Chapter

THREE
Combustion Theory &
Adiabatic Flame Temperature

Machmud Syam
Hasanuddin University

Machmud Syam Fuel and Combustion 1

 Outline

Flame Theory

Combustion Chamber Chemistry

Adiabatic Flame Temperature

Example Problem

Machmud Syam Fuel and Combustion 2

 Types of Flames

Two basic categories

– Pre-mixed
– Diffusion

Both characterized as
Laminar or Turbulent

Machmud Syam Fuel and Combustion 3

 Premixed
Results from gaseous
reactants that are mixed prior
to combustion

Flame propogates at
velocities slightly less than a
few m/s

Considered constant
pressure combustion

Reacts quite rapidly

Example: Spark Ignition Engine

Machmud Syam Fuel and Combustion 4

 Diffusion
Gaseous reactants are
introduced separately
and mix during
combustion

Energy release rate

limited by mixing
process

Reaction zone between

oxidizer and fuel zone
Example: Diesel Engine
Machmud Syam Fuel and Combustion 5
 Laminar
Premixed
– Ex. Bunsen Burner
– Flame moves at fairly low velocity
– Mechanically create laminar conditions

Diffusion
– Ex. Candle Flame
– Fuel: Wax, Oxidizer: Air
– Reaction zone between wax vapors and air

Machmud Syam Fuel and Combustion 6

 Turbulent
Premixed
– Heat release occurs much faster
– Increased flame propagation
– No definite theories to predict behavior

Diffusion
– Can obtain high rates of combustion energy
release per unit volume
– Ex. Diesel Engine
– Modeling is very complex, no well established
approach

Machmud Syam Fuel and Combustion 7

 Flame Propagation
Initial spark causes pressure wave formation

Flame propagation considered constant

pressure

Burned and Unburned regions

Unburned portion may undergo autoignition,

known as “Knock”

Machmud Syam Fuel and Combustion 8

 Chemistry Basics

Reactants Products
– Fuel: Hydro-Carbon
Octane (C8H18 )
– CO2
– H2O
– Oxidizer: Dry Air (D.A) – N2
21% O2
79% N2
1 mol O2 → 3.76 mol N2

Machmud Syam Fuel and Combustion 9

 Example Using Butane
Ideal Chemical Equation:
C4H10 + O2 → CO2 + H2O

Balancing the Equation

Conservation of Mass:

C4H10 + 6.5O2 → 4CO2 + 5H2O

Machmud Syam Fuel and Combustion 10

 Example Cont.

Practical Chemical Equation:

Air used as oxidizer, not pure oxygen

C4H10 + 6.5(O2+3.76N2) → 4CO2 + 5H2O+24.44N2

C4H10 + 31.03D.A. → 4CO2 + 5H2O+ 31.03D.A -6.5O2

Machmud Syam Fuel and Combustion 11

 Balancing Made Easy

Cα Hβ + a(O2+3.76N2) → bCO2 + cH2O + dN2

a = α +(β /4) b=α c=β / 2 d=

3.76a

Machmud Syam Fuel and Combustion 12

 Combustion Energy

∆ U=Q-W

Q=∆ U+W
W = P∆ V

Q = ∆ U + P∆ V = ∆ H

Q = Hprod - Hreact

Machmud Syam Fuel and Combustion 13

 Enthalpy
Enthalpy of Formation (∆ hf)
– Energy required to form the compound

Change in Enthalpy (∆ h)
– Difference in enthalpy between Product Temp. and Reference Temp.
∆ h = h(Tprod ) - h(Tref )

Total Enthalpy (h)

h = ∆ hf + ∆ h

H = Σ ( nihi)

Machmud Syam Fuel and Combustion 14

 Adiabatic Assumptions

No heat transfer through cylinder walls

All energy transferred to engine work &

exhaust products

Allows Adiabatic Flame Temperature

(AFT) to be calculated

Q=0 Hreact = Hprod

Machmud Syam Fuel and Combustion 15
 Adiabatic Flame Temperature
Highest possible temperature that can be achieved during
combustion

Never achieved in practice

– No realistic combustion chamber is adiabatic
– Dissociation lowers temperature
– Analagous to Carnot cycle for Heat Engines

Useful design parameter

– Upper limit of exhaust temp. is known

Calculation is an iterative process

Machmud Syam Fuel and Combustion 16

 AFT – Example Calculation
Problem Statement: Liquid Methane (CH4) is burned at a constant pressure.
The air and fuel are supplied at 298 K and 1 atm. Determine the adiabatic flame
temperature for these conditions assuming complete combustion.

1) Balance Chemical Equation

CH4 + 2(O2+3.76N2) → CO2 + 2H2O+7.52N2

2) Energy Balance and Adiabatic Assumptions

Q = 0 = Hprod – Hreact Therefore, Hreact = Hprod

Machmud Syam Fuel and Combustion 17

 Calculations Cont.

3) Determine Enthalpy of Reactants

∆ hf,CH4 = -74.81 kJ/mol (from chart)

∆ hf,O2 = ∆ hf,N2 = 0
Hreact = Σ ( nihi) (n = # of moles)
Hreact = 1mol * (-74.81 kJ/mol)
Hreact = -74.81 kJ

Machmud Syam Fuel and Combustion 18

 Calculations Cont.
4) Determine Enthalpies of Products
Guess value for temperature required: try 1000K

hCO2 = ∆ hf,CO2 + (hCO2 (Tprod ) – hCO2 (Tref ))

hH2O = ∆ hf,H2O + (hH2O (Tprod ) – hH2O (Tref ))
hN2 = ∆ hf,N2 + (hN2 (Tprod ) – hN2 (Tref ))

– Use tables provided to find hf and ∆ h

Machmud Syam Fuel and Combustion 19
 Calculations Cont.

Enthalpy of Formation values:

∆ hf,CO2 = -393.5 kJ/mol
∆ hf,H2O = -241.8 kJ/mol
∆ hf,N2 = 0 kJ/mol

∆ h values:
hCO2 (Tprod ) – hCO2 (Tref ) = 33.41 kJ/mol
hH2O (Tprod ) – hH2O (Tref ) = 25.98 kJ/mol
hN2 (Tprod ) – hN2 (Tref ) = 21.46 kJ/mol

Machmud Syam Fuel and Combustion 20

 Calculations Cont.
5) Total Enthalpy of each molecule: h = ∆ hf + ∆ h
hCO2 = -393.5 kJ/mol + 33.41 kJ/mol = -360.09 kJ/mol
hH2O = -241.8 kJ/mol + 25.98 kJ/mol = -215.82 kJ/mol
hN2 = 0 kJ/mol + 21.46 kJ/mol = 21.46 kJ/mol

Total Enthalpy of Products:

Hprod = Σ ( nihi)
Hprod = (1) -360.09 + (2) -215.82 + (7.5) 21.46
Hprod = -630.78 kJ
Machmud Syam Fuel and Combustion 21
 Calculations Cont.

6) Hprod << Hreact Try Higher Temperature (2300 K)

hCO2 = -393.5 kJ/mol + 109.67 kJ/mol = -283.83 kJ/mol

hH2O = -241.8 kJ/mol + 88.29 kJ/mol = -153.51 kJ/mol
hN2 = 0 kJ/mol + 67.01 kJ/mol = 67.01 kJ/mol

Hprod = Σ ( nihi)
Hprod = 1( –283.83) + 2( –153.51) + 7.5( 67.01)
Hprod = -88.28 kJ

Machmud Syam Fuel and Combustion 22

 Calculations Cont.

7) Hprod < Hreact Try Higher Temperature (2400 K)

hCO2 = -393.5 kJ/mol + 115.79 kJ/mol = -277.71 kJ/mol

hH2O = -241.8 kJ/mol + 93.60 kJ/mol = -148.20 kJ/mol
hN2 = 0 kJ/mol + 70.65 kJ/mol = 70.62 kJ/mol

Hprod = Σ ( nihi)
Hprod = (1) –302.05 + (2) -169.11 + (7.5) 56.14
Hprod = -44.46 kJ

Machmud Syam Fuel and Combustion 23

 Calculations Cont.
8) Interpolate to find proper value
Tprod − 2300K 2400K − 2300K
−74.81 kJ − ( −88.28 kJ ) −44.46 kJ − ( −88.28 kJ )

Find ( Tprod ) = 2331 K

Machmud Syam Fuel and Combustion 24

 Summary
Premixed and Diffusion Flames
– Laminar
– Turbulent

Combustion Chemistry
– Balancing Chemical equations
– First Law Energy Balance

Adiabatic Flame Temperature

– Assumptions
– Determination
– Iteration

Machmud Syam Fuel and Combustion 25

 Homework Problem

Problem Statement: Liquid Octane (C8H18 ) is burned at

a constant pressure. The air and fuel are supplied at
298 K and 1 atm. Determine the adiabatic flame
temperature for these conditions assuming complete
combustion.

Machmud Syam Fuel and Combustion 26