Unit-IV
FUELS AND COMBUSTION
Lecture No:39
Natural gas - Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) –
Liquefied Petroleum Gases (LPG)
Recap (of previous class)
GASEOUS FUELS
(A) Fuels naturally found in nature:
Natural gas
Methane from coal mines
(B) Fuel gases made from solid fuel
Gases derived from Coal
Gases derived from waste and Biomass
(C) Gases made from petroleum
Liquefied Petroleum gas (LPG)
Refinery gases
D) Gases from some fermentation process
Natural Gas - Marsh gas
Obtained along with liquid petroleum from oil wells.
Main constituents are CH4, C2H4 and other HCs.
If lower hydrocarbons like CH4, C2H4 are present Dry / Lean.
(Lean= lacking of combustible material)
If higher hydrocarbons are present along with CH4 Rich / Wet.
The calorific value varies from 8000-14000 kcal / m3
The average composition and use of natural gas is as follows:
Methane: 88.5%
Ethane: 5.5%
Propane: 3.7%
Butane: 1.8%
Pentane: 0.5%
Uses:
1. Domestic & industrial fuel.
2. Generation of electricity by using it in fuel cells.
3. Raw material for the synthesis of CH3OH & HCHO.
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
In CNG, Natural gas compressed up to 3600 psi in tanks.
(Substitute for petrol & diesel)
PROPERTIES:
1. It is the cheapest, cleanest & least environmentally impacting fuel.
2. CNG produce less CO and HC emission.
o
3. Ignition temperature of CNG is about 550 C
4. Less expensive than petrol & diesel.
USES :
CNG is used to run an automobile vehicle just like LPG
The average composition of CNG is as follows:
Constituents Percentage (%)
Methane 88.5
Ethane 5.5
Propane 3.7
Butane 1.8
Pentane 0.5
Compared to petrol the octane rating of CNG is high.
Advantages:
Higher octane Improved thermal efficiency.
Lower noise pollution level than that of diesel.
CNG produces less pollutants than LPG.
It does not evolve SOx & NOx gases.
CNG vehicles emit 40% less of NOx, 90% less of HCs (carcinogens), 80%
less of CO and 25% less of CO2 (a green house gas) Safe fuel
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)
LPG is obtained as a by-product during fractional distillation of
crude oil or by cracking of heavy oil.
It consists of light hydrocarbons like propane and butane which can
be readily liquefied under pressure but can exist as gases under
atmospheric pressure.
The average composition of LPG is as follows:
• n-Butane: 38.5%
• Iso-butane: 37.0%
• Propane: 24.5%
Its calorific value is 25000 kcal/m3.
Uses of LPG:
• 1. LPG is used as a domestic and industrial fuel.
• 2. It is also used as a motor fuel.
• As a fuel in IC engines, it has some advantages and drawbacks.
Advantages of LPG Drawbacksof LPG
LPG is cheaper than gasoline. LPG is difficult to handle.
It can easily mix with air. LPG response to blending is very poor.
LPG is highly knock-resistant. Its octane value is low.
No smoke Leakage is difficult to detect
Maintenance not necessary
Calorific value is high
Producer Gas
• It is a mixture of CO, H2 and N2.
• Prepared by reacting a mixture of air & steam over red hot coke
placed in a steel furnace lined with refractory bricks.
The average composition of producer gas is as follows:
CO: 30%, H2: 10-15%, N2: 51-56%, CO2: 3-6%, CH4: 0.3-0.5%
Uses:
1. As a reducing agent in metallurgical operations.
2. For heating open-hearth furnaces, muffle furnaces, etc.
1. ASH ZONE: 2. COMBUSTION (OR) OXIDATION
* Lowest zone consists mainly of ash. ZONE:
*Incoming air and steam mixture is *coke is oxidised to CO and CO
2.
preheated in this zone. *Both the reaction are exothermic.
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*Temperature of the bed around 1,100 C
3. Reduction Zone:
4. Distillation or Drying Zone :
* CO2 and steam are reduced.
*The incoming coke heated by the
*Reactions are endothermic. outgoing gases. (400 to 800o C)
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*Temperature falls to 1000 C
