Combustion Calculation

165472 Power Plant Engineering

Combustion
Rapid oxidation generating heat, or both
light and heat; also, slow oxidation
accompanied by relatively little heat and
no light (from Websters Dictionary)
For our purpose, consider only rapid
oxidation.
Reactant and Product Mixtures
Stoichiometry
Quantity of oxidizer is just that amount
needed to completely burn a quantity of fuel.
The most common oxidizer is air
Oxidizer > Stoichiometric oxidizer
Fuel lean or lean
Oxidizer < Stoichiometric oxidizer
Fuel rich or rich
Stoichiometry
Stoichiometric oxidizer (or air) fuel ratio is determined by
simple atom balances.
For hydrocarbon C
x
H
y




Air Composition
O
2
21 percent by volume +N
2
79 percent

by volume
Mole O
2
:Mole N
2
= 1 : 3.76

2 2 2 2 2
( 3.76 ) ( ) 3.76
2
where
4
X Y
y
C H a O N xCO H O aN
y
a x
+ + + +
= +
( )
air fuel
4.76
1
where MW and MW Molecular weight of air and fuel
air air
stoic
fuel fuel
stoic
m MW a
A
F
m MW
| |
= =
|
|
\ .
=
Equivalent Ratio
Indicate fuel-oxidizer mixture is rich, lean or
stiochiometric



>1; Fuel-rich mixture
<1; Fuel-lean mixture
=1; Stoichiometric mixture
( )
/
( / )
( / ) ( / )
stoic actual
actual stoic
A F
F A
A F F A
| = =
Excess Air
Stoichiometric air



Excess air
( )
( )
100%
% stoichiometric air =
A
=
actual
stoic
F
A F
|
( ) ( )
( )
(1- )
% excess air = 100%
A F
= 100%
actual stoic
stoic
A F
A F
|
|

Example 1
A small low-emission stationary gas-
turbine engine operates at full load (3,950
kW) at an equivalent ratio of 0.286 with an
air flowrate of 15.9 kg/s. The equivalent
composition of the fuel (natural gas) is
C
1.16
H
4.32
. Determine the fuel mass
flowrate and the operating air-fuel ratio for
the engine.
Low NO
x
gas turbine combustor
Solution
air
fuel
Given: =0.286, MW 28.85
m 15.9 kg/s
MW 1.16(12.01) 4.32(1.008) 18.286
Find m and (A/F)
air
fuel
|
-
-
=
=
= + =
( )
( )
4.76
1
1.16 4.32/ 4 2.24 thus
4
28.85
4.76(2.24) 16.82
18.286
air air
stoic
fuel fuel
stoic
stoic
m MW a
A
F
m MW
y
a x
A
F
| |
= =
|
|
\ .
= + = + =
= =
( )
/
16.82
( / ) 58.8
0.286
15.9 kg/s
0.270 /
( / ) 58.8
stoic
actual
air
fuel
actual
A F
A F
m
m kg s
A F
|
-
-
= = =
= = =
Answer
Example 2
A natural gas-fired industrial boiler
operates with an oxygen concentration of
3 mole percent in the flue gases.
Determine the operating air-fuel ratio and
equivalent ratio. Treat the natural gas as
methane.
10 MW natural-gas burner
air enter to the vertical pipes
gas enter to the horizontal pipe on the left
Solution
2
fuel
air
Given 0.03, MW 16.04
MW 28.85
Find (A/F) and
O
x
|
= =
=
4 2 2 2 2 2 2
CH +a(O +3.76N ) CO +2H O+bO +3.76N
Assume no dissociation (all fuel C is found in CO
2
and all fuel H is found in H
2
O
Conservation of O atom
2 2 2 2
2
a b
b a
= + +
=
Definition of mole fraction
2
2
2
1 2 3.76 1 4.76
2
0.03
1 4.76
2.368 b=0.368
O
O
mix
N
b a
x
N b a a
a
a
a

= = =
+ + + +

=
+
=
4 2 2 2 2 2 2
CH +2.368(O +3.76N ) CO +2H O+0.368O +3.76N
( )
( )
4.76
1
4.76(2.368) (28.85)
20.3
1 (16.04)
air air air
fuel fuel fuel
N MW MW a
A
F
N MW MW
A
F
= =
= =
( )
( )
4.76
1
4
where 1 2
4 4
4.76(2) 28.85
17.1
1 16.04
air air
stoic
fuel fuel
stoic
stoic
m MW a
A
F
m MW
y
a x
A
F
| |
= =
|
|
\ .
= + = + =
= =
To find , we need to determine (A/F)
stoic

( )
/
17.1
0.84
( / ) 20.3
stoic
actual
A F
A F
| = = = Answer
Example 3
Fuel ultimate analysis
Coal, as-fired: C 77%, H
2
5%, O
2
6%, S 1%,
Ash 11%
Refuse: Ash 80%, Combustible 20%
Flue gas analysis (by volume, dry basis)
CO
2
11.90%, CO 0.36%, O
2
7.13%, N
2
80.61%
Determine the various product, the A:F ratio,
and the excess air.
Solution
1. Find the carbon burned
refuse ash 0.11
Refuse per 1 kg coal=
ash coal 0.80
0.11
C in refuse per 1 kg coal = 0.11 0.0275 kg
0.80
Find the carbon burned (C )
C =0.77-0.0275=0.7425 kg (per 1 kg of coal)
=
=
'
'
kg dry gas kg C burned kg dry gas 1
0.7425 15.25
kg coal kg coal kg C burned 0.0487
kg gas
15.25
kg coal
= = =
=
2
44
3.67
12
28
2.33
12
CO
C
CO
C
m
m
m
m
= =
= =
2
N
2
kg
kg air kg air 3.76(28) 32
/ 11.39 14.85
kg coal kg coal kg N 3.76(28)
A F
+
= = = =
Theorectical Air
10.32 (please try to calculate by yourselve)
kg coal
14.85-10.32
Excess air = 43.9%
10.32
=
=
Answer
Item CO2 CO O2 N2 Total
1. Gas analyzer, % vol (dry basis) 11.9 0.36 7.13 80.61 100
2. Molecular weight 44 28 32 28
3.Product, kg (1)x(2) 523.6 10.08 228.16 2257.08 3019
4.Per kg dry gas basis(3)/3019 0.1734 0.0033 0.0756 0.7476 1.0000
5.Converter to C content 3.67 2.33
6.C in products per kg dry gas (4)/(5) 0.0473 0.0014 0.0487
7.Per kg coal basis 15.25x(4) 2.64 0.05 1.15 11.40 15.25
Dew point temperature
2 2
2
2 2 2 2 2
H O H O
H O
total CO CO O SO N H O
n n
x
n n n n n n n
= =
+ + + + +
Mole fraction of water vapor
The partial pressure of water vapor in the mixture is given by
2 2 2 2
1atm= atm
H O H O H O H O
p x p x x = =
P is the total pressure of the exhaust gas mixture which is 1 atm in all utility
boiler
Dew point temperature is the saturation temperature at the
partial pressure of water vapor
Dew point temperature
Flue gas should not cooled by below dew point
temperature (Acid Dew Point).
Liquid droplet reacts with SO
x
and H
2
SO
4
may
be formed.
Absolute Enthalpy
Absolute enthalpy (standard enthalpy)
Energy associated with chemical bonds, the
enthalpy of formation, h
f

Energy associated only with the temperature,
sensible enthalpy change, h
s



ref
ref
Absolute enthalpy Sensible enthalpy
enthalpy of formation
at temperature T change in going from
at standard reference
T to T
state (T , )
,
,
( ) ( )
( )
o
P
o
i s i
f i
ref
h T h T
h T
= +
A
Absolute Enthalpy
Required standard reference state
T
ref
= 25 C (298.15 K)
P
ref
= P
o
= 1 atm (101,325 Pa)
For element, it naturally exists at the reference
state

( )
2
,
298
0
o
f O
h =
Absolute Enthalpy
Enthalpy of formation of substance
Example of ethane formation
In this case, enthalpy of formation of ethane is 2817.3
kJ/kg C
2
H
6

2 2 2 6 2 6
C +3H C H 2817.3kJ/kg C H +
( )
2 6
,
298
2817.3 /
o
f C H
h kJ kg =
Enthalpy of formation
Enthalpy of
formation
Sensible
Enthalpy
Enthalpy of
formation at
T
Graphic Representation of
Absolute Enthalpy
Absolute Enthalpy
Enthalpy of formation
Sensible heat
Enthalpy of Combustion and
Heating Value
Steady-flow reactor




Assume complete combustion
T
products
=T
reactact
; Heat must be removed


Enthalpy of combustion or Enthalpy of reaction, h
R
(per mass of mixture)
cv o i prod reac
q h h h h = =
R cv prod reac
h q h h A =
Enthalpy of Combustion
In term of extensive properties,

R prod react
H H H A =
Graphic representation of enthalpy of combustion

( )
4 2 2 2 2 2
2 3.76 2 (2)(3.76 ) CH O N CO H O N + + + +
( )
802, 405
50, 016
16.043
R
R
fuel
fuel
R
fuel
kJ
H
h
MW
kg
or
kJ
h
kg
| |
A
A =
|
|
\ .
| |

A = =
|
|
\ .
per kmol
fuel

basis

Conversion to per-unit-mass of fuel basis
Conversion to per-unit-mass of mixture basis
( )
4
1
where
1
Stoichiometric air fuel ratio for CH 17.11
50, 016
2, 761.8
17.11 1
fuel
R R
mix fuel mix
fuel fuel
mix air fuel
R
mix
m
kJ kJ
h h
kg kg m
m m
m m m A F
kJ
h
kg
| |
| |
A = A
|
|
|
\ .
\ .
= =
+ +
=
| |

A = =
|
+
\ .
Graphic representation of enthalpy of combustion

( )
4 2 2 2 2 2
2 3.76 2 (2)(3.76 ) CH O N CO H O N + + + +
Max Heat
T
reac
=T
product
Heating Value; H
C
= - H
R

Max T
product

Heat = 0
Heat <0
T
product
>T
reac

H
Heating Value
Higher (upper) heating value, HHV
Water in products condenses to liquid
Lower heating value, LHV
None of water is condensed
EX3 Determine the upper and lower heating values at 298K of gaseous
n-decane, C
10
H
22
, per kmol of fuel and per kg of fuel. The molecular
weight of n-decane is 142.284
10 22 2 2 2 2 2
( ) 15.5( 3.76 ) 10 11 ( or ) 15.5(3.76 ) C H gas O N CO H O l g N + + + +
c R reac prod
H H H H A = A =
reac i i prod o o
reac prod
H N h H N h = =

Solution
10 22 2 2
2
, , , ( )
, ( )
(1) 10 11
o o o
f C H f CO f H O l
c H O l
H HHV h h h
(
A = = +
(

2 2
, ( ) , ( ) 241,847 44, 010
o o
f H O l f H O g fg
kJ
h h h
kmol
= =
From enthalpy of formation table
2
10 22
, ( )
C
(1) 249, 659 10 393, 546 11 285,857
kJ
= 6,830,096
kmol
c H O l
H
kJ kJ kJ
H
kmol kmol kmol
( | | | | | |
A = +
| | | (
\ . \ . \ .
10 22
10 22
C
c
C
C H
H 6,830,096
kJ
h = = = 6,830,096
kmol
N 1 kmol H
A
A
10 22
10 22
10 22
10 22
c C
C
C H
C
kJ
6,830,096
kmol
h
kJ
= = = 48,003
kg
kg
142.284
kmol
H
c
H
H
h
MW
A
A
or
For lower heating value
2
, ( ) 241,847
o
f H O g
kJ
h
kmol
=
10 22
10 22
c
C
c
C
kJ
h = 6,345,986
kmol
kJ
= 44,601
kg
H
H
h
A
A
Graphic representation of this problem
Adiabatic Flame Temperature, T
ad

In power plant application, constant-pressure
adiabatic flame temperature (T
ad
) is considered.
No heat loss ( , ) ( , )
reac i prod ad
H T P H T P =
EX4 Estimate the constant-pressure adiabatic flame
temperature for the combustion of stoichiometric CH
4
-air
mixture. The pressure is 1 atm and the initial reactant
temperature is 298 K.
Assumption
Complete combustion (no dissociation), i.e., the product mixture
consists of only CO
2
, H
2
O and N
2
.
2 2 2
4 2 2 2 2 2
CO H O N
2( 3.76 ) 1 2 7.52
N =1, N =2, N =7.52
CH O N CO H O N + + + +
Solution
reac prod
i i
i i
reac prod
H H
N h N h
=
=

kmol
Absolute
Enthalpy at 298
K kmol
Sensible heat
298K to 2300K
Specific
Absolute
Enthalpy@2300K
Absolute
Enthalpy@2300K
Sensible heat
298K to 2400K
Specific
Absolute
Enthalpy@2400K
Absolute
Enthalpy@2400K
CH4 -74,831 1 -74,831
N2 0 7.52 0 7.52 66997 66997 503817.44 70645 70645 531250.4
O2 0 2 0
CO2 -393546 1 109670 -283876 -283876 115798 -277748 -277748
H2O -241845 2 88426 -153419 -306838 93744 -148101 -296202
Sum -74,831 Sum -86896.56 Sum -42699.6
Products Reactant
Species
Enthalpy of
Formation@298K
-100000
-80000
-60000
-40000
2280 2300 2320 2340 2360 2380 2400 2420
Temperature, K
A
b
s
o
l
u
t
e

e
n
t
h
a
l
p
y
,

k
J
/
k
m
o
l
H
R,prod
H
R
=74,831
T
ad
By interpolation
T
ad
= 2327 K
Lets think together; 1
From the adiabatic flame temperature
calculation example (example 4), if the
fuel-air mixture is more fuel-lean mixture
and more fuel- rich, how will it influence on
adiabatic flame temperature?

Use the theory, studied in this class, to
discuss this question.
Lets think together 2
If you are plant operator, you are asked to check
the degree of rich-lean of the fuel-air mixture.
Normally, the following parameters are
measured at the plant.
Fuel flow rate
Flue gas composition
Air flow rate and flue gas flow rate are normally
not measured because the flow rate is very high.
Is it possible to know that your fuel-air mixture is
rich or lean?
If it is possible, explain how to check it?
Lets think together 3
In example 1, it was stated in the problem that
the equivalent ratio of fuel-air mixture in gas
turbine is 0.286.
In example 2, it was resulted from the calculation
that the equivalent ratio of fuel-air mixture in
boiler is 0.84.
Those figures is very close to the actual
situation.
Why the equivalent ratio of fuel-air mixture in
gas turbine is very low. (too much excess air)?
From my experience
The power plant wanted to install the wet
scrubber to the baggase-fired boiler. Mechanical
engieer was asked to check whether the
capacity of the induced-fan is big enough to
work with more resistance from scrubber.
To find the fan power, it is necessary to find out
the gas flow rate though the fan.
Please study how to work out with this problem
Solution

120 TPH Baggasse-fired boiler ID Fan power calculation (without scrubber)
1. Compute the weight of oxygen required per 100 kg of fuel
Element Mass Ratio
1
Molecular Weight kmol kmolO2/kmol kmol O2 required
kg O2 required
Reviewed Data
C 24.50 12 2.04 2.00 2.04 65.33
H2 3.00 2 1.50 0.50 0.75 24.00
O2 20.79 32 0.65 -1.00 -0.65 -20.79
N2 0.14 28 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00
S2 0.07 32 0.00 1.00 0.00 0.07
Ash 1.50
Moiture 50.00 18 2.78 0.00 0.00 0.00
Sum 100 6.98 2.14
68.61
2. Compute the weight of air required for complete combustion per 100 kg of fuel
kmol Molecular Weight kg
O2 required 2.14 32 69
N2 required 8.12 28 227
296
Theoretical Air to
Fuel Ratio 2.96
1 Wibulswas, P., 1990. Biomass Utilisation for Power Generation, Industrial Power Production as a Supplement or an
Alternative to the Utility, Seventh Asian School of Energy. 17-26 January, 1990, Thailand.

3.Compute the weight of the products of combustion per 100 kg of fuel
Fuel Composition Mass kg O2 required kg N2 require Product kg Product
C 24.5 65.33 CO2 89.83
H2 3 24 H2O(H2) 27
O2 20.79 -20.79 O2 0
N2 fuel 0.14
N2 from Air 227 N2 227
S2 0.07 0.07 SO2 0.14
Moiture 50 0 H2O(Moisture) 50
Sum 394.3
4.Convert the Flue-gas weight to volume@stack condition per 100 kg fuel
Gas Temperature@stack condition 105 C
Excess air 50 %
Product kg Molecular Weight
Specific Volume (m3/kg) Volume (m3) Kmol
% Gas by Vol (Dry Basis)
CO2 89.8 44 0.71 63.34 2.04 13.35%
H2O (H2) 27.0 18 1.72 46.54 1.50
N2 227.4 28 1.11 251.91 8.12 53.10%
H2O (Moisture) 50.0 18 1.72 86.18 2.78
SO2 0.1 48 0.65 0.09 0.00 0.02%
O2 (Excess Air) 34.3 32 0.97 33.26 1.07 7.01%
N2 (Excess Air) 113.6 28 1.11 125.88 4.06 26.53%
sum 542.3 607.19

5.Convert the Flue-gas weight to volume@IDF Inlet per 100 kg fuel
Gas Temperature@IDF Inlet 170 C
Excess air 50 %
Product kg Molecular Weight
Specific Volume (m3/kg) Volume (m3) Kmol
% Gas by Vol (Dry Basis)
CO2 89.8 44 0.83 74.2 2.04 13.35%
H2O (H2) 27.0 18 2.02 54.5 1.50
N2 227.4 28 1.30 295.2 8.12 53.10%
H2O (Moisture) 50.0 18 2.02 101.0 2.78
SO2 0.1 48 0.76 0.1 0.00 0.02%
O2 (Excess Air) 34.3 32 1.14 39.0 1.07
7.01%
N2 (Excess Air) 113.6 28 1.30 147.5 4.06 26.53%
sum 542.3 711.6 100%
Flue-gas weight to volume Gvol 711.6 m3/100kg fuel
5. Compute Air and Fuel Required
Parameter Symbol Calculation Value Unit
Steam Temperature Tout Measured Data 366 C
Steam Pressure Pout Measured Data 29.4 bar
Steam Enthalpy hout Steam Table 3107.06 kJ/kg
Feedwater Temp Tfw Measured Data 103 C
Feedwater Enthalpy hfw Measured Data 448.57 kJ/kg
Boiler Capacity TPH Specification 120 T/H
Boiler kW Qin TPH*(hout-hfw) 88616 kW
Boiler Efficiency eff Reviewed Data 0.65 (Based on HHV)
Fuel HHV(wet basis) HHV Reviewed Data 9000 kJ/kg
Fuel Required mf Qin/eff/HHV 15.15 kg/s 54.53 TPH
Calculated
Gvol*mf/100
91.98 m3/s
Measured data 102.26 m3/s
11.18%
Calculated Gas Flow Rate@IDF Inlet condition 119.84 m3/s
Gas Flow Rate@stack condition
Leakage (Difference between measured and calculated data)

7. Pressure Drop
Parameter
Symbol Source Value Unit Value Unit
Furnace Pressure-Damper Inlet Pressure Measured Data 219.8 mmAq 21.98 mBar
Damper Pressure Loss + Stack Pressure Loss Reviewed Data 31.9 mmAq 3.1875 mBar
Scrubber Pressure Loss Designed Data 0.0 mmAq 0 mBar
Static Pressure 251.675 mmAq 25.1675 mBar
8. IDF Power Input
Calculation
Air Power 305.54 kW Static Pressure(bar)*Gas Flow(m3/s)*101.3
Fan Efficiency 0.85
Turbine Efficiency 0.90
IDF Power Input 399.40 kW Air Power/(Fan eff*Motor eff)
Steam Turbine Drive Power Output 510.00 kW
% of Turbine Output 78.31%