Topic

TYPES OF FLAMES

Prepared by
Program : B. Tech Aeronautical
Engineering ABINICKS RAJA G
Course Code :U18PEAE041
Assistant Professor,
Course Name : An Introduction to Combustion
Department of Aeronautical, BIHER
[email protected]
2). Methane reacts with atmospheric air.The products
are produced .From the obtained products of
combustion and fuel and air that reacts,find the
Equivalence Air fuel Ratio .Also find the percent
stoichiometric ratio and percent of Excess Air.Check for
the type of mixture.

ABINICKS RAJA -Department of Aeronautical Engineering -

BIHER
AN INTRODUCTION TO
COMBUSTION

Conducted by
ABINICKS RAJA G
Department of Aeronautical
 SYLLABUS
 UNIT I INTRODUCTION TO COMBUSTION
 Thermochemical equations – heat of reaction- first, second and
third order reactions – premixed flames – diffusion flames –
Stoichiometric ratio, equivalence ratio – measurement of burning
velocity – various methods – effect of various parameters on
burning velocity – flame stability – deflagration – detonation –
Rankine-Hugoniot curves – radiation by flames
 TOPICS GOING TO BE COVERED
1. Thermo chemical Equations
2. Heat of reaction
3. Stoichiometric ratio
4. Types of flames
5. Measurement of burning velocity
6. Factors affecting burning velocity
7. Rankine hugoniot curves
 Thermo chemical reaction

A chemical reaction take by absorbing or

liberating heat is known as thermo chemical reaction.

+ΔH
 Thermo chemical reaction

Combustion
It is a process of burning of fuel in
controlled manner or it is a chemical process
in which fuel is burnt with presence of
oxidizer producing heat and light. Example
matchbox, stove, candle, jetengine, IC engine
etc.
 Thermo chemical reaction
Endothermic reaction
During chemical reaction heat is consumed is called
endothermic reaction.
Exothermic reaction
During chemical reaction heat will be liberated is called
Exothermic reaction. Combustion is a exothermic reaction.
 Thermo chemical reaction

Application of combustion
1. Powerplant
2. Automobiles
3. Industries such as Sugar industry, Chemical industry, Annealing
of metal, Iron and steel industry
4. Domestic Application
 Thermo chemical reaction
Fuel
Fuel can be defined as one which donates electron during chemical reaction.

oxidizer
Oxidizer is the one which accepts electron.
 Thermo chemical reaction
S.no Complete combustion Incomplete combustion
1. During combustion it has sufficient During combustion does not have
amount of oxygen is available sufficient amount of oxygen is available

2. The product of combustion is only The product of combustion is NOx and

CO2 and H20 COx
3. Colour of complte combustion is Colour of incomplete combustion yellow
blue or orange or combination of yellow and
orange

4. Heat of reaction or energy Heat of reaction or energy produced is

produced is high low
 TOPICS GOING TO BE COVERED
1. Thermo chemical reaction
2. Heat of reaction
 Heat of reaction
Heat of reaction ( ΔH )
It is defined as the change of enthalpy between product and reactant in any chemical
reaction. If it is negative means exothermic. If it is positive means Endothermic reaction.

Heat of combustion
It is defined as modulus of heat of reaction divided by mass or mol of fuel. (KJ/kg) or
(KJ/mass)
 Heat of reaction

Apply first law of thermodynamics

 Heat of reaction

Where
 Heat of reaction
Calorific value of fuel
It is defined as the amount of heat liberated per kg of fuel.(KJ/kg or KJ/m 3 ). It is classified as
1. Low calorific value of fuel or low heating value
2. High calorific value of fuel or high heating value
Low calorific value
Lower calorific value means the total quantity of heat liberated from combustion of unit mass or unit
volume of given fuel when side products are allowed to escape
High calorific value
Higher calorific value means the total quantity of heat liberated from combustion of unit mass or
unit volume of given fuel when by products/side products are allowed to cool at room temperature
 TOPICS GOING TO BE COVERED
1. Thermo chemical reaction
2. Heat of reaction
3. Stiochiometric ratio
 Stiochiometric ratio

Stoichiometric combustion
Stoichiometric combustion is a theoretical position in which the
optimal amount of oxygen and fuel mix generates the most heat possible and
maximum combustion efficiency is achieved. There are no unburnt
combustibles and no excess air.
Fuel is burned completely. A complete combustion is a process
burning all the carbon (C) to (CO2), all the hydrogen (H) to (H2O) and all the
sulphur (S) to (SO2).
 Stiochiometric ratio

Equivalence ratio

The equivalence ratio is defined as the ratio of the actual

fuel/air ratio to the stoichiometric fuel/air ratio. Stoichiometric
combustion occurs when all the oxygen is consumed in the reaction,
and there is no molecular oxygen(O2) in the products .
 Stiochiometric ratio
Stiochiometric ratio
If the equivalence fuel air ratio is equal to one.
Lean mixture
If it is equivalence fuel air ratio < 1, the combustion is lean with
excess air.
Rich Mixture
If it is equivalence fuel air ratio > 1, the combustion is rich with
incomplete combustion.
PROBLEM 1
How much mole of oxygen is required to burn a one mole of ch 4 in stiochiometric ratio?
Given
Burning a Ch4 in stiochiometric ratio
To find
How much mole of air is required?
Sol
Stiochiometric combustion output product is

Ch4 + ___ [ o2 + 3.76 N2] Co2 + H2o

Balance the equation
Ch4 + 2 [[ o2 + 3.76 N2] Co2 + 2 H2o
Result
PROBLEM 2
How much gram of air is required to burn a one mole of petrol in stoichiometric ratio?
Solution
1. Petrol - C8H18
C8H18 + __[ o2 + 3.76 N2] Co2 + H2o
C8H18 + 12.5[ o2 + 3.76 N2]
2. Conversion of mole in to grams
3. Molecular weight = ?

4. Molecular weight of petrol(C8H18 )is = (12 * 8) + (1* 18) = 114 g/mol

Mass of one mol of petrol is = 114 gram
5. Molecular weight of oxygen = 32
Mass of oxygen required to burn one mole of petrol is (114g) = 12.5 * 32
PROBLEM 3
Find stoichiometric Air Fuel ratio for Ch4
Solution
The product of stoichiometric combustion is
Co2 + H2o
Ch4 + ___ [ o2 + 3.76 N2] Co2 + H2o
Balance the equation
Ch4 + 2 [[ o2 + 3.76 N2] Co2 + 2 H2o
Formula for stoichiometric Air Fuel ratio = Mass of air
Mass of fuel
= 2* [ { M.W of o2 * mole o2 } + 3.76 { M.W of N2 * mole N2} ]
[ { M.W of C * mole } + { M.W of H * mole } ]

= 2* [ { 32 * 1} + 3.76 { 28 * 1}]
[{12 * 1 } + {1 * 4}]
Stoichiometric Air Fuel ratio for Ch4 = 17.16
PROBLEM 4
The Combustion of gasloine take place. The obtained product as 10.02% of Co2, 0.88 % of Co ,
83.48% of N2. Determine Equivalence air to fuel ratio and Percentage of excess air.
To find

=?
Solution
Stiochiometric air fuel ratio for C8H18 =
Actual air fuel ratio
The actual combustion equation is

x C8H18 + a [ o2 + 3.76 N2] 10.02 Co2 + 0.88 Co + 83.48 N2 + b H2o

Balance the equation find the value of x, a, and b.
x C8H18 + a [ o2 + 3.76 N2] 10.02 Co2 + 0.88 Co + 83.48 N2 + b H2o

To find a
To mass balance of N2
a (3.76) = 83.48 N2
a = 22.2
To find x
To mass balance of C
8x =10.2 + 0.88
x = 1.385
To find b
To mass balance of H
18x = 2b
b = 12.465
1.385 C8H18 + 22.2 [ o2 + 3.76 N2] 10.02 Co2 + 0.88 Co + 83.48 N2 + 12.465 H2o

Formula for actual air fuel ratio = Mass of air

Mass of fuel

= 22.2* [ { M.W of o2 * mole o2 } + 3.76 { M.W of N2 *

mole N2} ]
1.385*[ { M.W of C * mole } + { M.W of H *
mole } ] air fuel ratio = 22.2* [ { 32 * 1} + 3.76 { 28
Actual
* 1}]
1.385* [{12 * 8 } + {1 *
18}]

Actual air fuel ratio = 19.31

To find stoichiometric air fuel ratio

C8H18 + a [ o2 + 3.76 N2] __Co2 + __ H2o

To find a value of a
Apply formula,
C8H18 + 12.5 [ o2 + 3.76 N2] __Co2 + __ H2o
a = 12.5
Formula for stoichiometric Air Fuel ratio = Mass of air
Mass of fuel

= 12.5 * [ { M.W of o2 * mole o2 } + 3.76 { M.W of N2 *

mole N2} ]
Stiochiometric [air
{ fuel
M.Wratio
of C= 12.5*}[+{ {32M.W
* mole * 1}of+ H3.76 { 28}*]
* mole
1}]
[{12 * 8 } + {1 * 18}]
100/EQUIVALENCE RATIO= ?
EXCESS Air= ?

Equivalence air Fuel ratio

= 15.1 = 0.79
19.31
This combustion is Lean mixture.
Gate 2017
In combuster, gaseous octane C8H18 and air are to be burned in
stiochiometric propotions, if the required flow rate of air is
1Kg/s. What should be the corresponding flow rate of octane?
 0.066 Kg/s
 15.15 Kg/s
 0.16 Kg/s
 6.25 Kg/s

Ans - 1

Gate 2018
A combustor is operating with a fuel-air ratio of
0.03. If the stoichiometric fuel-air ratio of the fuel
used is 0.06, the equivalence ratio of the
combustor will be _______ (accurate to two decimal
 TOPICS GOING TO BE COVERED
1. Thermo chemical reaction
2. Heat of reaction
3. Stiochiometric ratio
4. Types of flame
 Types of flame
Flame
It is defined as spatial domain in which rapid
chemical reactions take place often emitting heat and light.
 Types of flame

Various modes of combustion

Flamed combustion Flameless combustion

(cigarette smoke)

Stabilize flame Propagating flame

lassification of flame Types of flame

Based on velocity of Stabilized flame

combustion wave
Propagated flame
Based on mixing premixed flame
Deflagaration
Detonation
Diffusion flame
Partially mixed flam
 Types of flame

Based on velocity of flame

Stabilized flame
During burning of gas flamefront or combustion waves
does not have any velocity. It is termed as stabilized flame. It is
also defined as the combustion process is a self sustained
propagation in a localized combustion zone. Example – Stove
etc.
 Types of flame

Based on velocity of flame

Propagating flame
when the initial heat flame move with certain velocity this
is known as flame propagation. Example forest fire etc
 Types of flame

Based on mixing
Premixed flame
Fuel and oxidizer are mixed well as the molecular level before
combustion. The structure of premixed flame is to be conical shape.
Characteristics of premixed flame is decided based on burning velocity.
Example carburettor in LPG Stove,bunsen burner,SI Engine,etc
Types of flame
 Types of flame

Based on burning or flame velocity

Based on burning or flame velocity it is classified as
1. Deflagration
2. Detonation

Note
Burning Velocity – How fast fuel and air mixture reaches the combustion
process
Flame Velocity - How fast flame is travelling with respect to unburned
mixture.
 Types of flame
Deflagration

After igniting the combustion wave travelling at subsonic speed

Detonation
After igniting the combustion wave travelling at supersonic speed. It may be
obtained from restricting the product.
 Types of flame
Based on Mixing
Diffusion flame
Fuel and oxidizer mixed in the region where chemical reaction take place. In this
process major problem is soot. Example – Candle flame, spray combustion, burning of wood.

Partially premixed flame

It is a combination of premixed and diffusion flame.
 Types of flame

Based on flow characteristics

Laminar flame
If there is no change in acceleration in flame
velocity, we obtained a laminar flame. Otherwise
turbulent flame
 TOPICS GOING TO BE COVERED
1. Thermo chemical reaction
2. Heat of reaction
3. Stiochiometric ratio
4. Types of flame
5. Measurement of burning velocity
6. Factors affecting burning velocity
 Measurement of burning velocity

Burning Velocity Measurement Techniques

All these methods can be done my with help of photographs and
pressure sensor
Propagating flame
1. Tube Propagation Method
2. Combustion bomb method (Constant Volume Explosion in Spherical
Vessel)
3. Soap Bubble Technique
Stabilized flame
4. Bunsen burner technique
 Measurement of burning velocity

1. Tube Propagation Method

 Combustible mixture is filled in the tube

 Ignite at one end flame propagate through the tube
The burning velocity is given by
 Measurement of burning velocity

2. Constant Volume Explosion in Spherical Vessel

 Combustible mixture is ignited at centre of Cylindrical
vessel
Flame propagate towards the wall
Pressure and temperature increases, due to adiabatic
compression.
 Measurement of burning velocity

3. Soap Bubble Technique

This method is almost similar to combustion bomb
method. But here we using spherical chamber(soap bubble). In
order to avoid buoyancy effect.
 Factors affecting Burning velocity
Factor affecting flame propagation
 Rate of heat transfer
 Diffusion of active radicals from reaction zone to unburnt mixture
 Mechanism of combustion
 Chemical kinetics – A large molecule break in to small molecule
Factor affecting shape and size
 Type of fuel
 Presence of diluents
 Mixing of fuel and air
Flame shape
 Long flame – Air quantity is high
 Short flame – insufficient air
 Laminar flame – conical shape
 Turbulent flame – zig zig
 Luminous flame – gives maximum light
 Non luminous flame – Invisible flame (Hydrogen combustion)
Good flame front
 TOPICS GOING TO BE COVERED
1. Thermo chemical reaction
2. Heat of reaction
3. Stiochiometric ratio
4. Types of flame
5. Measurement of burning velocity
6. Factors affecting burning velocity
7. Rankine hugoniot curves
Rankine hugoniot curves