Lesson 4. Stochiometric air requirement calculation

Every material requires oxygen for combustion. If a material has to be completely combusted, it requires specific amount of oxygen.  The specific amount will be calculated based on the elemental composition of the material and is named as stochiometric oxygen requirement.  As air is the cheapest source of oxygen, normally air will be supplied for combustion of materials unless it is warranted.  Thus stochiometric air requirement is an important factor in achieving complete combustion of a material.

The procedure for calculating the stociometric air requirement of a material whose elemental composition such as carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and suphur are known is given below.

Carbon

1141

In burning I kg of carbon needs 8/3 kg of oxygen to produce 11/3 kg of CO2

If the oxygen supply is insufficient then the equation may be

              1142

In burning I kg of carbon needs 4/3 kg of oxygen to produce 7/3 kg of CO

Carbon monoxide

1143

In burning I kg of carbon monoxide needs 4/7 kg of oxygen to produce 11/7 kg of CO2

Hydrogen

 1144

In burning I kg of hydrogen needs 8 kg of oxygen to produce 9 kg of H2O

Sulphur

1145

In burning I kg of sulphur needs 1 kg of oxygen to produce 2 kg of SO2

Methane

1146

In burning I kg of methane needs 4 kg of oxygen to produce 11/4 kg of CO2 and 9/4 kg of water vapour

For complete combustion minimum amount of oxygen requirement by elements

1 kg of carbon                         8/3 kg

1 kg of hydrogen                      8 kg

1 kg of sulphur                        1 kg

Total oxygen requirement        =   8/3 C + 8 H2 + S

Oxygen available in fuel          =   O2

Net oxygen requirement is       =    8/3 C + 8 H2 + S - O2

Directly supply of pure oxygen of combustion process is not economical and also not necessary.  Hence naturally, abundantly and freely available oxygen source, air can be supplied for combustion of raw materials.  While considering the amount of oxygen in air is 23% by weight and 21% by volume.  Considering weight fraction the amount of air required for combustion of the fuel material is given by

1147

If the theoretical sir supply is supplied, some amount of fuel may be unburnt.  Air supplied may not come into intimate contact with the fuel particles; there by excess sir supply is required for complete combustion.  This excess air is depends on the quantity of material, rate of combustion, firing system etc.  Generally 25 to 50 per cent excess air will be supplied.  The supply of excess air produces cooling effect.  But this can be avoided by preheating the air before its supply for combustion. 

            Total air supplied (Airtot) = Airst + Airex

Products of combustion

Similarly, the quantity of products of combustion may be calculated through the above methodology.  The products such as carbon dioxide from carbon, water vapour from hydrogen, sulphur dioxide form sulphur, excess oxygen and uncombusted remaining nitrogen can be calculated using the formulae given in the table.

Products of combustion

Amounts of products of combustion

Percentage by mass (m/mx100), %

Formula

Mass,m, kg

CO2

11/3 x C

m1

m1/m x100

H2O

9 H2

m2

m2/m x100

SO2

2 S

m3

m3/m x100

O2in excess air

0.23 X mex

m4

m4/m x100

N2 in total air

0.77 x m0.77

m5

m5/m x100

 

 

∑ m

100%

The excess oxygen gives an idea about energy efficiency of the combustion process.  More amount of oxygen in the combustion product will indicate additional supply of oxygen than requirement and inefficient combustion.  In this case, not only higher energy is added for the supply of oxygen but also, the excess oxygen will carry some quantity of heat of combustion to the atmosphere and will lead to reduced heat supply to the system.

Last modified: Wednesday, 9 April 2014, 6:40 AM