Universiti Tenaga Nasional

Mechanical Engineering Department

Thermodynamics II, MEHB312
Semester 1, 2016/2017
Assignment on Combustion
This is an individual assignment which carries 15% of the total assessment for this course. This assignment
is to meet the Course Outcome 7 of this course which is; able to derive combustion equation at a given
fuel composition and air fuel ratio as well as determination of energy and pollutants released as a result
of combustion.
Course Outcome 7 is mapped to Program Outcome 3 which is; Design solutions for complex mechanical
engineering problem that meet specific needs with appropriate consideration for public health and
safety, culture, society, and environment.
For this assignment,
a) Write in not more than 3 pages, the effects and hazards of combustion in transport, utility and
industry to the health, safety, culture, society and environment.
[15 marks]
b) 150 kg of coal is burned steadily in a power plant boiler. This coal has an ultimate analysis by mass
of consists 39.25% Carbon, 6.93 % Hydrogen, 41.11% Oxygen, 0.72% Nitrogen, 0.79% Sulfur and
11.20% ash (non-combustible). This coal is burned with 30% excess air in the boiler. The coal and
air enter this boiler at standard conditions (1 atmospheric pressure and 298K) and the products
of combustion are released through the chimney at 350 K.
I.
Utilizing the conservation of mass principle, derive the chemical reaction equation for this
combustion process by balancing the no. of atoms of each element.
[5 marks]
II.
Determine the mole number of each component in the products.
[5 marks]
III.
Calculate the amount of heat released in KJ/kmol of fuel for this combustion process. Use
the mini property table below for the enthalpy of substance at different states:
Substance
fo in kJ/kmol
298K in kJ/kmol
400K in kJ/kmol
O2
0
8682
11,711
N2
0
8669
11,640
H2O (g)
-241,820
9904
13,356
CO2
-393,520
9364
13,372
SO2
-297,100
SO2= 400K - 298K = 4253 kJ/kmol
[5 marks]
IV.
Identify and list the products in this combustion process that cause problems to the health
or environment.
[5 marks]
V.
What are the problems caused by these products of combustion to the environment or
health?
[10 marks]
VI.
If Nitrogen monoxide and Nitrogen dioxide (NOx) and Carbon monoxide (CO) are present
in the products of this combustion process, what problems would NOx and CO cause to
the environment or health?
[10 marks]
VII.
Design or adopt a system (schematic diagram of system must be included) to control or
to treat or to reduce the amount of pollutants released to the environment in this boiler.
[20 marks]
VIII.
Discuss, describe, and explain how the system you have designed or adopted works.
[10 marks]
c) Write in a full page (A4 size) on how pollution by combustion in transport, utility and industry can
be reduced to conserve the environment for our future generations.
[15 marks]
Note: Plagiarism will be heavily penalized in this assignment. Submission date: By 19 August 2016.