A hydrocarbon is burnt with excess air. The Orsat analysis of the flue gas shows 10.81% CO 2, 3.

78% O2 and
85.40 N2. Calculate the atomic ratio of C:H in the hydrocarbon and the % excess air.

Calculations:

100 moles of dry flue gas (i.e., excepting H2O)

The Orsat analysis shows the compositions of the flue gases by not taking into account of H 2O.

From the composition of air(mole %),

Here, nitrogen is the tie component.

79 mole of N2 h 21 mole of O2

Therefore, O2 that is entering the burner = 85.4 x 21/79 = 22.7

C + O2 CO2

1 mole of CO2 h 1 mole of O2 h 1 atom of C ( i.e.,1 mole of O2 reacts with 1 atom of C to produce 1 mole of CO2)

Therefore, O2 used up for reacting with carbon = 10.81 mole and,

Carbon in the hydrocarbon = 10.81 atoms

O2 reacted with Hydrogen in the hydrocarbon = 22.7 - (10.81 + 3.78) = 8.11

4H + O2 2H2O

1 mole of O2 reacts with 4 atoms of hydrogen.

Therefore, hydrogen in the hydrocarbon = 8.11 x 4 = 32.44 atoms.

C:H ratio in the hydrocarbon = 1 : 32.44/10.81 = 1 : 3

Theoretical air demand = air needed for complete conversion of carbon to carbon dioxide and hydrogen to water
vapor

% excess air = 100 x (actual air used - theoretical air demand) / theoretical air demand

= 100 x (22.7 - (10.81 + 8.11))/( 10.81 + 8.11) = 20%

Natural gas containing 80% CH4, 15% C2H6 and 5% C3H8 is burnt with 50% excess air. Assuming that 90%
of the carbon in the hydrocarbons are converted to CO 2 and the rest to CO, determine

i. Flue gas analysis

ii. Orsat analysis

Calculations:

Basis: 1 mole of natural gas

Component Mole Atoms of C Atoms of H

CH4 0.80 0.8 x 1 = 0.8 0.8 x 4 = 3.2

C2H6 0.15 0.15 x 2 = 0.3 0.15 x 6 = 0.9

C3H8 0.05 0.05 x 3 = 0.15 0.05 x 8 = 0.4

Total 1.0 1.25 4.5

Reactions:

C + O2 CO2 -- I

C + 1/2 O2 CO -- II

H + 1/4 O2 1/2 H2O -- III

90% of Carbon is converted by reaction I, and 10% of carbon is converted by II.

Amount of CO2 produced = 1.25 x 0.9 = 1.125 mole

Amount of CO produced = 1.25 x 0.1 = 0.125 mole

Amount of H2O produced = 4.5 / 2 = 2.25 mole

Amount of O2 used by hydrocarbon = O2 used by reactions I, II and III.

= 1.125 + 0.125 x (1/2) + 4.5 x (1/4) = 2.3125 mole

Theoretical O2 needed = Oxygen for complete conversion of C to CO2 and H to H2O.

= 1.25 + 4.5 x (1/4) = 2.375 mole

Oxygen entering = 150% of theoretical = 1.5 x 2.375 = 3.5625 mole

Therefore, nitrogen entering = 3.5625 x 79/21 = 13.4018 mole = N 2 in the flue gas

O2 in the flue gases = O2 entering - O2 used = 3.5625 - 2.3125 = 1.25 mole

Flue gas analysis:

Component Moles Mole %

CO2 1.125 6.20

CO 0.125 0.69
H2O 2.25 12.39

O2 1.25 6.89

N2 13.4018 73.83

Total 18.1518 100

Orsat analysis (Water free):

Component Moles Mole %

CO2 1.125 7.07

CO 0.125 0.79

O2 1.25 7.86

N2 13.4018 84.28

Total 15.9018 100

Balance of Individual Reactions:

Basis: 1 mole of Natural gas

CH4 0.80

C2H6 0.15

C3H8 0.05

Total 1.0

CH4 + 2 O2 CO2 + 2 H2O -- 1

CH4 + 3/2 O2 CO + 2 H2O -- 2

C2H6 + 7/2 O2 2 CO2 + 3 H2O -- 3

C2H6 + 5/2 O2 2 CO + 3 H2O -- 4

C3H8 + 5 O2 3 CO2 + 4 H2O -- 5

C3H8 + 7/2 O2 3 CO + 4 H2O -- 6

In the above reactions CO2 is produced from reactions 1, 3 and 5.

Since 90% of Carbon is converted to CO2 and 10% to CO,

CO2 produced = (1 x 0.8 + 2 x 0.15 + 3 x 0.05) x 0.9 = 1.125 mole

Similarly CO is obtained from reactions 2, 4 and 6.

CO produced = (1 x 0.8 + 2 x 0.15 + 3 x 0.05) x 0.1 = 0.125 mole

H2O produced = (2 x 0.8 + 3 x 0.15 + 4 x 0.05) x 0.9 + (2 x 0.8 + 3 x 0.15 + 4 x 0.05) x 0.1 = 2.25 mole

O2 used up in these reactions = (2 x 0.8 + 3.5 x 0.15 + 5 x 0.05) x 0.9 + (1.5 x 0.8 + 2.5 x 0.15 + 3.5 x 0.05) x 0.1

= 2.3125 mole

Theoretical O2 needed = moles of O2 needed for Conversion of C to CO2 and H to H2O.

= 2 x 0.8 + 3.5 x 0.15 + 5 x 0.05 = 2.375 mole

O2 entering = 50 % excess = 150% of theoretical = 2.375 x 1.5 = 3.5625 mole

N2 entering along with O2 in the air = 3.5625 x 79/21 = 13.4018 mole (sine air is 21% O 2 and 79% N2 by volume).

O2 in the flue gas = O2 entering - O2 used up = 3.5625 - 2.3125 = 1.25 mole

N2 in the flue gas = N2 entering = 13.4018 mole

Therefore, for 1 mole of Natural gas entering, the flue gas coming out are:

Component Moles

CO2 1.125

CO 0.125

H2O 2.25

O2 1.25

N2 13.4018

Total 18.1518
On comparing with the data obtained from atomic balance and balance of individual reactions, it can be seen that the
results are same from either method. But instead of lengthy calculations for individual reactions, we can very well
make use of atomic balances.

Air at 30oC and 150 kPa in a closed container is compressed and cooled. It is found that the first droplet of
water condenses at 200 kPa and 15oC. Calculate the percent relative humidity of the original air. The vapor
pressures of water at 15oC and 30oC are 1.7051 kPa and 4.246 kPa respectively.

Calculations:

At 15oC, and 200 kPa water is at 100% humidity.

i.e., Percentage humidity or percentage absolute humidity = 100 x [p A(p - pS)]/[ pS(p - pA)] = 100

Therefore,

pA/(p - pA) = pS/(p - pS)

where pA = partial pressure of water vapor;

pS = vapor pressure of water vapor

p = total pressure of system

i.e., no of moles of water vapor per mole of dry air = 1.7051/(200 - 1.7051) = 0.0086

This ratio (moles of water vapor / mole of dry air) is not going to change for a closed system. Therefore, partial
pressure of A at 30oC and 150 kPa is found as follows:

pA/(p - pA) = 0.0086

pA/(150 - pA) = 0.0086

pA + 0.0086 pA = 1.29

pA = 1.29/1.0086 = 1.279 kPa

Percentage relative humidity of the original air:

percentage relative humidity = 100 x (pA/pS) = 100 x 1.279/4.246 = 30.12%