for Theoretical Air- Fuel ratio

Mass Basis:
(A/F)t = ,

Solving for Actual Air- Fuel ratio (considering excess air, e)

(A/F)a = (A/F)t(1 + e)

Theoritically the air fuel ratio necessary for complete combustion depends only upon the
composition of fuel.

Practically – it depends also upon how thoroughly the air and fuel are mixed so that their
particles are combined properly.
Alternate Method:

Given a Hydrocarbon, CnHm ,

where:
x = n +
Solving for Theoretical Air- Fuel ratio
Molal Basis:
(A/F)t = x + 3.76(x) ,
Mass Basis:
(A/F)t = ,

Solving for Actual Air- Fuel ratio (considering excess air, e)

Molal Basis:
(A/F)a = (A/F)t(1 + e)
Sample Problem 1

C8H18 is burned with ideal proportion of air. Calculate the

ideal air-fuel ratio by weight.
Solution: Alternate Method:
C8H18 + a[O2 + 3.76N2] = bCO2 + cH20 + 3.76aN2
C8H18
n=8
Balancing:
m = 18
C: 1(8) = b(1) : b = 8
x = n + = 8 + = 12.5
H: 1(18) = c(2) : c = 9
O: a(2) = b(2) + c(1)
Then the theoretical A/F is:
a = 8(2) + 9(1)/2 = 12.5 kg-mol
(A/F)t = ,
N: 3.76(a) = 47 kg-mol

Then the theoretical A/F is: (A/F)t =

(A/F)t = 12.5(32) + 47(28) / 12(8) + 1(18) (A/F)t = 15.052 kga /kgf
(A/F)t = 15.05 kga /kgf
Sample Problem 2

A typical industrial cetene (C16H32) is burned with 20% excess air. Calculate the
actual air-fuel ratio by weight.

Solution:
CnHm + a[O2 + 3.76N2] = b[CO2]+ c[H20] + 3.76a[N2 ]
Alternate Method:
C16H32 + a[O2 + 3.76N2] = bCO2 + cH20 + 3.76a[N2] C16H32
n = 16
Balance:
C: 1(16) = b(1) : b = 16 m = 32
H: 1(32) = c(2) : c = 16 x = n + = 16 + = 24
O: a(2) = 2(16) + 16(1) : a = 24
N: 3.76(a) = 90.24
Theoretical A/F is:
Considering excess air of 20%: (A/F)t = ,
C16H32 + (1.2)a[O2 + 3.76N2] = b[CO2]+ c[H20] + 3.76a[N2]
1.2(24)2 = 16(2) + 16(1) + d(2) d=4.8 (A/F)t =
(A/F)t = 14.709 kga /kgf
Then the actual A/F is:
(A/F)a = (1.2) [(24)(32) + (90.24)(28)] / 12(16) + 1(32)
(A/F)a = 17.65 kga /kgf Then the actual A/F is:
(A/F)a = (A/F)t(1 + e)
(A/F)a = (14.709)(1 + 0.2)
(A/F)t = 17.65 kga /kgf
Fuel treatment and conditioning system
LEGEND:

1. BUNKER TANK 8. FEED PUMP 15. FLOW METER

2. OVERFLOW TANK 9. PRE-HEATER 16. DE-AERATION TANK
3. SLUDGE TANK 10. SEPARATOR 17. CIRCULATION PUMP
4. SUCTION STRAINER 11. DAY TANK 18. HEATER
5. TRANSFER PUMP 12. SUCTION FILTER 19. VISCOSITY METER
6. SETTLING TANK 13. FUEL FEED PUMP 20. CIRCULATION PUMP
7. SUCTION STRAINER 14. AUTOMATIC FILTER 21. SAFETY FILTER