Note: text box appearance may vary with different Windows and Excel versions.

SI Units
temperature: C
amount: g-mol
Please read cell comments
AFT-Calc
mass: g
energy: J

An Adiabatic Flame Temperature Calculator fo

Document
Combustion of Natural Gas
Fuel
Burner
Please read Calculations based on combustion of 1 gram-mole of f
Flame:
this document. CO2, H2O, O2, N2
Oxidant

Heat loss, J

Natural Gas/Fuel Properties Oxidant Properties

Enter/Edit
Species molvalues
% in blue-bordered cells only!
% O2 in Oxidant
Methane CH4 98.10% Like these Upper limit on % excess oxidant
Ethene C2H4 0.00% Oxidant temperature, C
Ethane C2H6 0.00% Stoichiometric amount of oxidant
Propane C3H8 0.00%
Butanes & higher C4H10 + 0.00% Fuel temperature, C
Hydrogen H2 0.00% Element Balance of Fuel
Carbon monoxide CO 0.00% Element moles mass
Carbon dioxide CO2 0.01% C 0.981 11.782
Water vapor H2O 0.00% H 3.924 3.955
Nitrogen (by diff.) N2 1.90% O 0.000 0.002
N 0.0379 0.531
Graphite C 0.0% Sum 4.943 16.270

Table I. Molar DHform at 25 C Table II. Molar DHreax at 25 C

J/g-mol Reaction to form H2O(g)
Thermodynamic Data
CH4 -74,810 2O2 + CH4 CO2 + 2H2O(g)
C2H4 52,467 3O2 + C2H4 2CO2 + 2H2O(g)
C2H6 -84,684 3O2 + C2H6 2CO2 + 3H2O(g)
NG reactant species C3H8 -103,847 5O2 + C3H8 3CO2 + 4H2O(g)
C4H10 -126,148 6O2 + C4H10 4CO2 + 5H2O(g)
H2 0 O2 + H2 H2O(g)
 CO -110,529 O2 + CO CO2

Combustion CO2 -393,509 C + O2 CO2

products H2O(g) -241,814
H2O(liq) -285,830 H2O(g) H2O(liq)

Table III. Heat Content Above 25 C, J/g-mol

T, C O2, (g) N2, (g) H2O, (g) CO2, (g)
1000 32371 30595 37719 48624
Heat Conten

heat content, J/mol

1100 35977 34009 42222 54347
1200 39614 37460 46831 60136 110,000
1300 43278 40944 51541 65982 f(x) = 0.0020055915x^2 + 53.43
1400 46967 44457 56347 71877 100,000
1500 50680 47998 61243 77817
1600 54416 51563 66223 83795 90,000
1700 58174 55150 71282 89808 f(x) = 0.0042038585x^2 + 36.60
1800 61954 58756 76414 95851 80,000
2000 69576 66017 86872 108015
70,000
f(x) = 0.0011726951x^2 + 33.69
Data from FREED database program. f(x) = 0.0012285294x^2 + 31.76
Excel's Trendline tool used to fit data to quadratic equation. 60,000
Chart equations valid between 900 - 2100 C.
50,000

40,000

30,000
1000 1200 1
FT-Calc AFT-Calc is a Thermart
Software program. 2013
by Arthur E. Morris.
www.thermart.net

erature Calculator for Excess Air

on of Natural Gas 2200
AFT vs. % Excess Oxidant
f(x) = -308.032433043 ln(x) + 1265.4749793532
bustion of 1 gram-mole of fuel 2100 R = 0.9702798284

2000 f(x) = 453.4234942536x^2 - 1282.0327240702x + 2047.82034449

1900
0
1800
AFT, deg. C

1700
Oxidant Properties 1600
21% 1500
100%
1400
35
1300
9.343
1200
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
25
% excess oxidant

Figure 1. Relationship between the AFT and the % excess oxidant used for combustion.
Chart and table will reconfigure when any blue-cell entry value is changed.
Excel's Trendline tool can be used to give a quadratic equation fit to the results. For x, use %/100.

Summary of Results
% XS oxidant 0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0% 100%
AFT, C 2056 1920 1801 1604 1447 1320 1214

J/g-mol
-802,327 AFT-Calc Operation
-1,323,113 The Calculator has two main worksheets, plus one for stored results. Enter data o
-1,427,776 this worksheet, in blue-bordered cells only. Data will be copied into the Calcs work
-2,043,936 Figure 1 summarizes the results. The chart legend shows a quadratic Trendlin
-2,656,958 The calculator contains a sample system. Changing any blue-bordered cell value will result in reca
-241,814 of all other dependent values. Please read cell comments (cells with red corner), and the docu

1. Enter the fuel composition in column E, making sure that the value in cell F29 is non-negat
%C (E31) should be 0% (or 100% for graphite combustion).
2. Enter the oxidant properties in range K19:K21 and the heat loss in cell K16. Enter 0 for an
adiabatic calculation. The oxidant temperature range should be between 0 - 100C.
3. Enter the fuel temperature in cell K24, in the range should be between 0 - 100C.
 this worksheet, in blue-bordered cells only. Data will be copied into the Calcs work
Figure 1 summarizes the results. The chart legend shows a quadratic Trendlin
The calculator contains a sample system. Changing any blue-bordered cell value will result in reca
of all other dependent values. Please read cell comments (cells with red corner), and the docu
-282,980 1. Enter the fuel composition in column E, making sure that the value in cell F29 is non-negat
%C (E31) should be 0% (or 100% for graphite combustion).
-393,510 2. Enter the oxidant properties in range K19:K21 and the heat loss in cell K16. Enter 0 for an
adiabatic calculation. The oxidant temperature range should be between 0 - 100C.
3. Enter the fuel temperature in cell K24, in the range should be between 0 - 100C.
-44,020 4. Enter the upper limit on the range of calculations of % excess air in cell K20. Seven values
used in the % available heat calculation, starting at stoichiometric oxidant (0% excess).
5. A complete summary of the available heat results are shown on worksheet Calcs.
6. If desired, you can copy results for several different fuels or oxidant properties to workshee
StoredResults, and chart them. This worksheet has results for pure methane combustion for th
conditions noted in the IH article, plus a chart for other species.
Heat Content of 7.
Offgas
PleaseSpecies
read theAbove 25C and documents.
cell comments
000
f(x) = 0.0020055915x^2 + 53.4328621367x - 6847.3387411164
000

000
f(x) = 0.0042038585x^2 + 36.6052926736x - 3123.5631055861
000

000
f(x) = 0.0011726951x^2 + 33.6999325847x - 2509.1194199172
f(x) = 0.0012285294x^2 + 31.7667882685x - 2417.0153732532
000

000
O2, (g)
000 Polynomial
(O2, (g))
000
1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000
temperature, deg. C
34449

80% 90% 100%

combustion.

ults. For x, use %/100.

red results. Enter data only on

opied into the Calcs worksheet.
ows a quadratic Trendline fit.
ed cell value will result in recalculation
ith red corner), and the document.

lue in cell F29 is non-negative. The

in cell K16. Enter 0 for an

tween 0 - 100C.
etween 0 - 100C.
opied into the Calcs worksheet.
ows a quadratic Trendline fit.
ed cell value will result in recalculation
ith red corner), and the document.

lue in cell F29 is non-negative. The

in cell K16. Enter 0 for an

tween 0 - 100C.
etween 0 - 100C.
r in cell K20. Seven values will be
oxidant (0% excess).
worksheet Calcs.
dant properties to worksheet
methane combustion for the
 Please read cell comments

Calculator created Fuel

Flame:
by Burner
CO2, H2O, O2, N2
A. E. Morris
Thermart Software Oxidant
www.thermart.net

Legend
Do not edit/enter values in any cells!
Values Entered on MainEntry Vol. % O2 in ox
Natural Gas/Fuel Properties
Species Cp Mol. mass Vol % Mass, g Mass % DHcomb
Methane CH4 36 16.04 98.10% 15.74 96.72% -787,083
Ethene C2H4 43 28.05 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0
Ethane C2H6 54 30.07 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0 Stoichiometric oxid
Propane C3H8 75 44.10 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0
Butanes & higher C4H10 + 103 58.12 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0
Hydrogen H2 29 2.02 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0
Carbon monoxide CO 30 28.01 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0
Carbon dioxide CO2 38 44.01 0.01% 0.00 0.01% 0
Water vapor H2O 33.6 18.02 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0
Nitrogen (by diff.) N2 29.1 28.01 1.90% 0.53 3.26% 0
Graphite C 10 12.01 0.00% 0.00 0.00% 0
O2 29.4 32.00 ---
DHcomb of Fuel, kJ/g-mol -787,083
Molecular mass of NG 16.27

moles mass
CO2 produced by combustion 0.981 43.17
H2O produced by combustion 1.962 35.35
Stoich. O2 required for combustion 1.962 62.78 Composition,

Table IV. Heat content eq'n. parameters, J/g-mol = A + BT + CT2

N2, 900 - 2100C O2, 900 - 2100C
A B C A B C
-2420 31.77 1.229E-03 -2510 33.70 1.173E-03

H2O(g), 900 - 2100C CO2, 900 - 2100C

A B C A B C
-3120 36.61 4.204E-03 -6850 53.43 2.006E-03
 Heat loss, J 0
AFT
Oxidant temperature, C 35
Fuel temperature, C 25
Calculational Strategy 3
1
2 1
1 1
1 1 at 25C 2
DHcomb
1 2 1
Step
2 1. Bring reactants to 25C.
1
Step
1 2. Burn fuel at 25C. Cell I20 Values for Quadratic Formula
Step 3. Heat products to AFT.
Step 4. Sum of all heats = 0. M47:S47 HT-H25 for oxidant & fuel
S(HT-H25 of reactants + HT-H25 of products + Hloss + DHcomb) = 0
Step 5. Calculate AFT using quadratic formula (M52:S52).
Quadratic Formula based on: aX2 + bX + c = 0

b b 4ac
X
2a
 Flame:
CO2, H2O, O2, N2

in any cells! Material Balance Calculations

Vol. % O2 in oxidant gas 21.00%
% XS oxidant 0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0% 100%

Combustion products 2.962

Stoichiometric oxidant 9.34
Stoichiometric oxidant inerts 7.38
Oxidant gas required 9.34 10.28 11.21 13.08 14.95 16.82 18.69
Excess oxidant 0.00 0.93 1.87 3.74 5.61 7.47 9.34
%O2 in offgas 0.00% 1.74% 3.21% 5.57% 7.38% 8.81% 9.97%
Offgas amount 10.343 11.277 12.211 14.080 15.949 17.817 19.686
Dry stack gas amount 8.381 9.315 10.249 12.118 13.987 15.855 17.724
%O2 in dry offgas 0.00% 2.11% 3.83% 6.48% 8.42% 9.90% 11.07%
Oxidant mass 269.55 296.51 323.46 377.37 431.28 485.19 539.10
Oxidant/Fuel mass ratio 16.57 18.22 19.88 23.19 26.51 29.82 33.13

Offgas H2O 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

Amount, Offgas CO2 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0
g-mol Offgas N2 7.40 8.14 8.88 10.35 11.83 13.30 14.78
Offgas O2 0.00 0.20 0.39 0.78 1.18 1.57 1.96

Offgas H2O 19.0% 17.4% 16.1% 13.9% 12.3% 11.0% 10.0%

Composition, Offgas CO2 9.5% 8.7% 8.0% 7.0% 6.2% 5.5% 5.0%
vol. % Offgas N2 71.5% 72.2% 72.7% 73.5% 74.2% 74.7% 75.1%
Offgas O2 0.0% 1.7% 3.2% 5.6% 7.4% 8.8% 10.0%

Heat Balance Calculations

% XS oxidant 0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0% 100.0%
A -6121 -6121 -6121 -6121 -6121 -6121 -6121
Offgas H2O B 71.83 71.83 71.83 71.83 71.83 71.83 71.83
C 8.248E-03 8.248E-03 8.248E-03 8.248E-03 8.248E-03 8.248E-03 8.248E-03
A -6720 -6720 -6720 -6720 -6720 -6720 -6720
Offgas CO2 B 52.42 52.42 52.42 52.42 52.42 52.42 52.42
C 1.968E-03 1.968E-03 1.968E-03 1.968E-03 1.968E-03 1.968E-03 1.968E-03
 A -17908 -19694 -21480 -25052 -28625 -32197 -35769
Offgas N2 B 235.09 258.54 281.99 328.89 375.79 422.68 469.58
C 9.094E-03 1.000E-02 1.091E-02 1.272E-02 1.454E-02 1.635E-02 1.817E-02
A 0 -492 -985 -1970 -2955 -3940 -4925
Offgas O2 B 0 6.61 13.22 26.45 39.67 52.90 66.12
C 0 2.301E-04 4.603E-04 9.206E-04 1.381E-03 1.841E-03 2.301E-03

c -820557 -823108 -825659 -830761 -835863 -840965 -846068

es for Quadratic Formula b 359.34 389.40 419.46 479.58 539.70 599.83 659.95
a 0 2.045E-02 2.159E-02 2.386E-02 2.613E-02 2.841E-02 3.068E-02
HT-H25 for oxidant & fuel -2725 -2997 -3270 -3815 -4359 -4904 -5449

AFT 2056 1920 1801 1604 1447 1320 1214

 Vol. % O2 in oxidant gas 21.00%
Desired %O2 in comb. flame 0.00% 1.25% 2.50%

Combustion products 2.962 Calculator

Stoichiometric oxidant 9.34 #1
Stoichiometric oxidant inerts 7.38
Excess oxidant 0.00 0.65 1.40
% stoichiometric oxidant gas 100.0% 107.0% 115.0%
% excess oxidant gas 0.00% 7.01% 14.96%
Required oxidant 9.34 10.00 10.74
Combustion water 1.962
Stack gas volume 10.343 10.997 11.741
Dry stack gas volume 8.381 9.035 9.779
%O2 in dry stack gas 0.00% 1.52% 3.00%

Oxidant mass #REF! 280.05 300.86

Ox/NG mass ratio #REF! #REF! #REF!
 3.75% 5.00%

Calculator
#1

2.25 3.23
124.1% 134.6%
24.07% 34.59%
11.59 12.58

12.591 13.575
10.629 11.613
4.44% 5.84%

324.69 352.25
#REF! #REF!
 Results of Sample Calculations

AFT vs. % Excess Oxidant for CH4 Combustion

2200 WordPad
Document
2100

2000 f(x) = 454.6899588877x^2 - 1284.6932480283x + 2052.2071579021

1900

1800
AFT, deg. C

1700

1600

1500

1400

1300

1200
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
% excess oxidant
Figure 1. Relationship between the AFT and % excess oxidant for article example.
As noted in article text, AFT = 1608C with 40% excess oxygen. Air enters at 38C and methane at 20C.
Excel's Trendline tool can be used to give a quadratic equation fit to the results. For x, use %/100.

Summary of Results--Methane Text Example

% XS oxidant 0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0% 100%
AFT, C 2061 1924 1805 1608 1451 1323 1217

Theoretical vs. Equilibrium AFT

2200

2100 Theo
rC
2000 Theo
rCH4
1900

1800
AFT, deg. C

1700

1600

1500

1400

1300
 1700

AFT, de
1600

1500

1400

1300

1200
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
% excess oxidant

Figure 3. Comparison between theoretical (solid lines) and equilibrium (dashed lines) AFT for combustion
Notice the increasing deviation between the two versions above about 1650C.
The difference is caused by increasing thermal disproportion of H 2O and CO2 at elevated temperatures (se

Summary of Results--Methane
% XS oxidant 0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0%
AFT, C 1954 1872 1772 1676 1588 1508 1436
CO 0.911% 0.265% 0.087% 0.030% 0.011% 0.004% 0.002%
CO2 8.5% 8.4% 7.9% 7.4% 7.0% 6.5% 6.2%
N 0.000% 0.000% 0.000% 0.000% 0.000% 0.000% 0.000%
N2 70.9% 71.8% 72.4% 72.9% 73.3% 73.7% 74.0%
N2O 0.000% 0.000% 0.000% 0.000% 0.000% 0.000% 0.000%
NO 0.199% 0.319% 0.336% 0.308% 0.267% 0.224% 0.185%
O 0.021% 0.024% 0.016% 0.009% 0.005% 0.003% 0.001%
O2 0.5% 1.7% 3.0% 4.3% 5.4% 6.4% 7.3%
H2 0.368% 0.107% 0.037% 0.014% 0.006% 0.002% 0.001%
H2O 18.4% 17.1% 15.9% 14.9% 13.9% 13.1% 12.3%
OH 0.294% 0.282% 0.202% 0.133% 0.085% 0.053% 0.034%

Summary of Results--Graphite
% XS oxidant 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
AFT, C 2027 1952 1852 1748 1651 1562 1482
CO 2.23% 0.889% 0.326% 0.116% 0.042% 0.016% 0.006%
CO2 18.5% 18.1% 17.1% 16.0% 15.0% 14.0% 13.1%
N 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
N2 77.9% 78.4% 78.6% 78.7% 78.8% 78.8% 78.9%
N2O 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
NO 0.35% 0.45% 0.45% 0.41% 0.35% 0.29% 0.23%
O 0.047% 0.046% 0.030% 0.017% 0.009% 0.004% 0.002%
O2 0.92% 2.10% 3.42% 4.69% 5.84% 6.86% 7.76%
 Please read

AFT vs. % Excess Oxidant for Different Fuels

WordPad 2400
Document
CH
4
2200 C2
H6
C3
H8
2000

AFT, deg. C
1800

1600

1400

1200
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
% excess oxidant
Figure 2. Relationship between the theoretical AFT and % excess oxidant for differe
d methane at 20C. Oxidant and fuel enter at 25C.
use %/100. Summary of Results--Methane
% XS oxidant 0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0%
AFT, C 2053 1916 1797 1599 1442

Summary of Results--Ethane
% XS oxidant 0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0%
AFT, C 2106 1964 1840 1636 1473

Summary of Results--Propane
% XS oxidant 0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0%
AFT, C 2119 1975 1850 1644 1480
Theo
rC Summary of Results--Graphite
Theo % XS oxidant 0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0%
rCH4 AFT, C 2185 2024 1886 1662 1488

Summary of Results--Hydrogen
% XS oxidant 0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0%
AFT, C 2247 2112 1992 1789 1624

Summary of Results--Carbon Monoxide

% XS oxidant 0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0%
AFT, C 2384 2248 2127 1922 1754
0% 90% 100%

hed lines) AFT for combustion of CH 4 and C(graphite).

2
at elevated temperatures (see data below).

70.0% 80.0% 90.0%

1370 1310 1256
0.001% 0.000% 0.000%
5.8% 5.5% 5.2%
0.000% 0.000% 0.000%
74.3% 74.6% 74.8%
0.000% 0.000% 0.000%
0.151% 0.122% 0.099%
0.001% 0.000% 0.000%
8.1% 8.8% 9.4%
0.000% 0.000% 0.000%
11.6% 11.0% 10.5%
0.021% 0.013% 0.009%

70% 80% 90%

1410 1344 1285
0.002% 0.001% 0.000%
12.4% 11.7% 11.1%
0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
78.9% 78.9% 78.9%
0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
0.19% 0.15% 0.12%
0.001% 0.001% 0.000%
8.55% 9.26% 9.89%
ferent Fuels

CH
4
C2
H6
C3
H8

70% 80% 90% 100%

nd % excess oxidant for different fuels.

s--Methane
80.0% 100%
1313 1207

80.0% 100%
1341 1232

s--Propane
80.0% 100%
1347 1237

s--Graphite
80.0% 100%
1348 1233

--Hydrogen
80.0% 100%
1488 1373

s--Carbon Monoxide
80.0% 100%
1615 1496