EP 424

Chapter 1: Fuel Characterization

 CHAPTER OUTLINE
By the end of the chapter you will learn:
Fuel classification
Properties of liquid fuels
Coal classification
Proximate analysis
Ultimate analysis
Ash content
Volatile matter
Calorific value
Fuel Classification

Classification by phases
Classification by sources
Properties of Liquid Fuels
Density
Viscosity
Flash point
Pour point
Specific heat
Calorific value
Sulphur
Ash content
Carbon residue
Water content
Typical Specification of Fuel Oil
Classification of Coal
 Typical Content of Coal

1 Btu/lb = 2.326 kJ/kg

 Proximate Analysis of Coal

The objective of coal proximate analysis is to determine the

amount of fixed carbon (FC), volatile matters (VM), moisture (M),
and ash (A) within the coal sample. The variables are measured in
weight percent (wt. %).

In the proximate analysis, M, A and VM are determined. FC is

obtained from the following equation:

FC= 100 (%M + %A + %VM)

Typical Proximate Analysis of Various Coals
(In Percentage)
 Ultimate Analysis of Coal

The ultimate analysis indicates the various elemental chemical

constituents such as Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Sulphur, etc. It is
useful in determining the quantity of air required for combustion and
the volume and composition of the combustion gases.
Typical Ultimate Analysis of Coals
 Ultimate Analysis of Coal

The main chemical elements in coal (apart from associated

mineral matter) are C, O, H, N and S. The chemical analysis is very
important to calculate material balance accurately and calorific
value of coal. For the ultimate analysis, C, H, S and N are
determined by chemical analysis and expressed on a moisture
free basis. Ash is determined as in proximate analysis and is
calculated on moisture free basis.

Then,

%O = 100 (%C + %H + %N + %S + % ash)

 Ash Content and Volatile Matter

Ash is residue obtained after complete combustion of coal. It

consists of inorganic material such as CaO, MgO and SiO2.

Volatile matter consists of volatile substances formed during

heating of coal out of contact of air. Essentially these are gaseous
substances like CO, H2, H2O, CO2, CH4, N2,O2 and other
hydrocarbons. Volatile matter does not include moisture of coal
but includes water formed during reaction between hydrogen
and oxygen of coal.
 Calorific Value
Calorific value (CV) is the amount of heat released on complete combustion
of 1 kg of coal at the reference state of products of combustion (POC).

For a hydrocarbon fuel containing C, H and S, products of complete

combustion are CO2, H2O and SO2.

Reference state of POC is:

25 C CO2 (g), SO2 (g) and H2O (l) = Gross Calorific Value (GCV)

100 C CO2 (g), SO2 (g) and H2O (v) = Net Calorific Value (NCV)

So GCV > NCV by an amount equal to latent heat of condensation.

Determination of CV of Solid Fuel