Combustion

Source of energy

We know that, in most of the world

today, wood is not the main source of
fuel.

We generally use natural gas or oil in

our homes.
We mainly use oil and coal to heat the
water to produce the steam to drive the
turbines for our huge power generation
systems.

Coal, oil, and natural gas are often

referred to as fossil fuels.

3 Requirements:

Combustible Material

Substance that supports

combustion ( oxygen)
Kindling Temperature

Combustion Reactions:

C + O2

CO2

C + O2

CO

H2 + O 2

H2O

S + O2
S + O2

SO2
SO3

Types of Fuel:
Gaseous Fuel
Methane, ethane, propane, etc.

The most environment friendly

Liquid Fuel
Gasoline, kerosene, bunker
fuel, fuel oil, etc.

Solid Fuel
Coal, wood, etc.

air/oxygen
fuel

combustion
chamber

C, H, O, N, S,
ash

Unburnt fuel, ash

Stack /flue
gas

Gaseous/
Liquid Fuel

fuel
C, H, O, N

Balance:

air/oxygen
combustion
chamber

Stack /flue
gas
Unburnt fuel
CO2
CO
O2
N2
H2O

C in fuel = C in unburnt fuel + C in CO2 + C in CO

H in fuel = H in unburnt fuel + H in H2O
O2in fuel + O2 in air = O2 in unburnt fuel + free O2 + O2 in H2O
N2in fuel + N2 in air = N2 in unburnt fuel + free N2

Analysis of Flue Gas

means to determine
efficiency of the boiler

the

Complete or Wet Analysis

water is reported
the % composition

and

is

part

of

Dry or Orsat Analysis

water is not reported and is not part of
the % composition

mole

Wet Analysis

Orsat( Dry)
Analysis

CO2

30

30%

33.33%

CO

10

10%

11.11%

O2

5%

5.56%

N2

45

45%

50.00%

H2O

10

10%

total

100

1. Ethane is burned with 50%

excess air.
The percentage
conversion of ethane is 90%; Of
the ethane burned, 25% reacts to
form CO and the balance reacts to
form CO2. Calculate the molar
composition of the stack gas on a
dry basis and the mole ratio of
water to dry stack gas.

3. A mixture of 75% mole propane and 25% mole

hydrogen is burned with 25% excess air.
Fractional conversion of 90% of the propane and
85% of the hydrogen are achieved. Of the
propane that reacts, 95% reacts to form CO2 and
the balance reacts to form CO. (a) Calculate the
concentration of CO (in ppm) in the stack gas

3. A mixture of 75% mole propane and 25% mole

hydrogen is burned with 25% excess air.
Fractional conversion of 90% of the propane and
85% of the hydrogen are achieved. Of the
propane that reacts, 95% reacts to form CO2 and
the balance reacts to form CO. (a) Calculate the
concentration of CO (in ppm) in the stack gas

A gas with the following composition is burned

with 50% excess air in a furnace: 60% CH4, 20%
C2H6, 5% CO, 5% O2 and 10% N2. What is the
composition of the flue gas by percent assuming
complete combustion?
B. If 85% of the
carbons burns to form CO2 and the rest to CO,
what is the Orsat analysis of the flue gas?

2. Pure carbon is burned in

oxygen. The flue gas analysis
is: 75% (n) CO2, 14% CO and
11% O2. What was the %
excess oxygen used

1. A hydrocarbon fuel is burned with

excess air. The Orsat analysis of the flue
gas shows 10.2% CO2, 1% CO, 8.4% O2 and
80.4% N2. Determine (a) atomic ratio of H
to C in the fuel (b) % excess air used.

4. The analysis of a flue gas from a fuel gas

containing no nitrogen is 4.62% CO2, 3.08%
CO, 8.91% O2 and 83.39% N2. Calculate a.
% excess air used b. If the fuel gas is a
mixture of methane and ethane, what is the
% of ethane in the fuel?