Document 6w8yn3V4kZ88omjQQokZpq8a9
370
CHAPTER 14
1957 Guide
Where approximate results only are desired, values appearing in Table 8 may be substituted for Equations 2, 3, and 4; or the air required for perfect combustion may be estimated by assuming that 0.9 cu ft air is required
per 100 Btu of fuel. Where extreme precision is involved it is suggested that the reader refer
to scientific literature published on the subject of combustion and related topics by the various industries concerned. If approximate values for the oretical air requirements suffice, or if complete information on the fuel is not available, the following values should also be found helpful:
1. Solid Fuels (Pounds air per pound fuel). Anthracite, 9.6; Semi-Bituminous, 11.2; Bituminous 10.3; Lignite 6.2; and Coke 11.2.
Table 8. Approximate Am Requirements for Theobetically Perfect Combustion op Fuels*
Type
or
Fuel
Solid
Liquid
Gas
Aia Requtbed fob Perfect Combdotion
Lbs per Lb Fuel Btu per lb X 0.00073
Co Ft per Unitb Fuel
Btu per lb X 0.0097
Approxi mate Preci sion,
Per Cent
3
Btu per lb X 0.00071 Btu per lb X 0.0094
3
Btu per lb X 0.00067 Btu per cu ft X 0.0089
5
Exceptions
Fuels containing iijore than 30% water
Results low for gasoline and kerosene
Gases of 300 Btu per cu ft or less
" Values 111 t&Die iuod inuu yago tiv vi
,
b Units for solid and liquid fuels in pounds, for gas in cubic feet.
*
2. Fuel Oil (Pounds air per gallon): Commercial Standard No. 1, 102.6; No. 2,
10S3..5;GNasoe.o5u,s 1F1u2e; lNs o(C. 6u,bi1c14fe.2e.t of air per cubic foot): Natural, 10.0; Mixed Natural and Manufactured, 8.0; Manufactured, 4.7, Propane, 23.8, Butane, 31.0.
COMBUSTION EFFICIENCY FROM THE FLUE GAS ANALYSIS
Excess Air A commonly employed index of efficiency of combustion is the relation
existing between the amount of air theoretically required for perfect com bustion and the amount of. air actually supplied. Since the difference between air supplied for combustion and theoretical air required is charac terized as excess air, its percentage may be calculated by use of the follow
ing equation, P_ercent excess a.ir = [/A---ir---s-u--p-rp--lie--d--------T;--he---or:e--t-i-c--a-l--a--i-r\) X 100 y Theoretical air j
The amount of dry air supplied per pound of fuel burned may be obtain^ from Equation 6 which has reasonable precision for most solid and liquid fuels. Values for CO2, CO and Ns are percentages by volume from the flue gas analysis, and C is the weight of carbon burned per pound of fuel, cor
rected for carbon in the ash,
Pounds dry air supplied per pound of fuel =
XC
(COj -f- CO)
i
Because excess air calculations are almost invariably made from Orsat
Fuels and Combustion
371
analysis results, and theoretical air requirements are not always known, another convenient method of expressing the relation of Equation 5 is as
follows:
100(0, - CO/2) Percent excess air --
N, X 0.264 - {Os - CO/2)
(7)
As measurement standards for gaseous fuels are almost universally ex pressed in cubic feet, Equation 8 may be employed for computing excess air on a percentage basis for gases.*1
where
Percent excess air
(U - COs)
p
X 100 -
CO, A
(8)
V = ultimate carbon dioxide, percent of flue gases resulting from perfect com bustion.
CO, = carbon dioxide content of flue gases, percent. P = dry products from perfect combustion, cubic feet per cubic foot of gas burned. A = air theoretically required for complete combustion, cubic feet per cubic foot of gas burned.
As the ratio of P/A is approximately 0.9 for most city gases, a value of 90 may be substituted for 100 P^ .in Equation 8 for rough calculation.
Carbon-hydrogen ratios of different fuels vary considerably, hence the maximum or ultimate CO, attainable also varies. Where they are un known, theoretical maximum CO, values may be calculated from a flue gas analysis by use of Equation 9.
Maximum theoretical % COs 100
f O, in same sample^ 0.21
Approximate maximum CO2 values for perfect combustion of several common types of fuel are shown in Table 9 together with values of CO, that will be attained with different amounts of excess air. Desirable values to be attained in practice depend upon the fuel, the method of firing, and other considerations. In general, fuels burned in suspension, such as gas, ou, and pulverized coal, can be burned with a lower amount of excess air than fuels burned on grates.
To produce heat efficiently by burning any common fuel a number of
basic requirements must be met: (1) adequate heat absorbing surface of Proper shape and construction is necessary in the appliance, (2) heat transer surfaces must be clean, (3) a minimum amount of excess air must be present, (4) air employed for combustion and combustible gases must, be Properly mixed, and (5) flue gas losses must be reduced to a safe minimum.
If insufficient heating surface is employed, or if heat transfer surfaces
re covered with soot, ash, or scale, flue losses will generally be excessive ue to the large amount of sensible heat escaping to the chimney. Too
et 1 excess alr dilutes flue gases excessively and increases sensible flue j** loss. On the other hand, a deficiency of excess air will in all probability
from6,1?comPlefe combustion, and some of the combustible gases will pass m the appliance without being completely burned. Highest combus-