Relative Density

5.0 Data Sheet

Specific gravity of Air
Specific gravity of Butane
Specific gravity of Methane
Atmospheric Pressure
Ambient Temperature

1st
2nd
Average

Time of effusion (s)

Air
Butane Methane
55.65
78.92
50.55
56.61
78.07
50.67
56.13
78.42
51.61

Table 1

6.0 Analysis Of Results

Using the average effusion times the relative densities for Methane and Butane
For Butane;

tA 78.42
R.D = =
= 1.95
tA 56.13
2

For Methane;

tA 51.61
R.D = =
= 0.85
tA 56.13
2

6.1.3 Relative Density Correction

The relative densities evaluated were uncorrected values obtained on a wet
basis. So, in order to calculate the corrected relative densities on a dry basis, the
correction factors are read from table in Appendix I, and either added or
subtracted from the experimental value obtained.

R.D uncorrectedR.D C
These correction factor C is calculated using the expression below:

0.622 P( D 1)
(100 P)

Where; C = Correction to be added or subtracted from the uncorrected value

according to its sign.
P = Percentage of water vapour in the gas
D = uncorrected relative density.
Butane:
The relative density of Butane at 20oC was calculated to be 1.95. From the table
there was no corresponding correction factor for the said value, so a linear
extrapolation cannot be carried out.

Methane:

The relative density of Methane at 20oC was calculated to be 0.85. From the table
there is no corresponding correction factor for the said value, so a linear
interpolation is carried out to obtain it.

) -0.001+ 0.003 = -0.002

(
)

0.85- 0.8
C = -0.003+
0.9 - 0.8

Therefore; RDmethane = 0.85-0.002 = 0.848

Percentage.Error

Experimental Actual
100
Actual

Percentage.Error =

0.6 - 0.848
100 = -41.3%
0.6

Gas
Butane
Methane
Table 2

RD
RD
Percentage
(Theoritical) (Experimental) Error (%)
2

1.93

3.5

0.6

0.85

-41.3

Combustion Analysis

Apparatus

Air shutter fully opened

Combustion product
CO

Becharach
Fyrite
Infra red
kane-May
Paramagnetic
Drager Tube

CO2

O2

Air shutter fully closed

Combustion product
CO/CO2

1%
0.01%
6ppm
N/A
8ppm

2.21%
1.70%
N/A
0.60%

CO

CO2

O2

CO/CO2

N/A

0.0369
0.0124
N/A

4%

N/A

0.0005
0.0003
N/A

0.099
2.53%
935ppm 6.90%
N/A
N/A
800ppm
8%

Flow Rate

5.0 Data Sheet

Experimental Conditions:
Atmospheric Pressure (from Barometer) = 749 mmHg = 0.9986 bar
Gas Inlet Pressure = 21 mbarg + 0.9986 bar = 1.0196 bar
Gas Temperature = 20o C + 273 = 293K
MSC Pressure = 1.01325 bar
MSC Temperature = 288.15 K
MSC Volume of gas (V) = 0.0798 ft3
Collected volume of H2O = 900 ml = 0.9 kg

Cycles

H2O
H2O
Temperature Temperature
(in)
(Outlet)
o

Table 3

1st

14.7

2nd

14.7

3rd

14.7

4th

14.6

Average

14.68

C
36.2
36.3
36.3
36.3
36.3
36.5
36.5
36.6
36.7
36.7
36.8
36.8
36.8
36.9
36.9
37.5
36.63

6.0 Analysis Of Results

The volume of gas used during combustion was calculated as:
V

V=

Ps Vs T
P Ts

1.01325 0.0798 293

= 0.0806sft 3
1.0196 288.15

o
TH o = 36.63-14.68 = 21.95 C,
2

F = Conversion factor to C in Btu/ft3 or MJ/m3 = 3.997

S = Specific heat of the water = 1 cal/oC
Therefore calorific value was calculated using:
C V =W s TH o F
2

C=

W s TH o F
2

C=

0.9 1 21.95 3.997

= 979.66Btu / sft 3
0.0806

This can be expressed in MJ/m3 (st); C =

Error=
Error=

979.66
= 37.19MJ / m3 (st)
26.34