Unit Iii. Fuels: Learning Objectives

UNIT III.
FUELS
Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson I am able to:
1. Characterize the different types of fuels according to occurrence and physical state.
2. Determine its properties, advantages and disadvantages of usage.
3. Define relevant terms.
Introduction
Fuel is a substance which, when burnt, i.e. on coming in contact and reacting with
oxygen or air, produces heat. Thus, the substances classified as fuel must necessarily
contain one or several of the combustible elements - carbon, hydrogen, sulphur, etc. In the
process of combustion, the chemical energy of fuel is converted into heat energy.
Types of Fuels
Fuels can be classified into two major types:
A. Occurrence – natural and artificial

B. Physical state – solid, liquid and gaseous
Table 3.1 Types and Examples of Fuels
Natural Fuels Manufactured Fuels

Solid Fuels
Tanbark, Baggase, Straw
Wood
Charcoal
Coal
Coke
Oil Shale
Briquettes
Liquid Fuels
Oils from distillation of petroleum
Petroleum Coal tar
Alcohols
Gaseous Fuels
Coal gas
Producer gas
Natural gas Water gas
Hydrogen
Acetylene
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Modules for CHEM 114 – Chemistry for Engineers
Properties of Fuels
Density -the ratio of the mass of the fuel to the volume of the fuel at a
reference temperature of 15°C.
- important for assessing ignition qualities and other quantitative
calculations
Specific gravity -the ratio of the density of a fuel to the density of water
Viscosity -measure of the internal resistance to flow

-decreases as temperature increases
- important characteristic for storage
- influences the degree of pre-heating required for handling and
storage
Flash point -lowest temperature at which fuel is ignitable by an external burning

source
Pour point - lowest temperature at which fuel oil is ready to be pumped
Specific heat -number of calories needed to raise the temperature of 1 kg of oil by

10C
Calorific value - measures the heat or energy produced
Sulfur content -depends on the source of the crude oil and on the refining process
Ash content - related to the inorganic material or salts

- has an erosive effect on the burner tips
-causes damage to the refractories at high temperatures
-gives rise to high temperature corrosion and fouling of equipments
Carbon residue -tendency of oil to deposit a carbonaceous solid residue on a hot

surface
Water content -% moisture in fuels

- can cause damage to the inside surfaces of the furnace during
combustion
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Properties, Advantages and Disadvantages of Solid Fuels
Advantages
- They are easy to transport.

- They are convenient to store without any risk of spontaneous explosion.
- Their cost of production is low.
- They possess moderate ignition temperature.
Disadvantages
- Their ash content is high.

- Their large proportion of heat is wasted.
- Their combustion operation cannot be controlled easily.
- Their cost of handling is high.
Properties
*Calorific value – can reach up to 6 050 cal/kg of solid fuel
*Ash content – can be negligible for some solid fuels

*Water content – ranges from 3-60% depending on the solid fuel source
*Ignition temperature – an average of 300oC for some solid fuels
*Sulfur content – ranges from 0.5-7%

Properties, Advantages and Disadvantages of Liquid Fuels
Advantages
- They possess higher calorific value per unit mass than solid fuels.
- They burn without dust, ash, clinkers, etc.
- Their firing is easier and also fire can be extinguished easily by stopping liquid
fuel supply.
- They are easy to transport through pipes.
- They can be stored indefinitely without any loss.
- They are clean in use and economic to handle.
- They require less excess air for complete combustion.
- They require less furnace space for combustion.
Disadvantages
- The cost of liquid fuel is relatively much higher as compared to solid fuel.
- Costly special storage tanks are required for storing liquid fuels.
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- There is a greater risk of five hazards, particularly, in case of highly
inflammable and volatile liquid fuels.
- They give bad odour.
- For efficient burning of liquid fuels, specially constructed burners and spraying
apparatus are required.
Properties
- Lower sulfur contents than solid fuels

- Have higher calorific value
- Low ash content
- Low water content
Properties, Advantages and Disadvantages of Gaseous Fuels
Advantages
- They can be conveyed easily through pipelines to the actual place of need,
thereby eliminating manual labor in transportation.
- They can be lighted at ease.
- They have high heat contents and hence help us in having higher temperatures.
- They are clean in use.
- They do not require any special burner.
- They burn without any shoot, or smoke and ashes.
- They are free from impurities found in solid and liquid fuels.
Disadvantages
- Very large storage tanks are needed.

- They are highly inflammable, so chances of fire hazards in their use is high.
Properties
- High calorific value from 1 000-15 000 kcal/m3
- Specific gravity is less than 1
- Negligible sulfur, ash and water content
Summary
*Fuel is a substance that produces heat upon combustion (reaction with oxygen)
*Fuels can be classified into 2: by occurrence and by physical state
*Fuels classified by occurrence can be natural or manufactured
*Fuels classified by physical state can be solid, liquid or gaseous fuel

*Each fuel type has its advantages and disadvantages
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*Qualities and applications of fuels are determined by their properties which
includes:
density, specific gravity, viscosity, flash point, pour point, specific heat,
calorific value, carbon residue, sulfur, ash and water content
REFERENCES
Classification of Fuels. (2020). Retrieved July 2020, from eguruchela:
http://eguruchela.com/chemistry/learning/Classification_of_fuels.php
Types of Fuels. (2020). Retrieved July 2020, from BYJU'S The Learning App:
https://byjus.com/chemistry/fuel-types/
Types of Fuels and Their Characteristics. (2020). Retrieved July 2020, from
http://www.ignou.ac.in/upload/unit-3.pdf
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Assessing Learning
Activity 3
Name: ______________________________ Score: _________
Course/Year/Section: ____________ Date: __________
Directions: Answer the following questions. Write your answer in the space provided.
I. Identification. Determine what is asked or what is described in the following statements.
1. A combustible substance containing carbon as the main

constituent which on proper burning produces heat.
2. Process by which carbon, hydrogen atoms of fuels combine with
oxygen with simultaneous liberation of heat.
3. Fuels can be classified into two types:
4. Fuels can be classified into two types:
5. The ratio of the density of a fuel to the density of water.

6. The lowest temperature at which fuel is ignitable by an external
burning source.
7. Total quantity of heat liberated when a unit mass or volume of
fuel is burnt completely.
8. Fuel derived from living organisms and their waste matter.

9. Fuels that are free from impurities present in solid and liquid
fuels.
10. Fuels that are convenient to store without any risk of
spontaneous explosion but with high ash content.
Page 39 of 85

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UNIT III.

A. Occurrence – natural and artificial

Table 3.1 Types and Examples of Fuels

Natural Fuels Manufactured Fuels

Viscosity -measure of the internal resistance to flow

Flash point -lowest temperature at which fuel is ignitable by an external burning

Pour point - lowest temperature at which fuel oil is ready to be pumped

Specific heat -number of calories needed to raise the temperature of 1 kg of oil by

Calorific value - measures the heat or energy produced

Ash content - related to the inorganic material or salts

Carbon residue -tendency of oil to deposit a carbonaceous solid residue on a hot

Water content -% moisture in fuels

- They are easy to transport.

- Their ash content is high.

*Ash content – can be negligible for some solid fuels

*Sulfur content – ranges from 0.5-7%

- Lower sulfur contents than solid fuels

- Very large storage tanks are needed.

*Fuels classified by physical state can be solid, liquid or gaseous fuel

1. A combustible substance containing carbon as the main

5. The ratio of the density of a fuel to the density of water.

8. Fuel derived from living organisms and their waste matter.

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