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COMBUSTION
- is defined as the burning of a fuel and oxidant to produce heat and/or light. It starts with
the mixing of fuel and oxidant, and sometimes in the presence of other species or
catalysts. The fuel can be gaseous, liquid, or solid and the mixture may be ignited with a
heat source.
Complete Combustion
- complete combustion occurs when the fuel and oxygen are in the perfect combination, or
ratio, to completely burn the fuel. This condition also is referred to as stoichiometric or
zero excess air combustion.
Incomplete Combustion
- In incomplete combustion, the reaction is inefficient and produces both the products that
would be created in complete combustion and other products as well like carbon
monoxide.
Products of Combustion
- The products of combustion of a sulfur-free fuel consist of carbon dioxide, water vapor,
nitrogen, oxygen. But carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons are produce for
incomplete combustion.
C + O2 CO2
H + O2 H2O
S + O2 SO2
- The amount of oxidant (oxygen and air) just sufficient to burn the carbon, hydrogen, and
sulfur in a fuel to carbon dioxide, water vapor, and sulfur dioxide.
Flue gas
- Gaseous combustion products from a furnace. Flue gas is also called stack gas.
Orsat Analysis
- Volumetric analysis of a gas excluding any water vapor present, i.e. the composition is
reported on a dry basis.
Procedure:
a. Gas sample is placed in a container with water to keep the condition saturated.
Temperature and pressure are both constant.
Solvents:
O2 CO2 CnH2n CO
H2 H2S SO2
Calculations: PT constant
Gas VT T constant
Water
Initial Conditions: Total Volume, Vt
Total Pressure, Pt
Temperature, T
Pw = Pwo
Since temperature is constant and vapor pressure is a function of temperature alone, then
the partial pressure of water is constant.
Vdg,o = Vo Vw
Vw = Vt
Vdg, t = Vt - Vw
Volume % O2 = x 100
Process is repeated for other solvents. For other components,
2. One of the important determinations in combustion calculations is the DEW POINT of the flue
gas. The greater the moisture present in the gas, the higher is its dew point. If the flue gases are
cooled below the dew point, H2O consumed and may dissolve in SO3 and SO2 to form acids.
These acids are corrosive and affect the tubes.
GASEOUS FUEL
Gaseous fuels of value in commerce include natural gases, gases manufactured purely for use as
fuels, and gases obtained as by-product of some industries.
1. Natural gas is a combustible gas that occurs in porous rock of the earths crust and is found
with or near accumulations of crude oil. It consists of hydrocarbons with a very low boiling
point. Methane is the main constituent with a boiling point of 119 K.
2. Manufacture Gases
* By hydrogenation
Standard temperature and pressure (STP) which is 0o C and 760 mmHg, respectively.
At saturation:
The vapor pressure is computed by using Antoines Equation for vapor pressure (P0)
Log P0 = A -
Computation:
-Analysis of the product (Orsat or Complete) is composed of CO2 , CO, SO2, H2, free O2 and
H2O. Orsat Analysis of the gas mixture does not include water.
O2 theo = at C + at S + at H / 4 moles O2
Free O2 = excess O2 + +
xs O2 = O2 supplied O2 theo
% x s air = x 100
= x 100
% xs O2 =% xs air = x 100
*Note: For the computation of gaseous fuel a mole basis is used for the % composition of the fuel or flue
gas.
Example 1:
A stack gas contains 60 % mole N2, 15 % CO2, 10% O2, and the balance H2O. Calculate the
molar composition of the gas on a dry basis.
Given: Air
Burner
fuel Stack gas
60% mole N2
15% mole CO2
10% mole O2
H2O
Solution:
Basis: 100 mol wet gas
mole O2 = = 0.118
Example 2:
An Orsat Analysis ( a technique for stack gas) yields the following dry basis composition:
N2 65 %
CO2 14 %
CO 11 %
O2 10%
A humidity measurement shows that the mole fraction of H2O in the stack gas is 0.0700.
Calculate the stack gas composition on a wet basis.
Given:
air
Solution:
Basis:100 mole Dry gas
0.0700 = 0.930
= 0.0753
= 7.53 moles
n O2 = x 100 = 9.3 %
n N2 = x 100 = 60.45 %
Example 3:
1. Pure ethane is burned completely in 20 % excess air. Air is supplied at 740 torrs and is
substantially dry. Calculate:
d. cubic meters of the products of combustion measured at 400o C, 100 kPa/ kg ethane
Burner
Fuel( C2H6) Stack gas ( 400 oC, 100 kPa)
4H + O2 2H2O
H2O produced = 6 kgmolesH x = 3kgmoles
b. = = 19.33
c. = nRT/ P
kg ethane
= ________________________________________ = 16.74
30 kg
= nRT / P
kg ethane
= ________________________________________ = 40.1
30 kg
e. =
25 %C to CO
75%C to CO2
90% H to H2O
10% H to H2
Reqd : a. Orsat analysis
b. m3 of air supplied per kg methane
c. m3 of combustion products per kg methane
Solution:
Basis: 1 kgmole methane
n C = 1 kgmole
n H = 4 kgmole
theo O2 = 1 kgmole + 4kgmole / 4 = 2 kgmole
xs O2 = 0.4 ( 2 kgmole) = 0.8 kgmole
O2 supp = 2 kgmole + 0.8 kgmole = 2.8 kgmole
N2 supp = (2.8 kgmole) (79/21) = 10.533 kgmole
CO2 produced = 1 kgmole x 0.75 = 0.75 kgmole
CO produced = 1 kgmole 0.75 kgmole = 0.25 kgmole
unburned H2 = 0.1 x (4/2) = 0.2 kgmole
H2O formed = 0.9 x (4/2) = 1.8 kgmole
Free O2 = 0.8 kgmole + (0.25/2) + (0.2/2) = 1.025 kgmole
a. Orsat Analysis
Components Moles %
CO2 0.75 5.88
CO 0.25 1.96
H2 0.20 1.57
O2 1.025 8.03
N2 10.533 82.56
Total 12.758 100
b. @ 23 oC
log Po = A - = 7.98861
= 20.92 mmHg
= = 20.75
= = 47.47
- If there is no N2 given in the fuel, the N2 in the flue gas may be assumed to be coming
from air
- O2 balance will determined O2 unaccounted. This O2 was used to burned H2 to H2O and
was not accounted since H2O is not included in the Orsat analysis
- If combustible matter losses (i.e. soot) are small, all the carbon in the fuel are accounted
for in the flue gas.
- NET HYDROGEN is the H in the fuel that uses O2 from air for combustion.
Net H = Total H in the fuel ( if O2 is not present in the fuel)
Example 5:
A pure saturated hydrocarbon (CnH2n +2) is burned with excess. Orsat analysis of the products
of combustion shows 9.02 % CO2, 1.63% CO, 5.28% O2 and no free H2.calculate:
a. the formula of the hydrocarbon
b. % xs air
c. kg dry air / kg of hydrocarbon
Given: Air
Required: a. formula of HC
b. xs air
c. kg dry air / kg HC
Solution:
Basis: 100 kgmoles dry stack gas
= 7.16 kgmole
Net H = H2 in the fuel
= 7.16 kgmole (2) = 14.32 kgmole
Total H in the fuel = 14.32 kgmole x 2 = 28.64 kgmole
Total C in the fuel = 9.08 kgmole + 1.63 kgmole = 10.71 kgmole
= =
N = 2.966 3
a. Formula of HC: C3H8
% xs air = x 100
= 25%
c. = = 19.62
Example 6:
A pure gas consisting of methane and ethane is burnt with air to yield a flue gas where orsat
analysis is 10.57 % CO2, 3.79% Os, and 85.64% N2.Calculate:
a. analysis of the fuel in mole %.
b. excess air
Given:
Air
H2 + 1/2O2 H2O
16.8 8.4 16.8
Let x = moles CH4
Y = moles C2H6
C CH4 + C CsH6 = CT
x + 2y = 10.57
H2 (CH4) + H2 (C2H6) = HT
2x + 3y = 16.8
x = 1.89
y = 4.34
a. mole fraction
= 20.03%
- carbon is used as a tie substance to relate the fuel with the stack gas
Example 7:
The burning of pure butane with excess air gives a stack gas with analyzing 11.55% CO2 on a dry
basis. Assuming complete combustion, calculate:
a. % xs air
b. complete orsat analysis of the stack gas
Given: Air
Required: a. % xs air
b. orsat analysis
Solution:
Basis: 100 moles C4H10
Mole C = 400 moles
Mole H = 1000 moles
Let x = xs O2
O2 supp = x + 650 moles
N2 supp = x + 650 moles (79/21)
Free O2 in the stack gas = x
Tie substance at C
400 moles = 0.1155 ( moles dry stack gas)
Moles DSG = 3,463.2
DSG balance:
3463.2 moles = 400 moles + x + (650 +x) (79/21)
X = 129.77
a. % xs air = x 100 = 19.96 %
b. Orsat analysis:
Component N %
CO2 400 11.55
O2 129.77 3.75
N2 2933.43 84.70
Total 3463.2 100
Example 8:
The flue gas from a certain furnace burning a gaseous fuel of negligible Nitrogen content is
found by analysis to contain 12% CO2, 7.5% O2, and 80.5% N2. Calculate the percent excess air
used and the H to C ration in the fuel.
Given:
Air
Solution:
Basis: 100 lbmol dry flue gas
lbmol
CO2 12
O2 7.5
N2 80.5
Total 100
N2 balance:
mol N2 from air = 80.5 lbmol N2
= 21.40 lbmol O2
Assume: no oxygen from fuel
Complete combustion:
Mole O2 excess = mol free O2 in the flue gas
= 7.5 lbmol O2
% xs O2 = x 100
= 1.90 lbmol O2
= 3.80 lbmol
H balance:
= 7.60 lbmol H
C balance:
= 12 lbmol C
= = 0.63
Example 9:
A coal containing 80% C is completely burnt in a furnace. The flue gas analysis shows 14.5 %
Co2, 3.76% O2, and no CO. What is the % net hydrogen in the coal and % xs air.
Given:
Air
Solution:
Basis: 100 moles Dry flue gas
Component Moles Atoms C Moles O2
CO2 14.5 14.5 14.5
O2 3.76 3.76
N2 81.24
Total 100 14.5 18.26
C balance:
Let x = kg of coal
0.80 x = (14.5 mole C ) (12 g/ mole)
x = 217.8 g
a. % H2 = x 100 = 6.12%
b. the O2 = 14.5 mole + ( 6.66 mole) (2/4) = 17.83
PROBLEMS:
1. Ethane is burned with 50% excess air. The percentage of the ethane is 90%; of the ethane
burned, 25% reacts to form CO and the balance CO 2. Calculate the molar composition of the
stack gas on a dry basis and the mole ratio of water to dry stack gas. ANS. 0.113 mol H2O per
mole of dry stack gas.
2. A hydrocarbon gas is burned with air. The dry basis product gas composition is 1.5mole%
CO, 6.0% CO2, 8.2% O2, and 84.3% N. There is no atomic oxygen in the fuel. Calculate the
ratio of the hydrogen to carbon fuel in the gas and speculate on what fuel might be. Then
calculate the percent excess air fed to the reactor. ANS. 3.97 mol of H/ mol C, 49.8% excess
air, fuel is CH4.
3. One hundred mol/h of butane (C 4H10) and 5000 mol/h of air are fed onto a combustion
chamber. Calculate the percent excess air. ANS. 61.6%
Calculate the ratio lb-mole of O2 react / lb-mole of NO formed and if ammonia is fed to ac
continuous reactor rate of 100.0 kmol NH3/h, what oxygen feed rate would respond to 40.0
excess O2? If 50.0 kg of ammonia and 100 kg of oxygen are fed to a batch reactor, determine the
limiting reactant, the percentage by which the other reactant is in excess, and the extent of
reaction and mass of NO produced if the reaction proceeds to completion. ANS. 17.6 % excess
NH3.
5. A mixture if a saturated hydrocarbon and N 2 is burned in excess air supplied at 25C, 740 torrs
with 90% RH. An orsat analysis of the stack gas shows 7.6% CO 2, 2.28% Co, 1.14%H2, 6.03%
O2, and 82.95% N2 with dew a point of 53.4C. The stack gases leave at 300C , 755 mmHg with a
volume ratio of 2.049 m3 wet stack gas / m3 of air.
a. calculate formula for the hydrocarbon
b. volume % analysis of the fuel
c. % excess air
ANS. C2H6, 74.70% C2H6 and 25.30% N2, excess air is 24.96%
References:
CHE calculation by Laurito
Perrys Chemical Engineering Handbook 7th edition.
Elementary Principles of Chemical Processes by Richard Felder and Ronald Rousseau
Industrial Stoichiometry by Lewis, Radasch, Lewis
http://eyrie.shef.ac.uk/eee/cpe630/comfun5.html
http://www.eoearth.org/article/Combustion