May 9, 2014

Comparison of
Fuels
1
 Classification of Fuels
1. Solid Fuels
a. Natural: Wood, Coal etc
b. Artificial: Coke etc
Detail on p.247-248
2. Liquid Fuels J. Newton
a. Natural: Petroleum etc
b. Artificial: Distilled oil etc
3. Gaseous Fuels
a. Natural: Natural Gas etc
b. Artificial: Coal Gas etc
2
 Analysis of Coal
1. Proximate Analysis

i. Fixed Carbon:

100-(%ash+%VCM+%Moisture)

ii. Volatile Combustible Matter (VCM):

Loss in weight of 1g sample at 950C in closed crucible for 7 min

iii. Moisture:

Loss in weight by heating at 104C-110C for 1-1.5hr

iv. Ash: Material left after coal is strongly ignited to burn off all combustible materials

2. Ultimate Analysis: Percentage of each element

3
 Formation of Coal

Coal is called a fossil fuel because it was formed from the remains of vegetation
that grew as long as 400 million years ago. It is often referred to as "buried
sunshine," because the plants which formed coal captured energy from the sun
through photosynthesis to create the compounds that make up plant tissues.
The most important element in the plant material is carbon, which gives
coal most of its energy.

Peat Lignite or brown coal (amorphous woody coal)

Bituminous coal (only solid natural fuel for metallurgical applications)
Anthracite or Hard coal (short blue flame- used for domestic heating)
4
 O
Low calorif value 8100C 34,200( H ) 2200S 586(9 H W )
Dulongs Formula 8
% of oxygen
%of net hydrogen %of total hydrogen
8 5
C while H&O (Wood Anthracite)
6
7
8
 Behaviour of Coal on Heating

Coal Destructive distillation-A certain amount of volatile combined carbon

Is driven off in the form of compounds. Lighter compounds e.g. CH4 and
other Hydrocrabons escape as coal gas and the heavier compounds form
coal tar. The solid residue left behind contains fixed carbon and ash

9
 Metallurgical Coke
This is formed by destructive distillation of
bituminous coal

Porous, silvery grey materials

Low in volatile materials and H
S and P depends upon raw materials
For Iron BF, S<1%

10
 Pulverized Coal
5g
About 80% -200# and 95% -100#
Advantages:
High efficiency of combustion? 100#

Burn with long flame

Low grade coal can be used 15g
Used for electricity generation
200#

Disadvantages:
80g
Mixture of coal dust and air is explosive
Difficult to store

11
Compressed (Briquettes) Fuels

Finely divided coal mixed with binder and

pressed. The binder should keep the
powder together and should be volatile
materials to add to calorific power

12
 Choice of Fuels

1. Cost
2. Availability
3. Suitability for process in question- Rotary Kiln-
Gaseous fuel or Furnace oil, BF (Coke),
Reverberatory Furnace (Pulverized coal with long
flame)
4. Purity
5. Calorific Power-Heat generated by a fuel when a
unit weight of it is completely burned
6. Calorific Intensity Temp. attained by its
combustion
13
14
 Combustion

Rate of reaction and temperature

Surface area and reaction rate

Coke burns more rapidly than lump coal?- Temperature-High?

Solid fuel require air with higher pressure- i.e. why excessive air

Is used

15