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60 views20 pagesLecture 6 - Fuels Scan 2
Fuels Scan 2
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jadziatevinCopyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Fuels
sulfur, moisture and
‘These
Iis main constituents are carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitroge!
ash. Coal passes through different stages during its formation from vegetation
stages are enumerated and discussed below:
Figure 1. Types of Coal
2.1 Types of Coal
rst stage in the formation of coal from wood. It contains huge amount
months before it is put to use. It is
tion in Russia. In India it does not
a. Peat. It is the fi
of moisture and therefore it is dried for about 1 to 2 m
used as a domestic fuel in Europe and for power generat
come in the categories of good fuels.
b. Lignites and brown coals. These are intermediate stages between peat and coal They
have a woody or often a clay like appearance associated with high moisture, high ash and
Tow heat contents. Lignites are usually amorphous in character and impose transport
difficulties as they break easily. They bum with a smoky flame. Some of this type are
suitable for local use only.
¢. Bituminous coal, It burns with long yellow and smoky flames and has high
percentages of volatile matter. ‘The average calorific value of bituminous coal is about
31350 ki/kg. It may be of two types, namely caking or noncaking
jituminous coal, It is softer than the anthracite. It burns with a very small
‘e. It contains 15 to 20 per cent volatile matter and has a tendency to break
d. Semi.
amount of smok
into sal sizes during storage or transportation
[Page
SCI401 ~ Chemistry for Engineers ite, It has less fixed carbon and less luster as compared to true antivarite
flames when burnt.
nthr
and gives out longer and more luminou
f. Anthracite. It is very hard coal and has shining black luster Ir ignites slowly wale:
we of fixed carbon
the furnace temperature is high. [tis non-caking and has high percent
{1 bumns either with very short blue flames or without flames. The calorific va of this
fuel is high to the tune of 35500 kJ/kg and as such is very suitable for steam generation
‘Table 2. Types of Coal and its Composition
Carbon | Hydrogen Age
Type of coal e
ype amass | _%mass_| (years’10°)
Tnihracte | 93-95 | 38-28 | 210-250
425-38 | 210-250
Carbonaceous | 91-93
56-435 | 150-160
Bituminous | 80-91
‘Sub-bitum. | 75-80 | 56-5.1 60- 100
Lignitous 60-75 | 57-50 20 - 60
[Peat 50-60 | 61-58 1
Wood" 46-51 | 62-59 0
2.2 Coal Properties
“The basis of an analysis helps to specify the conditions under which the coal is
tested, The coal sample may be freshly taken from the mine, the as-mined basi. 1
ray have resided in a coal pile for months, and be analyzed just before burning, the
neefited basis, It may be examined immediately after transport from the mine, the as-
received basis.
Moisture content
‘The moisture content of coals ranges from about
undesirable constituent of coals because it reduces the he
its weight adds to the transportation costs of coal. Moistur
air-dried coal sample at 104-110 °C for | hr or until a constant weight is obtained. In general, the
fasing rank and ranges from | to 40 percent for the various
5% to almost 70%. Moisture is an
ng value (water does not burn!) and
.¢ content is determined by heating an
moisture content increases with deere:
ranks of coal.
b. Volatile Combustible Material (VCM)
When a coal sample that has been dried to remove
ait - so that it doesn't burn -a further weight loss is observed. The material driven out is called
volaiile matter. The volatile matter content of coals, measured in the absence of moisture and
ash, ranges from 2% to about 50%. Volatile matter is material that is driven off when coal is
moisture is keated in the absence of
yp
Fuels
SCI 401 - Chemistry for Engineers asured practically
NandS
closed crucible. It ts mea
arbon, combined water. net
heated to 900 °C in the absence of air for 7 mins in
by determining the loss of weight Itincludes volatile
¢. Mineral (Ash) content
Coal contains a variety of minerals wn varying proportions that, when the
stormed into ash, The Jrand is behavior at hig
affect the design and type of ash-handling system employed pal-utilization plants
5 slowly heated in an open
coal 1s bummed.
sh temperatures,
if
are t mount and nature of the
It is the residue that remains when a weighed sample of coal
crucible for 2 hrs at $00 - 815°C
xed carbon content (FC)
Fixed carbon ts the solid combustible residue that ron
atile matter 1s expelled The fixed-carbon content of a coal Is determined. by
the percentages of moisture, volatile mater, and ash from a sample Since gas-solid
as reactions, a high fixed-carbon content indicates
The fixed carbon content of coals, not
mhracttes, which contain @
fuel, may be difficult to
a
nis after a coal particle 18 heated
and the vo
subtractin
tion reactions are slower than gas-g
Jong combustion time
es from 50% to about 98" » The
fe popular domestic heatin
hort, clean flame.
combi
that the coal will requite 3
ineluding the moisture and ash, rang
high proportion of fixed carbon and
ignite but they will often burn steadily for a tong time witha sh
00 — MFCM = Ashe
FC
ue
| measured. in British thermal units or mew
ased as therm:
e. Caloritie V:
Caloritie valu
of chemical energy stored in a coal that is rel
ram, is the
rajoules per kilo
energy upon combustion
amount
OF the components determined by proximate analysis, only the volatile matter and the fixed
carbon actually burn and liberate thermal energy. Since the moisture and ash contents of coals
was
cl will further depend on whether the co3
nic debris, any comparison of coals on the
xd for the fresence of moisture and ash
to another,
can be quite variable from one coa
partially dried or ‘cleaned’ to remove some inor
basis of the combustible material must be corr
Similarly, the heating value is lowered by the presence of non-con
Comparing only the combustible part of coals equires that we Know the
by moisture or ash, To make such comparisons, we correct the values of ixed carbon, volatile
matter and ealoifi value to a meisture- and ash-free basis. Knowledge of properties of als on
allows us to classify (or rank) coals ‘The table below shows the
bustible moisture ard ash.
eating value unaffected
‘a moisture- and ash-free by
different variation in properties depending upon the type of coal
31 P age
Fuels
SC1401 ~ Chemistry for Engineers TESTING ANALYSIS OF SOLID FUELS
1. Proximate Analysis
= determination of the thermal energy released when the coal
moisture, volatile combustible matter, tixed carbon anc! ash content, ‘This am
coal gives good indication about heating and burning properties of coal.
2. Ultimate Analysis
= This analysis of coal is more precise way to find the
with respect to the elements like carbon, hydrogen, exygen, nitrogen,
Carbon and hydrogen are the principal combustible elements in coal, On
hasis, carbon is the predominant one. It constitutes about 60% to about 95% of the
total, For most coals of 90% or less carbon, hydrogen content is generally in the range
of 5%: it drops to about 2% for coals having 95% carbon. Nitrogen content of almost
all coals is in the range of 1-286. Oxygen content is inversely related to carbon
content, For example, coals of 65% carbon may contain 30% oxygen. while coals of
95% carbon may contain only 2-3% 0}
1 is burned. Determines the
alysis of
chemical composition of coal
sulfur and ash
a weight
this is significant because the more
tion.
ygen;
to start to bum it, or to achieve its ig
oxygen 2 coal contains, the easier i
‘Sulfur content of coals is seen to be quite variable.
itis a precise chemical determination of the % by weight of the 6 basie components
of coal;
© Carbon
Hydrogen
Nitrogen
Sulfur
Ash
Oxygen
20000
3. Modified Analysis
tris the modification of the ultimate analysis for combustion calculations. It includes:
© C,N,S,ash
5 Combined water (CW) ~ The oxygen in the coal (not present in moisturs)
js treated as though it were already combined with hydrogen.
o Moisture
Net Hydrogen (NH) - hydrogen which requires Op from air for
combustion
14|Page
Fuels
SCI 401 ~ Chemistry for Engineers Figure 2. Classifications of Coal by Rank
ank
Classiticat
Volatile matter
Cail
Class and group
T Anthracite
1. Metuanthracite
3, Semianthracite
UL, Bituminous
LE Low volatile
2. Medium volatile 69-78
3 volatile A <69
4 volatile B
8 volatile C
1M, Subbituminous
1. Subbituminous A
2. Subbituminous B
ibbituminous C
2 Lignite B
7 dry-mnineral-matter
© iit does notagglomentte
ee basins © mineral-matter-free, mok
2.3 Coal Utilization
Treating value
(BTU Ab)”
> 14,000
13,000-14,000
10,500-13,000
8300-9500
6300-8300
6300
isture-containing basis:
“There are three major pathways for coal utilization. The principal process by which coal is used
is combustion as shown in the figure below.
Figure 3. Pathways to Coal Utilization
foot
LJ Mining —>| Combustion
T
y
Processing Carbonization
Transport Le} Conversion
15| Page
Fuels
SCI 401 ~ Chemistry for Engineers al energy (heat) The heat is
burning the coal in air to liberate therm:
high temperatures
1, Combustion involv
used as such for comfort or to carry out many industrial processes that require
itis also used to generate steam for use in electric power plants.
2. Carbonization is the heating of coal to high temperatures in the absence of air, it is used 17
manufacturing coke for the metallurgical industry
nsform coal into gaseous or liquid fuels,
3, Conversion uses various chemical processes t0 ta
al, its preparation
called synthetic fuels. Common to all these processes Is Pri
(processing) and its transportation to the consumers
or mining of the c
MANUFACTURED SOLID FUELS
1. Charcoal and its Characteristics
derived from destructive distil
bums rapidly with a clear flame, pro
6,050 cake.
ing left in the shape of solid residue.
lation of wood, be
ing heat of about
ducing no smoke and develop
2. Coke and its Characteristics
obtained from destructive distillation of
= Soft coke is obtained as the solid residue from the
temperature range of 600-650°C. It contains 5 to 10
coal, being left in the shape of solid residue
destructive distillation of coal in the
1% volatile matter & burns without
smoke.
= Hard coke is
temperature range of 1200-140
‘metallurgical process.
destructive distillation of coal in the
obtained as solid residue from the
h smoke and is a useful fuel for
10°C. It burns wil
3, Briquettes and their Character
The term briquettes are use
remains of lignite, peat, coke, etc. compress
without binder.
ick and other small size waste
«din respect of the dust, culm, sla
with or
.d into different shapes of regular form,
I. LIQUID FUELS
> Advantages
(a) They possess higher calorific value per unit
(b) They burn without dust, ash, clinkers, ete
(¢) They are easy to transport through pipes
it mass than solid fuels.
Fuels
SCI 401 - Chemistry for Engineers > Disadvants
(a) The cost of liquid five is relatively much higher as compared to solid fuel
fed for storing liquid fuels.
se of highly inflammabl
(bY Costly special storage tanks are requ
(c) There is a greater tisk of tire hazards, particularly, in
id volatile
liquid fuels.
sa basic fossil fuel. It is a dark greenish brown, viscous mineral oil
rious hydrocarbons (like straight chain
ith small amount of
Petroleum or crude oil
found deep in earth's crust. It is mainly composed of
paraffins, eycloparattins oF napthenes, olefins, and aromates) together wi
ic compounds containing oxygen nitrogen and sulfur, Although much depends on its type
phallic), an average crude oit could lead to 20 to 30 % of gasoline 30
of residual fuel oil.
ma
(paratfinie, naphthen
to 45 % of intermediate fractions 25 to 50 %
2.1 Classification of Petroleum
‘The chemical nature of crude petroleum varies is found
They appear, however, to be three principal verities.
with the part of the world in which iti
Paraffinie Base Type Crude Petroteum
= This type of petroleum is mainly composed of the saturated hydrocarbons from CH:
to Cys rz and a little of the napthenes and aromatics. The hydrocarbons from Cis Hos
to Cas Hp are sometimes called waxes.
« Asphaltic Base ‘Type Crude Petroleum:
er ontains mainly cycloparaffins or napthenes with smaller amount of paraffins and
aromatic hydrocarbons.
© Mixed Base Type Crude Petroleum
Tt contains both paraffinic and asphaltic hydrocarbons and are generally rich in semi-
solid waxes.
2.2 Petroleum Products
A fractional distillation colt
process is shown schematically in Fig.
OF the distillation column, The heavier fractions have hi
the higher temperatures inthe lower part of the column, while the light
tt the lower temperatures in the upper portion of the column, Some of the common fuels
produced in this manner are gasoline, Kerosene, jet engine fue, diesel fuel, and fuel oi
lumn is used to separate petroleum into its various constituents. This
4, Liquid crude oil is gasified and enters near the bottom
igher boiling points and condense out at
er fractions condense out
q7|Page
Fuels
SCI 401 ~ Chemistry for Engineers “The products refined fro
These main products are
1m the liquid fractions of cru
further refined to create materials more common
ide oil can be placed into ten main categories
to everyday life. The
main products of petroleum are:
1
Fuels
Asphalt
“Asphalt is commonly used to make road
is separated from the other component
asphalt is collected, it is processed in a de-as
process called “blowing” where it is reacted wit
nd transported at around 300° Fahrenheit
I. It is a colloid of asphaltenes and maltenes that
of crude oil by fractional distillation. Once
halting unit, and then goes through a
h oxygen to make it harden, Asphalt is
usually stored
Diesel
Diesel is any fuel that can be used in a diesel engine Diesel is produced by fractional
distillation between 392° Fahrenheit ‘and 662° Fahrenheit. Diesel has a higher density
than gasoline and is simpler to refine from crude oil. It is most commonly used in
transportation.
18| Page
SCI 401 — Chemistry for Engineers 3. Fuel Oil
Fuel oil is any liquid petroleum product that is burned in a furnace to generate heat Fuel
oil is also the heaviest commercial fuel that is produced from crude oil, The six classes of
fuel oii are: distillate fuel oil, diesel fuel oil, light fuel oil, gasoil, residual fuel oil, and
heavy fuel oil. Residual fuel oil and heavy fuel oil are known commonly as navy special
fuel oil and bunker fuel; both of these are often called furnace fuel oil
Gasoline
Almost hall of all crude oil refined in the United States is made into gasoline.
used as fuel in internal combustion engines, like the engines in cars. Gasoline is a mixture
of paraffins, naphthenes, and olefins, although the specific ratios of these parts depends
fon the refinery where the crude oil is processed. Gasoline refined beyond fractional
distillation is often enhanced with iso-octane and ethanol so that it is usable in cars.
Gasoline is called different things in different parts of the world. Some of these names
are: petrol, petroleum spirit, gas, petrogasoline, and mogas,
Itis mainly
Kerosene
Kerosene is collected through fractional distillation at temperatures between 302°
Fahrenheit and 527° Fahrenheit. It is a combustible liquid that is thin and clear. Kerosene
most commonly used as jet fuel and as heating fuel. In the early days of oil, kerosene
zeplaced whale oil in lanterns. Inthe early 21st century, kerosene was used to power New
York City Transit buses. Now, kerosene is used as fuel in portable stoves, Kerosene space
heaters, and in liquid pesticides.
6. Liquefied Petroleum Gas
Liquefied petroleum gas is @ mixture of gases that are most often used in heating
appliances, aerosol propellants, and reftigerants. Different kinds of liquefied petroleum
gas, or LPG, are propane and butane, At normal atmospheric pressure, liquefied
petroleum gas will evaporate, so it needs to be coniained in pressurized steel bottles.
7. Lubricating Oil
Lubricating oils consist of base oils and additives. Mineral oils are manufactured by
special processes calted: solvent extraction, catalytic dewaxing, hydrocracking, and
isohydromerization, Different lubricating oils are classified as paraffinic, naphthenic, or
aromatic. Lubricating oils are used between two surfaces to reduce friction and wear. The
most commonly-known lubricating oil is motor oil, which protects moving parts inside an
internal combustion engine.
Fuels
SCI 401 — Chemistry for Engineers 8. Paraffin Wax
Paraffin wax is a white, odorless, tasteless, waxy solid at room temperature Th
point el paraffin wax is between 117° Fahrenheit and 147° Fahrenheit dicpending on
other factors. It is an excelleni electrical insulator, second only to Tellon®, a spectized
product of petroleum. Paraffin wax is used in drywall to insulate buildings: It ts also an
acceptable way used to make candles for the Jewish Menorah
9, Bitumen
Bitumen, commonly known as tar, is a thick, black, sticky material, Refined bitumen 's
the bottom fraction obtained by the fractional distillation of erude orl. This m ys that the
distillation chamber, ‘The
boiling point of bitumen is very high, so it does not rise in the
‘oiling point of bitumen is 977° Fahrenheit, Bitumen is used in paving roads and
Waterproofing roofs and boats. Bitumen is also made into thin plates and used 10
soundproof dishwashers and hard drives in computers.
10, Petrochemicals
Petrochemicals are the chemical products made from the rayy materials of petroleum
these chemicals include: ethylene, used to make anesthetics, antifreeze, and detergents:
propylene, used to produce acetone and phenol benzene, used to make other chemicals
and in refined gasoline; and xylene is used as a
and explosives; toluene, used as a solv
solvent and cleaning agent
11. Jet fuel
Jet fuel is a type of aviation fuel designed for use in areraft powered by gas-turbine
engines, It is clear to straw-colored in appearance. The most commonly used fuels for
commercial aviation are Jet A and Jet A-1 which are produced te standardized
fa mixture of a large number of different
international specification. Jet fuel is
hydrocarbons. ‘The range of their sizes (molecular weights oF carbon numbers) is
restricted by the requirements for the product, for example, freezing point or smoke point
Kerosene-type jet fuel (including Jet A end Jet A-1) has @ carbon number distribution
between about 8 and 16 carbon numbers, wide-cut or naphitha-type jet fuel (including Jet
B), between about 5 and 15 carbon numbers.
2.3 Properties of Petroleum
The elemental composition of petroleum is much less variable than that of coal: 83-87%
carbon, 11-16% hydrogen, 0-4% oxygen plus nitrogen, and 0-4% sulfur. Note that most crude
oils contain substantially more hydrogen than coals. Only a brief discussion is needed here
regarding the distribution of these elements among the thousands of compounds found in
petroleum
201°
Fuels
SCI 401 - Chemistry for Engineers 1, Density
This is defined as the ratio of the mass of the fuel fo the volume of the fuel at # reference
ied hydrometer “The
fempenttire oF 15°C, Density is measured by an instrument
ions and as
sig ignition «ality
Knowledge of density 4s useful for quantity e:
The unit of density is ky
2. Specific
avity
This is defined a ie weight of the
en volume of oil to thi
sity of fuel, relative to water
ied as I, Since specific
vty is generally made
the ratio of the weight of a
same volume of water at a given temperature, The de
called specitic gravity. ‘The specific gravity of water is d
avity is a ratio, it has no units. The measurement of specific
by a hydrometer
Sp ravily is
vity of various fuel oils is given in Table 1.1
is and volumes. ‘The specific
ed in calculations involving, weig!
fie
= Fuel Oils
Table 1 Specific Gravity of Va
Fuel Oil 1.D.0 Furnace oil
Light Diesel OL
ONS-087 089-095 | O88-0.98
Specific Gravity
3, Viscosity
‘The viscosity of a fluid is a mei
fon temperature and decreases as the temperature increases. Any numerical value for
viscosity has no meaning unless the temperature is also specified. Viscosity is measured
in Stokes / Centistokes. Sometimes viscosity is also quoted in Engler, Saybolt or
Redwood. Each type of oil has its own temperature - viscosity relationship. ‘The
measurement of viscosity is made with an instrument called Viscometer, Viscosity is the
‘most important characteristic inthe storage and use of fuel oil, It influences the degree of
pre-heat required for handling, storage and satisfactory atomization. If the oil is too
viscous, it may become difficult to pump, hard to light the burner, and tough to operate.
Poor atomization may result in the formation of carbon deposits on the burner tips or on
the walls. Therefore, pre-heating is necessary for proper atomization.
Lure of ils internal resistance to flow. Viscosity depends
4, Flash Point
‘The flash point of a fuel is the lowest temperature at which the fuel can be heated so that
the vapor gives off flashes momentarily when an open flame is passed over it. Flash point
for furnace oil is 66°C.
yp
Fuels
SCI 401 - Chemistry for Engineers 5, Pour Point
The pour point of a fuel is the lowest temperature at which it will pour or flow when
cooled under prescribed conditions. It is a very rougn indication af the lowest
temperature at which fuel oil is readily pumpable
6. Specific Heat
Specific heat is the amount of keals needed to raise the temperature of
C. The unit of specific heat is keal/ky °C. 1 varies from 0 22 to 0.28 depending on the oil
specific gravity. The specific heat determines how much steam or electrical energy It
takes to heat oil to a desired temperature, Light oils have a low specific heat, whereas
heavier oils have @ higher specific heat
of oil by lo
7. Calorifie Value
‘The calorific value is the measurement of heat or energy produce
either as gross calorific value or net calorific value. The difference being the latent heat
of condensation of the water vapor produced during the combustion process. Gross
calorific value (GCV) assumes all vapor produced during the combustion process is Fully
condensed. Net calorific value (NCV) assumes the water leaves with the combustion
products without fully being condensed. Fuels should be compared based on the net
and is measured
calorific value,
8, Sulfur
The amount of sulfur in the fuel oil depends mainly on the source of the crude oil and to a
lesser extent on the refining process, The normal sulfur content for the residual fuel oil
(furnace oil) is in the order of 2-4 %. The main disadvantage of sulfuric is the risk of
corrosion by sulfuric acid formed during and after combustion, and condensing in cool
parts of the chimney or stack, air pre heater and economizer.
Ash Content
‘The ash value is related to the inorganic material in the fuel oil. The ash levels of
distillate fuels are negligible. Residual fuels have more of the ash-forming constituents.
These salts may be compounds of sodium, vanadium, calcium, magnesium, silicon, iron,
aluminum, nickel, ete. Typreally, the ash value is in the range 0,03-0.07 %. Excessive ash
in liquid fuels can cause fouling deposits in the combustion equipment. Ash has erosive
effect on the bumer tips, causes damage to the refractories at high temperatures and gives
rise to high temperature corrosion and fouling of equipment,
Fuels aa
‘SCI 401 ~ Chemistry for Engineers 10, Carbon Residue
om pe indicates the tendency of oil to deposit a carbonaceous solid residue on &
ot surface, such as a bumer or injection nozzle, when its vaporizabie consut
evaporate. Residual oil contains carbon residue ranging from J percent or more
11, Water Content
Water content of furnace oil when supplied is normally very lew as the pr
tefinery site is handled hot and maximum limit of 1% is specified in the standard. Water
may be present in free or emulsified form and can cause damage to the inside furnace
surfaces during combustion especially if it contains dissolved salts. It ean also
spluttering of the lame atthe burner tip, possbly extinguishing the ame and red
the flame temperature or lengthening the flame,
duct at
12. Octane Number
It indicates the tendency of gasoi
ignition engine is raised.
ine to knock when the compression ration @ spark
13, Cetane Number
tt sanks fuels according to ignition delay when undergoing standard test
14, Smoke Point
Measures the tendency of a liquid fuel to from a soot.
15, Ignition Temperature
Sometimes called ‘autoignition temperature’,
the material will ignite without a spark or Flame being present
this is the minimum temperature at which
16, Flammability Limits in Air
‘The percent concentration in air (by volume) is g
values give an indication of relative flammability. The
“lower explosive limit” (LEL) and ‘upper explosive int” (EL).
jven for the lower and upper limit. These
limits are sometimes referred to as
17, Fire Point
Fire point is the lowest temperature, cor
which the application of a test flame to
to ignite and burn for at least five seconds.
rected to one atmosphere pressure (101.3 KPa), at
the oit sample surface causes the vapor of the oil
18, Reid Vapor
Pressure vapor pressure is an impor
pressure that a vapor exerts on its surroun:
tant physical property of volatile liquids. it is the
dings. ts units are kitopaseals, corrected to one
wires
Fuels
SCI 401 - Chemistry for Engineers r
atmosphere (101.3 kPa), For volatile petroleum products, vapor presse ed as an
indirect measure of evaporation rate. Vapor pressure can be measured by a variety of
methods including Reid, dynamic, static, isoieniscopic, vapor pressure balance, and yas
saturation.
19, Hydrogen Sulfide
Unlike other sulfur compounds in crude oils, which tend to accumulate in the distil
sulfide is evolved during distillation or other heating processes.
residue, hydr
Alcohols are oxygenated hydrocarbons where a hydrogen atom was replaced by an OH
radical Alcohols ‘There are many alcohols, but the most common are meth
ethanol Methanol is produced as a product of the carbonization of wood, or through &
synthesis process
anol ard
2H, 4 CO CILOH
heavier alcohols, which are then
‘The process yields about 75% methanol and 25%
n of sugars,
separated by fractional distillation Ethanol is obtained from fermentation
followed by fractional distillation.
IN]. GASEOUS FUELS
Gaseous fuels occur in nature,
advantages and disadvantages of gaseous f
besides being manufactured from solid and liquid fuels. The
is are given below:
> Advantages
(a) They can be conveyed casily throug!
climinating manual labor in transportation.
(b) They can be lighted at ease.
() They are free from impurities found in solid and liquid fuels
hh pipelines to the actual place of need, thereby
% Disadvantages
(a) Very large storage tanks are needed.
(b) They are highly inflammable, so chances of fire hazards in their use are high
241
Fuels
‘SCI 401 — Chemistry for Engineers gure 5. Classifications of Gascous Fucls
> pataioam
otra gas coal
ow gas (stilton oF canbnraion)
pat qa Utsttation or carbonization)
coal gos (carbonization)
producer gas (gasification 0)
J eval ga
worn coal
water ga (9
Manulactured gas Lurgigas (gant
refinery gos (tach
from fl gas thyrogen
petroleum ~ qi gas (partial oxidabon)
andol shale gt gas (water 92s react")
acetylene (reaction of water and carbide)
hydrogen _(eectrolys)
ure 6, Typical Composition of Gaseous Fuels
Typical composition
CH, 9310 99.%
fom 57% aturalgas., Cots upto %
Biogas { COr -B% from coal) CO, upto 4%
| LHV. 29.6MJm? (oC, 1ban Njand upto 4%
inbets|
(CH, 75t0.95 %
' CH, 310 12%
Natural gas from petroleum deposits -
| CyH, upto 6 %
NATURAL GAS
generally associated with petroleum deposits and is obtained from wells dug in the
bil-bearing regions. Natural gas is produced from gas wells or oil wells rich in natural
gas, Methane is the main constituent of Natural gas and accounting for about 95% of
the total voluine, Other components are. Ethane, Propane, Butane, Pentane, Nitrogen,
Carbon Dioxide, and traces of other gases. Very small amounts of sulfur compounds
axe also present, Since methane is the largest component of natural gas, generally
[Page
Fuels
SCI 401 - Chemistry for Engineers ee
properties of methane are used when comp
propel ne are used when comparing the properties of natural gas t0 other
fuels.
Characteristics
= Itis.a fossil fuel formed from plant and animal remains millions of years
= [tis hydrocarbon component with methane as a mayor component
| ik ig colorless and odorless, For security during transportation or processine,
‘commercial odorant is added to allow users to detect the gas for safety
- Itis lighter than air with a specific gravity of about 0.6-0.8
= If leaks, it disperses upward and dissipates into the air quickly Ibis inflamed during &
range of 5-15% by volume of gas in air
= ‘The self-ignition temperature of natural gas is $3
= As it isa clean fuel with cleaner burning nature,
impact when compared with other types of fuel
540 degree Celsius
natural gas has lower environmental
sing or the crude oil
Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is @ byproduct of natural gas proc:
referred to as propane, However,
refining. It consists mainly of propane and thus LPG 1s usually
it also contains varying amounts of butane, propylene, and butylenes
I Some of the important
tions are coal
solid and liquid
Manufactured gases are obtained from
istics are discussed in the following s
manufactured gaseous fuels whose character
gas, blast furnace gas, water gas, producer B98 and oil gas
4. Coal Gas
Coal gas is obtained when itis carbonized oF h
in either coke ovens or gasemaking retorts. Coal gas 15 2 color
Sharaceristi odor. Its lighter than air and burns with a1
in metallurgical operations for providing reducing atmosphere
weated in absence of air at about
gas having a
2. Blast Furnace Gas
aici byproduct flue gas oblained during the reduction of iron ore by coke in the blast
Flonace This gas contains much dust and is usually cleaned before use by dust
settlers, cyclones or electrolytic precipitaors.
3, Water Gas
= Water gas is essentially a mixture of combustible gases CO and H2 with a little
Faction of non-combustible gases. Its made by passing altematively steam and little
air through a bed of red-hot coal or coke maintained at about 900 to 10000C in a
rector, which consists of a steel vessel
Fuels
C1401 ~ Chemistry for Engineers a
4, Producer Gas
Producer es carbon monoxide and
ts essentially a mixture of combustible 4
N2, CO2 ete ft 1s prep
ky of coal) over a red-hot coal or
ed by
iydrogen associated with non-combustible g
passing air mixed with Htle steam (about 0.35 4
ccoke bed maintained at about 11000C in a special reactor ealled ws
producer
5. Biogas
+ obtained from the decomposition of organie matter by bacteriol
rly) oxygen [requires a high morsture content
action im closed
Aca
digesters, im the absence (or m
iis high chamber moisture content) can be oF various
Organic matter (provided 1
imal, being very common the use of organre manure In
temperature around 30 to 40 °C Since the process
C02, but the solid
origins, either plant or «
operation the digesters maint
is not totally anaerobic, the gas has a significant percentage of
waste is a good fertilizer
6. Town gas (also: low-temperature or lighting gas)
= obtained at low- and medium temperature coal gas
7. Coke gas
= obiained at the high - temperature coal
8 Hydrogen
= produced on the industrial size by reforming of natural gas (methane). Reforming
‘means acting of water steam on natural gas in the presence of nickel catalyst at the
temperature approx. 800 “
271 Page
Fuels
_ SC1401 = Chemistry for Engineers Pr
jes of Gaseous Fuels
ove Is
j. Heating Valuc
cts completely with
shi
- the heat release per 1a tu
the heat release per unit mass when the fuel initially at 25°C 1
oxygen a el “C. f
xygen and products retumed to 25°C. The heating value is reported
ing value (HELV) wher
1g Value (HIFIV) when the water is condensed or as the lower heating
ed by
he:
(LILY) when the water is not condensed. LHV is obt
mli20
Li y = ao,
ny ==" ho
tron of water at 25°C, whic equals 2140 bd
be obtained experimentally in
lynamics if the composition is
where ig is the latent heat of vaport=
kg water. The heating value of gascous fuel may
flow calorimeter and can be calculated from thermod!
known
ting/ealorific value) assumes that the water vapor In the products
por in the products.
FHV (higher/gross hea
Jatent heat of vaporization of the water v
condenses and thus includes the
LHV (ower/net heating/ealorific value) docs not contain the latent heat, the water in flue gas
remain in steam form at the miial temperature
2. Relative density:
= Pw! Pair 1
(important e.g. from explosion safety viewpoints)
Ranges
4 <0.8 light gas (eg. natural gas CH.)
0.8