INTRODUCTION The calorific value (C.

V) also known as the heating value of a fuel is the quantity of heat that is released from the complete combustion of a specific amount of the fuel under isothermal conditions and constant temperature and at specified reference temperature of unit quantity of the fuel. It is measured in units of energy per unit of the substance, usually kcal/kg, kJ/kg, J/mol, Btu/m. Heating value is commonly determined by use of a bomb calorimeter. Fuel gas which contains hydrogen or hydrocarbon possesses two CV the superior (gross) and the inferior (net). The heat of combustion for fuels is expressed as the HCV, LCV, or GCV. The gross calorific value of a gas (relative to the volume of dry gas) is defined as the amount of heat released by the complete combustion of the gas, with air at constant pressure of 1.01325bar and a constant temperature of a specific volume under specific conditions, all the water being formed during combustion being condensed at the temperature (t) While the net calorific value of a gas (relative to the volume of dry gas) is defined as the amount of heat given out by the complete combustion of the gas with air at constant pressure of 1.01325bar and a constant temperature of a specific volume under specific conditions, all the water being formed during combustion remaining in the gaseous phase at the temperature (t). The gross CV provides the basis on which charges are made by the gas industry to consumer. The calorific value, CV of natural gas is measured in this experiment by the calorimeter (Boys Calorimeter. This was achieved by complete combustion of the natural gas at atmospheric pressure and the CV was measured by the calorimeter at constant pressure.

Boys Gas Calorimeter has been developed, from apparatus designed by the late Sir Charles Boys F.R.S., to provide a simple but accurate method of ascertaining the calorific values of a wide range of gaseous fuels currently in use. As such it is a necessary item of equipment in any thermodynamics laboratory and is applicable to craft and vocational courses in gas engineering and technology. The objective of this work is to determine the higher and lower calorific values of natural gas (HCV and LCV). They are sometimes referred to as the gross calorific value and the net calorific value.

THEORY Experimental method is based on heat transfer from burning known quantity of gaseous fuel for heating known quantity of water that circulates through copper coil heat exchanger. The counter flow heat exchange takes place between the burning gas and circulating water. So, with the assumption that heat absorbed by circulating water equal to the heat released by gaseous fuel we can calculate the calorific value of burnt fuel. The equipment consists of heat exchanger unit double walled stainless steel vessel insulted with either glass wool or ceramic wool in the annular space. Inside the inner vessel double pass copper coil and shell assemble through which the burnt fuel passes through. The high calorific value may be calculated from: Volume of fuel used (@ 1bar 15C) X HCV = (mass of cooling water) x (specific heat capacity) x (temperature rise of water) Volume of gas is in 1/12 ft3 but to be converted to m3 Corrected volume = x volume of gas

Volume flow rate = volume flow/sec (m3/s) Mass flow rate = (m3/s)

Heat transferred/sec = CpT (KJ/s) GCV = = mass flow rate Cp = specific heat capacity T = change in temperatures (KJ/m3)

EQUIPMENTS

INLET PIPES FROM OVERHEAD TANK

PRESSURE CONTROL

GAS METER

GAS CYLINDER

WATER THERMOMETER

WATER INLET

TO WASTE

BURNER

GAS THERMOMETER

CONDENSATE

BURNER

PROCEDURE The experiment was carried out by following the procedures below -The gas was turned on and ignited after all the apparatus was set accordingly. -The water was turned on and the calorimeter placed on its base -Flow of gas to the calorimeter was adjusted in such a way that the time for one revolution of the meter hand falls within the limits calculated. Here, CV = expected calorific value in BTU ft t = time in seconds. -Adjusted the water flow rate through the calorimeter in such a way that the amount collected during four revolutions of the meter was within 50 ml of the numerical value of the expected CV (Btu/ft). Water was poured in through one of the effluent gas holes in the wooden top until it began to run off through the condensate outlet pipe -The calorimeter was then allowed to settle down until the temperatures indicated by the inlet and outlet water thermometers become steady. Some observations were made over the test period of four revolutions of the meter indicator. -When the meter hand was at 12 Oclock the inlet thermometer was read. When the meter hand got to 6 Oclock the chance over funnel is moved so as to direct the outlet water into the container. -The funnel was moved so as to direct the outlet water to waste at the instant when the meter hand got to 12 Oclock. -Took readings of the barometer, the meter temperature and the pressure of the gas at the inlet. -Measured the water collected in the graduated cylinder and the readings recorded in kilograms.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION For 1st set up GAS Volume of gas; 1.18 x Gauge pressure; 1 bar Absolute pressure; 1 bar Inlet temperature; 21.5c Exhaust temperature; 24c Elapsed time; 111 secs COOLING WATER Volume of coolant; 500ml Elapsed Time; 89 secs Mass collected; 0.5kg Mass Flow; 5.62 x Temperature in; 22c Temperature out; 64c Specific heat capacity; 4.19 KJ/KgK Heat transferred/sec; 0.99 KJ/sec HCV; 95192.3 KJ/m3 Volume of gas: it was collected at half a revolution of the gas meter; it is 1/12th of ft3 and half was taken so it is 1/24th ft3. And 1ft3 = 0.0283m3 Therefore 1/24th of 1ft3 = 0.0283/24 = 1.18 x Corrected volume (@ 15c 1bar) = Volume flow rate = Mass flow rate = = = = 5.62 x m3 x vol of gas = = 1.04 x KJ/KgK x 4.19 x (64-22) = 0.99 KJ/s = 95192.3 KJ/m3 m3/s x 1.18 x = m3/s Kg/s m3

Heat transferred/sec = CpT = 5.62 x GCV =

For 2nd set up GAS Volume of gas; 1.18 x Gauge pressure; 1 bar Absolute pressure; 1 bar Inlet temperature; 22c Exhaust temperature; 27c Elapsed time; 58 secs COOLING WATER Volume of coolant; 500ml Elapsed Time; 91 secs Mass collected; 0.5kg Mass Flow; 5.49 x Temperature in; 22c Temperature out; 75c Specific heat capacity; 4.19 KJ/KgK Heat transferred/sec; 1.219 KJ/sec HCV; 61264.5 KJ/m3 Volume of gas: it was collected at half a revolution of the gas meter; it is 1/12th of ft3 and half was taken so it is 1/24th ft3. And 1ft3 = 0.0283m3 Therefore 1/24th of 1ft3 = 0.0283/24 = 1.18 x Corrected volume (@ 15c 1bar) = Volume flow rate = Mass flow rate = = = = 5.49 x m3 x vol of gas = = 1.99 x KJ/KgK x 4.19 x (75-22) = 1.219 KJ/s = 61264.5 KJ/m3 m3/s x 1.18 x = m3/s Kg/s m3

Heat transferred/sec = CpT = 5.49 x GCV =

DISCUSSION The calorific value of a gas is an important distinguishing factor of gases and requires a very stable environment for its measurement, thus determining it should be done with utmost accuracy. It is used to determine billings of the gas sold to customers. In this experiment we recorded 95.19MJ/m 3 and 61.26 MJ/m 3 for the first and second experiments respectively as against the theoretical accepted standard of 94 MJ/m3. Also, the error in the experiment is minima and almost negligible because the value deviated from British specification with an error of 1.25% which can be attributed to be error due to measurement. This deviation from theoretical standard may be as a result of - The presence of other gases (i.e not completely 100% propane) - Parallax error while taking read ings off measuring instruments - Heat lost due to radiation - Laboratory condition - Insufficient pressure in order to give high temperature CONCLUSION In this experiment the gross calorific value was found to be 95.19MJ/m3 and 62.16 MJ/m 3 for first and second experiment respectively. This shows some deviation from theoretical standard as a result of possible sources of error list above. Being the potential heat energy possessed by a gas, accuracy in determining it is very important in order to assign heat value and consequently economic value to the gas. Also this experiment has shown that the Boys calorimeter is the preferred instrument for measuring calorific value because the error obtained was minima and even negligible for the first experiment. But for the second experiment theres almost 33.9% error so therefore there was leaking in the gas or insufficient pressure for air to circulate gas into the process.

REFERENCES http://www.gastechnology.com.au/html/info_tech_data.htm http://www.kayelaby.npl.co.uk/chemistry/3_11/3_11_4.html http://www.scribd.com/doc/52947969/Calorific-valuefinal

BOYS CALORIMETER EXPERIMENT

BY

MAHMOOD USMAN MAHMOOD

H00114497