CALCULATIONS BASED ON FUEL ANALYSIS

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• From the complete analysis of the fuel, the theoretical oxygen and the calorific value
can be determined.

Calorific Value
- the energy contained in a fuel or food, determined by measuring the heat produced
by the complete combustion of a specified quantity of it. This is usually expressed in
joules per kilogram.

• If data on air (% excess air or amount of air supplied) is given together with the degree
of completion of the reaction, the following can be calculated:

a. Analysis (Orsat or Complete) of the products of combustion called the flue gases
or the stack gases. These gases are normally CO2, CO, SO2, H2, free O2, N2 and H2O.
▪ Orsat analysis – water is not included
▪ Complete analysis – water is included
b. Air – fuel ratio
c. Stack gas – fuel ratio

𝑭𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝑶𝟐 = 𝑒𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑂2 + 𝑂2 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑢𝑛𝑏𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑏𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑏𝑙𝑒

𝐶𝑂 𝐻2
= 𝑒𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑂2 + +
2 2

𝑵𝟐 = 𝑁2 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑎𝑖𝑟 + 𝑁2 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑓𝑢𝑒𝑙

𝑯𝟐 𝑶 = 𝑚𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑓𝑢𝑒𝑙 + 𝑚𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑎𝑖𝑟 + 𝐻2 𝑂 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑏𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑢𝑒𝑙
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EXAMPLE: Pure ethane is burned completely in 20 % excess air. Air is supplied at 25°C, 740
torrs and is substantially dry.
Calculate:
a. Orsat analysis of the products of combustion
b. kg dry air supplied / kg of fuel gas
c. cubic meters of air / kg ethane
d. cubic meters of the products of combustion measured at 400°C , 100 kPa / kg ethane
e. Partial pressure of water in the products of combustion

NOTES ON STOICHIOMETRY OF FUEL COMBUSTION (CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS)

Engr. Reden E. Nolasco
SOURCE: STOICHIOMETRY OF FUEL COMBUSTION AND RELATED PROCESS INDUSTRIES BY EVELYN LAURITO
SOLUTION:
Basis: 1 kgmole ethane or 30 kg ethane

Air Stack gas

25 °C 400°C
740 torrs 100 kPa
20 % excess air BURNER
Fuel
C2H6

𝑎𝑡 𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑏𝑜𝑛 = 2

𝑎𝑡 𝐻𝑦𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑔𝑒𝑛 = 6

𝑎𝑡 𝐻 6
𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑂2 = 𝑎𝑡 𝐶 + 𝑎𝑡 𝑆 + − 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑂2 = 2 + 0 + − 0 = 3.5 𝑘𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒
4 4

𝐸𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑂2 = 3.5 × 0.2 = 0.7 𝑘𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒

𝑂2 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑎𝑖𝑟 = 3.5 + 0.7 = 4.2 𝑘𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒

79
𝑁2 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑎𝑖𝑟 = 4.2 ( ) = 15.8 𝑘𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒
21

𝐶𝑂2 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑑 = 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑡 𝐶 = 2 𝑘𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒

𝑎𝑡 𝐻 6
𝐻2 𝑂 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑑 = = = 3 𝑘𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒
2 2

𝐶𝑂 𝐻2
𝐹𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑂2 = 𝑒𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑂2 + + = 0.7 + 0 + 0 = 0.7 𝑘𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒
2 2

a. Orsat analysis of combustion products

Gas Moles %
CO2 2 10.81
O2 0.7 3.78
N2 15.8 85.41
TOTAL 18.5 100

NOTES ON STOICHIOMETRY OF FUEL COMBUSTION (CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS)

Engr. Reden E. Nolasco
SOURCE: STOICHIOMETRY OF FUEL COMBUSTION AND RELATED PROCESS INDUSTRIES BY EVELYN LAURITO
b. kg dry air / kg fuel
𝑘𝑔
𝑘𝑔 𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑎𝑖𝑟 (4.2 𝑘𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 + 15.8 𝑘𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒) (29 )
𝑘𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒
= = 𝟏𝟗. 𝟑𝟑𝟑𝟑 𝒌𝒈 𝒅𝒓𝒚 𝒂𝒊𝒓/ 𝒌𝒈 𝒇𝒖𝒆𝒍
𝑘𝑔 𝑓𝑢𝑒𝑙 30 𝑘𝑔

NOTE : The molecular weight is approximately 29 kg/ kg mole or 29 g / mole.

c. m3 dry air / kg ethane

𝑚3 760 𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑠 273.15 + 25 𝐾
3
𝑚 𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑎𝑖𝑟 (4.2 𝑘𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 + 15.8 𝑘𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒) (22.4 )( )( )
𝑘𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 740 𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑠 273.15 𝐾
=
𝑘𝑔 𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑒 30 𝑘𝑔
𝟑
= 𝟏𝟔. 𝟕𝟒𝟎𝟔 𝒎 𝒅𝒓𝒚 𝒂𝒊𝒓/ 𝒌𝒈 𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒆

d. m3 of the products of combustion measured at 400°C , 100 kPa / kg ethane

𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑏𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑠 = 18.5 + 3 = 21.5 𝑘𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒

𝑚3 101.325 𝑘𝑃𝑎 273.15 + 400 𝐾

3
𝑚 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑐𝑘 𝑔𝑎𝑠 (21.5 𝑘𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒) (22.4 )( )( )
𝑘𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 100 𝑘𝑃𝑎 273.15 𝐾
=
𝑘𝑔 𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑒 30 𝑘𝑔

= 𝟒𝟎. 𝟎𝟖𝟔 𝒎𝟑 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒈𝒂𝒔 /𝒌𝒈 𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒆

e. Partial pressure of water in the products of combustion
𝑃𝑤 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟
=
𝑃𝑡 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠

3 𝑘𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒
𝑃𝑤 = 100 𝑘𝑃𝑎 ( ) = 𝟏𝟑. 𝟗𝟓𝟑𝟓 𝒌𝑷𝒂
21.5 𝑘𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒

NOTES ON STOICHIOMETRY OF FUEL COMBUSTION (CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS)

Engr. Reden E. Nolasco
SOURCE: STOICHIOMETRY OF FUEL COMBUSTION AND RELATED PROCESS INDUSTRIES BY EVELYN LAURITO