Calorific Test of Gaseous Fuel

Boys Calorimeter

Group 4
Tito Vilalluna Data Interpreter
Aldwin Reantaso Researcher
Mico Tan Researcher
Anjo Santos Data Analysis
El king Posadas Subject/Topic Analysis
What is Calorific Value?

the measure of heating power and is dependent upon the composition of the gas. The CV refers
to the amount of energy released when a known volume of gas is completely combusted under
specified conditions.
Specifically,
Quantity of heat released during the complete combustion of one cubic meter of gas under
normal temperature and pressure conditions (1.01325 bar or 101 325 Pascal at 0C) when
the water formed during combustion remains as steam and the combustion products are
evacuated under normalised test conditions.
Combustion is the chemical reaction that occurs between a fuel and a combustion agent, for
example oxygen in
the air in the presence of a heat source. The result of complete combustion is essentially carbon
dioxide (CO2), water (H2O) and heat.
Boys Calorimeter
Method
The calorific value of a gaseous fuel can be found by burning the gas in a water cooled
vessel under standard test conditions. The equipment used is the Boy's Calorimeter.
Apparatus
The calorimeter consists of a water-cooled copper chimney set over a wooden base
containing a central burner.
This equipment may be used for the determination of the calorific value (CV) of any
gaseous fuel provided that the correct burner nozzle is fitted. A known volume of gas
sample is metered and burned inside the chamber surrounded by a cooling coil, fed
from a constant head apparatus with a known volume of water. The CV is calculated
from the rise in temperature of the water after making suitable corrections.
Experimental
The Boys Calorimeter is set up prior to the laboratory beginning to allow the system to stabilise.

At the beginning of the experiment (e.g. starting point a 100 on the gas meter);
1. Begin to collect water in the 2L measuring cylinder. At the same time push the
25cm3 measuring cylinder under the spout at the base of the calorimeter (the
volume collected for the whole of the experiment must be recorded).

2. The water in the 2L measuring cylinder does not have to be retained, but the total
volume over the whole of the experiment must be recorded.

3. At some point during the experiment a sample temperature of the water must be
taken and recorded.

4. Note the Inlet temperature and record for every 2 revolutions till the end of the
experiment.
5. Note the Outlet temperature and record for every revolution till the end of the
experiment.

The experiment is carried out for a period of 8 revolutions

At the end of the experiment:
Stop collecting water to the 2L measuring cylinders.
Stop collecting water to the 25cm3
measuring cylinder.
Record effluent gas temperature.
Record ambient temperature.
Record barometric pressure.
Gas Sample
Getting the CV of sample (Easy Way)
Getting the Calorific Value (Hard Way)
CV (Rise in water temperature.) x (mass of water)
Corrected volume of gas burnt = x specific heat of water =
(Ti - To) x ' a' x V'wVg x 4.187 kJ / li (ie MJ / m3)= - = (37.23 15.00) x 1.033 x 7.621
18.88 x 4.187 MJ/ m 38.81 MJ/ m 3 3
This is the gross CV and has not included the inlet water temp. or the effluent gas
corrections.
Thus the gross C.V. of the gas is = 38.81 - 0.564 + 0.0643= 38.18 MJ/m3.
The heat in the water produced from the hydrogen present in the gas is :
vol. collected x Latent heat = 29.0 x 2.45 = 71.05 kJ.
But gas vol. used = 0.01888 m3 therefore heat in water = 71.05/ 0.01888 =
3.76MJ/m3 and Nett .V. = 38.18 - 3.766 = 34.42 MJ/m3
Calorific Values of Gaseous Fuels
Gaseous fuels at 15 C, 101.325 kPa, dry Gross calorific value/MJ m
3

Coal gas coke oven (debenzolized) 20
Coal gas continuous vertical retort (steaming) 18
Coal gas low temperature 34
Commercial butane 118
Commercial propane 94
North Sea gas natural 39
Producer gas coal 6
Producer gas coke 5
Water gas carburetted 19
Water gas blue 11