Fuel

The term fuel includes all combustible substances obtained in bulk which may be burnt by
means of atmospheric air. So fuel is a combustible substance which may be burnt to supply
heat energy without the products.

According to modern concept of fuel, any chemical or reactant which produces energy in the
form that can be used for producing power is called fuel.

So A fuel can be defined as

“any combustible substance which during combustion gives large amount of industrially and/or
domestically useful heat.”

And a chemical fuel can be defined as

“any combustible substance containing carbon as a main constituent which during combustion
gives large amount of industrially and/or domestically useful heat.”

Wood, charcoal, coal, kerosene, petrol, diesel, producer gas, oil gas etc., are some of the
examples of fuels.

Characteristics of a good fuel

1. Proper ignition point (or ignition temperature): It is the lowest temperature to which
the fuel must be pre-heated so that it starts burning smoothly. A good fuel should have
moderate ignition point since low is mostly accompanied by fire hazards, while high is not
favorable for starting a fire.
2. High Calorific value: It should be high.
3. Cost of fuel: It should be cheap.
4. Low moisture content: It reduces the combustion process of a fuel.
5. Low content of non-combustible material: Because this material is left in the form of
ash that decrease calorific value of fuel.
6. Moderate speed (or rate) of combustion: If low, a part of heat liberated may get radiated.
7. High suitability: It should be more suitable for desired use
8. High calorific intensity: It should be high enough to melt the metal.
9. Harmless combustion products: it should not give out objectionable and harmful gases
like CO, SO2, H2S and other poisonous gases.
10. Greater flexibility and control (easy to handle): it should be easily ignite and burn at
varied rates so that the heat generation can be handled rapid or slow as desired.
11. Available at low cost:
12. Easy to transport:
13. Low storage cost:
14. Controllable combustion: it can be started or stopped when required i.e. the combustion
should not be spontaneous one.
15. Uniform size: so that combustion is regular.
16. Efficiency: it should be burn in air without smoke.

fuels can also be classified as primary and secondary depending on the readiness of their utility.
The major primary fuels are coal, crude petroleum oil and natural gas (contains largely
methane). These are naturally available. Coal and Petroleum are sometimes referred to as Fossil
fuels meaning they were once living matter. Secondary fuels are those derived from naturally
occurring materials by some treatment resulting in drastic and significant alteration in physical
and chemical properties like those of coal gas made from solid coal.

CLASSIFICATION OF FUELS (1)

The fuel may be classified into two groups: or the fossil fuels have been classified

1. On the basis of their occurance (and preparation),

a. Natural or primary fuels: these fuels occur naturally.
Or which are found in nature as such, e.g., wood, peat, coal, petroleum, natural gas
etc.
b. Artificial or secondary fuels: these fuels are prepared from tnhe primary fuel.
Or fuels are those which are prepared from the primary fuels. For example,
charcoal, coke, kerocene oil. Diesel oil, petrol, coal gas, oil gas, producer gas, blast
furnace gas, etc.

2. On the basis of physical state of aggregation: The state of agitation

a. Solid
b. Liquid
c. Gaseous
CALORIFIC VALUE

Calorific value of a fuel is “the total quantity of heat liberated, when a unit mass (or volume)
of the fuel is burnt completely.”

A fuel having higher calorific value is considered a better fuel.

Higher or gross calorific value (2)

The quantity of heat evolved by the combustion of unit quantity of fuel is its gross calorific
value (GCV). It is the quantity of heat liberated by combusting unit mass of fuel in oxygen, the
original material and the final product of combustion being at a reference temperature of 25C
and the water obtained in the liquid state, represented by GCV or HCV.

Or

The total amount of heat produced, when unit mass/volume of the fuel has been burnt
completely and the products of combustion have been cooled (condensed) to room temperature
i.e. 15C or 60F. (1)

Lower or net calorific value (1)

“The net heat produced, when unit mass/volume of the fuel is burnt completely and the products
are permitted to escape”.

Alternatively,

Net or Lower Calorific Value (LCV) = HCV – Latent heat of water vapour formed

= HCV – Mass of hydrogen x 9 x Latent heat of steam

Because 1 part by mass of hydrogen produces 9 parts by mass of water. The latent heat of steam
is 587 kcal/kg or 1,060 B.Th.U./lb of water vapour formed at room temperature (i.e., 15C).

Units of calorific value

For solid or liquid fuel

Calorie/gram or kilocalorie/kg or British thermal units/lb

For gaseous fuels

Kilocalorie/cubic meter or B.Th.U./cubic feet

BOMB CALORIMETER1 (1)

This apparatus is used to find the calorific value of solid and liquid fuels.

Construction: A simple sketch of bomb calorimeter is shown in fig 1. It consists of a strong

cylindrical stainless steel bomb in which the combustion of fuel is made to take place. The
bomb has a lid, which can be screwed to the body of bomb so as to make a perfect gas-tight
seal. The lid is provided with two stainless steel electrodes and an oxygen inlet valve. To one
of the electrodes, a small ring is attached. In this ring, a nickel or stainless steel crucible can be
supported. The bomb is placed in a copper calorimeter, which is surrounded by an air-jacket
and water-jackets to prevent heat losses due to radiation. The calorimeter is provided with an
electrically operated stirrer and Beckmann’s thermometer, which can read accurately
temperature difference upto 1/100th of a degree.

Working: A known mass (about 0.5 to 1.0 g) of the given fuel is taken in clean crucible. The
crucible is then supported over the ring. A fine magnesium wire, touching the fuel sample, is
then stretched across the electrodes. The bomb lid is tightly screwed and bomb filled with
oxygen to 25atmospheric pressure. The bomb is then lowered into copper calorimeter,
containing a known mass of water, the stirrer is worked and initial temperature of water is

1
Berthelot, Marcellin 1881 : He was an authority in thermo chemistry. He invented bomb calorimeter in 1881.
noted. The electrodes are then connected to 6-volt battery and circuit completed. The sample
burns and heat is liberated. Uniform stirring of water is continued and the maximum
temperature attained is recorded.

Calculations: Let x = mass in g of fuel sample taken in crucible

W = mass of water in the calorimeter

w= water equivalent in g of calorimeter, stirrer, thermometer, bomb, etc.;

t1 = initial temperature of water in calorimeter

t2 = final temperature of water in calorimeter

L = higher calorific value in fuel in cal/g.

 Heat liberated by burning of fuel = x L

and heat absorbed by water and apparatus, etc. = (W + w) (t2 – t1)

But heat liberated by the fuel = Heat absorded by water, apparatus, etc.

 x L = (W + w) (t2 – t1)

or HCV of fuel (L) = [(W + w) (t2 – t1)]/x cal/g (or kcal/kg)

If H = percentage of hydrogen in fuel, then:

(9H/100) g = mass of H2O from 1g of fuel = 0.09 Hg

 Heat taken by water in forming steam = 0.09 H x 587 cal ( .̈ Latent heat of steam = 587 cal
/ g)

 LCV = HCV – Latent heat of water formed

= (L – 0.09 H x 587) cal/ g (or kcal/ g)