Contents

Abstract............................................................................3
Introduction........................................................................3
Procedure..........................................................................4
Results............................................................................5
Calculations.......................................................................5
Discussion......................................................................7
Conclusion......................................................................9

Abstract
The aim of this examination is to decide the High Calorific Value and Low Calorific Value for
methane. Boys Calorimeter is intended to make sure that the heat from the burner streams up
through the focal point of the calorimeter holder and withdraw again inside the compartment and
move down again before exhausting. This outline guarantees greatest heat exchange to the
cooling liquid and consequently precise estimation of calorific estimation of gas which in this
case is methane gas. The measure of heat freed when a unit mass of fuel is smoldered totally is
known as the calorific worth. This calorific estimation of vaporous fuel is resolved utilizing boys
calorimeter.
Introduction
Boys calorimeter is suitable for determination of calorific estimation of gas. Based on figure 1
below, it demonstrates the parts of the Boys calorimeter. It comprises of a gas burner with
course of action to measure stream amount and pressure of the gas supplied to the burner. A gas
pressure controller is utilized as a part of the gas supply line to moisten down any pressure
vacillations which would influence the outcomes unfavorably. The gas supplied smolders inside
of a round and hollow holder which is encompassed by a cooling curl from a consistent head
tank. The vent gas climbs in the tube shaped holder and afterward it streams down from the
highest point of the holder as shows in the figure 1.

Based on table 1 below, the calorific values of each gases varies.

The aggregate vitality discharged as warmth when a substance experiences complete ignition
with oxygen under standard circumstances is called heat of combustion. The compound response
is to shape carbon dioxide and water and discharge heat. This is done by ordinarily a
hydrocarbon responding with oxygen. The calorific value varies among gases as can be seen in
table 1 below. The calorific value of methane which is used in this experiment is 55 kJ/g.

Table 1 shows the variance gas calorific values.

Procedure
1. The gas burner is adjusted in the scissor jack.
2. The water supply is connected to the inlet of rotameter.
3. The valve by the rotameter is kept closed and the LPG pressure regulator is adjusted to a
required
pressure.
4. The water is allowed to circulate through the calorimeter at a given flowrate.
5. The gas is lighted by slowly opening the valve by the rotameter followed by bringing the
flame
closer to the chimney. This is done by raising the jack.
6. The digital thermometer is switched on.
7. The readings is recorded after the values of the variables have stabilized.
8. The flame is switched off by closing the regulator and control valves.
9. The experiment is carried out at two different gas flow rates each repeated at least twice.
10. temperatures, pressures and volume.
11. The flow rates and also the necessary data to calculate the calorific values at the initial
gas flow rate.

Figure 2 shows the schematic drawing of boys calorimeter based on the lab manual.

Results
By collecting the data for volumetric flowrate for gas and water, time, mass flow rate of water.
Data collected is based on (Group 1 and 3).
Vgas (flowrate)
Vwater (flowrate)
Time
Mass flowrate of
water
Tin
Tout
Cp

Units
m3/s
m3/s
s
kg/s
o
C
o
C
kJ/kg

Run 1
1
1
19

26
34
4.18

Run 2
2
2
12.71

26
33
4.18

Run 3
1
1
21

26
33
4.18

Run 4

Average 1

Average 2

2
2
12.27

0.000025
20

4.0032E-05
12.49

26
33
4.18

0.025
26
33.5
4.18

0.04
26
33
4.18

Table 1 shows the data collected for volumetric flowrate of gas, volumetric flowrate of water,
time, mass flowrate of water, Temperature In and Out and also specific heat.
Volume of gas at ambient temperature and pressure

0.02364

m3

Volume flowrate of water out

0.00118

0.00189

Calculations
In order to find the mass of methane gas, the density of methane gas and also the volume is
determined. By using the formula below, the mass can then be determined.

m methane V methane
mmethane V methane 0.0005 0.656 0.000328kg
After calculating the mass of methane gas, the number of moles of methane gas utilised is then
calculated.

mmethane
0.328 g

0.02045moles
MWmethane 16.04 gmol 1

Then the volume of methane gas utilised is calculated.

nRT 0.02045(8.314)(15 273)

4.897 10 4 m 3
P
100000

The HCV is calculated by using two different set of readings. The formula to calculate the HCV
is :

V fuel CV m water C p , water Twater

Vfue l = Volume of fuel at chosen pressure and ambient te mperature

HCV = High Calorific Value
m water = mass of water
c p ,water = heat capacity of water at ambient conditions
Twater = temperatu re change of water

The first part of the reading is calculated as below with a specific measurement in order to obtain
the calorific value:

0.025

CalorificV alue, HCV

kg

4.18

kJ
7.5K
kgK

2.4485 10 4

m3
s

3200.94kJm3

Volume of water = 500ml

Time taken = 20s
Mass flowrate of water = 0.025 kgs -1
Temperatur e difference = 7.5 0 C
Volumetric flowrate of fuel = 2.4485 10 - 4 m 3 s -1
In the second set, a different measurement such as the time taken, mass flowrate, temperature
difference and also volumetric flowrate of fuel is used.

0.04
CalorificV alue , HCV

kg

4.18

kJ
7.0 K
kgK

3.9176 10 5

Volume of water : 500ml

Time taken :12.50s
Mass flowrate of water : 0.04 kgs -1
Temperatur e difference : 7.0 0 C
Volumetric flowrate of fuel : 3.9176 10 - 5 m 3 s -1

m3
s

29875.43kJm3

Discussion
Calorific Value is a degree of heating power and is subordinate consequent to the configuration
of the gas. When a known volume of gas is totally combusted under determined circumstances,
the CV alludes to the measure of energy discharged. Besides that, it is the measure of vitality
expected to heat up 1kg of water to raise its temperature by 1 0C. Distinctive substances needs
diverse measure of calories due combustion to raise the temperature of same measure of water by
1 0C. In this experiment, Ideal Gas Equation is applied. This is done in order to discover volume
of methane gas.

V fuel CV m water C p , water Twater

Based on the experiment criteria, it presuppose methane carry on as perfect gas at temperature of
15 0C and pressure of 1 bar. In this experiment, the rotameter controls the proportion of water
and gas stream, where the volumemetric flowrate are the same for both streams. In order to
determine the volume of methane gas, the mass of methane and number of moles of methane
must first be determined. ( As shown in calculation) By determining those, then the volume of
methane gas can then be determined as shows in the equation below which have a value of 4.897
x 10-4m3.

nRT 0.02045(8.314)(15 273)

4.897 10 4 m 3
P
100000

Based on this experiment, the requirement to achieve the objective of experiment, two different
circumstances of experiment were done to analyse the difference in calorific value obtained.
Based on the first analysis, the stream rate of water and gas are of the similar proportion. This
shows that the stream rate of water nor gas is not influencing the calorific estimation of gas.

0.025

CalorificV alue , HCV

kg

4.18

kJ
7.5K
kgK

2.4485 10 4

0.04
CalorificV alue , HCV

kg

4.18

m
s

kJ
7.0 K
kgK

3.9176 10 5

m3
s

3200.94kJm3

1st
circumstance

29875.43kJm3

2nd
circumstance

Based on the results gained, it can be determined that the calorific value obtained differs than
the theoretical value found. This is because the methane gas is assumed as perfect gas while amid
the experiment it really veers off from perfect gas conduct.
As been observed during experiment, the procedure is not all around protected amid
combustion. Hence, not all energy were discharged as heat energy may get away as the burning
is fragmented.
On top of that, the temperature contrast then again is a central point influencing calorific
estimation of gas. In this part of the case, by observing the both value of temperature which
is.7.5 oC and 7.0 oC. The measure of energy generated varies. Hence it can be concluded based
on the results and calculations that the temperature contrast extraordinarily influences the
calorific estimation of gas.

Conclusion
Based on the results of the experiment, the values of calorific for the methane gas are of
3200.94 kJm -3

and

29875.43 kJm -3

based on 2 different circumstances.