ME336

Combustion Engineering
By: Engr. Marlowe Jay V. Dignos

Engr. Marlowe Jay V. Dignos, M.S

 Introduction: Combustion definition
• A rapid chemical reaction between sources that are compounds of
hydrogen and oxygen.
• The conversion of a substance called fuel into chemical compounds
known as products of combustion by combination with an oxidizer.
• The fuel may be any solid, liquid or gas and the oxidizer may be free
oxygen or atmospheric air.

𝐹𝑢𝑒𝑙 + 𝑂𝑥𝑦𝑔𝑒𝑛 𝐴𝑖𝑟 ՜𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑏𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑠 + 𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦(ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡)

∆

Engr. Marlowe Jay V. Dignos, M.S

 Introduction: Combustion definition
• Combustion is essential to processes where heat is needed.
o In steam power generation, heat must be supplied to the working fluid (liquid
water is heated into superheated steam).
o In manufacturing, heat produced by combustion is used to convert raw
materials into products.
o In engines, combustion is needed to produce mechanical work.

Engr. Marlowe Jay V. Dignos, M.S

 Important notes for combustion
• The amount of air should be such that it is sufficient to burn the fuel completely.
Complete combustion of fuel means complete oxidation of all the combustible
materials in the fuel. A deficiency of air causes incomplete combustion of fuel
which results in considerable unburned fuel being discharged from the furnace,
whereas too much supply of air simply dilutes the gases and cools the furnace
which results to fuel-lean combustion.
• The air and fuel should be thoroughly mixed so that each combustible particle
comes in intimate contact with the oxygen contained in the air.
• The fuel should remain in the furnace for sufficient time until it gets burned
completely.
• The temperature in the furnace should be high enough to ignite the incoming air
fuel mixture.

Engr. Marlowe Jay V. Dignos, M.S

 Types fuels or combustible matters
• Solid fuels Hydrocarbons
Molecular Nonane C9H20
Formula Decane C10H22
o Charcoal Undecane C11H24
Methane CH4
o Coke Ethane C 2H 6 Dodecane C12H26
o Woods Propane C 3H 8
Tridecane C13H28
Tetradecane C14H30
• Liquid fuels Butane C4H10
Pentadecane C15H32
Pentane C5H12
o Gasoline (octane) Hexane C6H14
Cetane
C16H34
(Hexadecatane)
o Diesel (cetane/hexadecane) Heptane C7H16 Heptadecane C17H36
o alcohol Octane C8H18 Octadecane C18H38
o Other liquid hydrocarbon Nonadecane C19H40
Eicosane C20H42
• Gaseous fuels
o Gaseous hydrocarbon

Engr. Marlowe Jay V. Dignos, M.S

 Composition of atmospheric air
• Volumetric composition
o Oxygen (O2) 20.99%
o Nitrogen (N2) 78.03%
o Argon with small quantities or traces of several inert gases such as water
vapor, carbon dioxide, helium, hydrogen and neon 0.98%

• For engineering calculation, it is accurate enough to include all inert gases as

nitrogen. The composition of air by volume becomes 21% oxygen and 79%
nitrogen.
• Thus, for every 100 moles of air, there are 21 moles of oxygen and 79 moles
79 𝑁2 𝑵𝟐
of nitrogen or = 𝟑. 𝟕𝟔
21 𝑂2 𝑶𝟐

Engr. Marlowe Jay V. Dignos, M.S

Composition of atmospheric air
• Gravimetric (mass) composition
oBased on molecular weight (MW) per kg basis
𝑘𝑔
▪𝑁2 = 28
𝑚𝑜𝑙

𝑘𝑔
▪𝑂2 = 32
𝑚𝑜𝑙
oFor 100 moles of Air
79 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑁2 𝑘𝑔 𝑁2 𝑘𝑔 𝑁2
▪ 28 = 22.12
100 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑁2 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑎𝑖𝑟
21 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑂2 𝑘𝑔 𝑂2 𝑘𝑔 𝑂2
▪ 32 = 6.72
100 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑁2 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑎𝑖𝑟
oThus, total mass of air
𝑘𝑔 𝑁2 𝑘𝑔 𝑂2 𝑘𝑔
▪Mass of air = 22.12 + 6.72 = 28.84 also,
𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑚𝑜𝑙

22.12 6.72
▪ therefore, there are = 76.70% 𝑁2 and = 23.30% 𝑂2 or
28.84 28.84
76.70 𝑁2
▪ = 3.29
23.30 𝑂2
 Stoichiometry
• section of chemistry that involves using relationships between reactants
and/or products in a chemical reaction to determine desired quantitative
data.
• In Greek, stoikhein means element and metron means measure, so
stoichiometry literally translated means the measure of elements.
• The ratio of oxidizer to fuel which just leads to complete products of
combustion. The minimum amount of air required for complete combustion
is known as theoretical air.

Engr. Marlowe Jay V. Dignos, M.S

 Combustion of hydrocarbons:
Complete Combustion
• Complete combustion/ stoichiometric combustion
o If sufficient oxygen is available, a hydrocarbon fuel can be completely
oxidized, the carbon is converted to carbon dioxide (CO 2) and the hydrogen is
converted to water (H2O).
o when the products are low temperature the nitrogen is not significantly
affected by the reaction, it is considered inert.

𝐹𝑢𝑒𝑙 + 𝑂𝑥𝑦𝑔𝑒𝑛 𝐴𝑖𝑟 ՜𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑏𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑠

∆

𝐶𝒏 𝐻𝒎 + 𝑂2 + 3.76𝑁2 ՜ 𝐶𝑂2 + 𝐻2 𝑂 + 𝑁2

𝐶𝒏 𝐻𝒎 + 𝒂 𝑂2 + 3.76𝑁2 ՜ 𝒃𝐶𝑂2 + 𝒄𝐻2 𝑂 + 𝒅𝑁2

Engr. Marlowe Jay V. Dignos, M.S

 Combustion of hydrocarbons:
Complete Combustion
𝐶𝒏𝐻𝒎 + 𝒂 𝑂2 + 3.76𝑁2 ՜ 𝒃𝐶𝑂2 + 𝒄𝐻2 𝑂 + 𝒅𝑁2
o Mole balancing

▪ For Carbon, C: 𝑛=𝑏՜𝒃=𝒏

𝒎
▪ For Hydrogen H: 𝑚 = 2𝑐 ՜ 𝒄 =
𝟐
𝑚
2𝑏+𝑐 2(𝑛)+ 𝒎
▪ For Oxygen O: 2𝑎 = 2𝑏 + 𝑐 ՜ 𝑎 = = 2
=𝒏+
2 2 𝟒
𝒎
▪ For Nitrogen N: 2 3.76 𝑎 = 2𝑑 ՜ 𝑑 = 3.76𝑎 = 𝟑. 𝟕𝟔 𝒏 +
𝟒

Engr. Marlowe Jay V. Dignos, M.S

 Combustion of hydrocarbons:
Complete Combustion
• Example 1.) Give the stoichiometric combustion reaction of octane.
o Given: combustion condition = stoichiometric
Fuel = octane
o Solution: Octane has the chemical formula 𝐶8 𝐻18 thus the reaction is
𝐶𝟖 𝐻𝟏𝟖 + 𝒂 𝑂2 + 3.76𝑁2 ՜ 𝒃𝐶𝑂2 + 𝒄𝐻2 𝑂 + 𝒅𝑁2
▪ For Carbon, C: 𝑛=𝑏՜𝑏=8
18
▪ For Hydrogen H: 𝑚 = 2𝑐 ՜ 𝑐 = =9
2
𝑚
2𝑏+𝑐 2(𝑛)+ 2 18
▪ For Oxygen O: 2𝑎 = 2𝑏 + 𝑐 ՜ 𝑎 = = =8+ = 12.5
2 2 4
18
▪ For Nitrogen N: 2 3.76 𝑎 = 2𝑑 ՜ 𝑑 = 3.76𝑎 = 3.76 8 + = 47
4
▪ Thus, the balanced combustion reaction is

𝑪𝟖𝑯𝟏𝟖 + 𝟏𝟐. 𝟓 𝑶𝟐 + 𝟑. 𝟕𝟔𝑵𝟐 ՜ 𝟖𝑪𝑶𝟐 + 𝟗𝑯𝟐 𝑶 + 𝟒𝟕𝑵𝟐

Engr. Marlowe Jay V. Dignos, M.S

 Combustion of hydrocarbons:
Complete Combustion
• Example 2.) A mixture of fuel has the following volumetric analysis
Analysis: 𝐶𝐻4 = 68%; 𝐶2 𝐻6 = 32%
Balance the combustion eqn. for 100% air
For 1 mole of fuel:
• 𝐶𝐻4 = 0.68 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑠
• 𝐶2 𝐻6 = 0.32 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑠

0.68𝐶 𝐻4 +0.32𝐶2 𝐻6 + 𝒂 𝑂2 + 3.76𝑁2 ՜ 𝒃𝐶𝑂2 + 𝒄𝐻2 𝑂 + 𝒅𝑁2

Engr. Marlowe Jay V. Dignos, M.S

 Combustion of hydrocarbons:
Complete Combustion
0.68𝐶 𝐻4 +0.32𝐶2 𝐻6 + 𝒂 𝑂2 + 3.76𝑁2 ՜ 𝒃𝐶𝑂2 + 𝒄𝐻2 𝑂 + 𝒅𝑁2

By mole balance: O: a(2) = 2(b) + c

C: 0.68 + 0.32(2) = b a(2) = 2(1.32) + 2.32
b = 1.32 mols a = 2.48 mols

H: 0.68(4) + 0.32(6) = c(2) N: a(2)(3.76) = 2d

c = 2.32 mols (2.48)(2)(3.76) = 2d
d = 9.32

0.68𝐶 𝐻4 +0.32𝐶2 𝐻6 + 2.48 𝑂2 + 3.76𝑁2 ՜ 1.32𝐶𝑂2 + 2.32𝐻2 𝑂 + 9.32𝑁2

Engr. Marlowe Jay V. Dignos, M.S