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Combustion of Acetylene: Air Requirements

1) For the combustion of 1 kg of acetylene, the theoretical amount of air required is 13.196 kg. 2) If the combustion takes place at an equivalence ratio of 0.8, the actual air to fuel ratio would be 16.495 kg of air per 1 kg of acetylene. 3) The combustion equation at an equivalence ratio of 0.8, written on a molar basis, is C2H2 + 3.124[O2 + 3.76 N2] → 1.25/2 CO2 + 2CO2 + H2O + 11.75 N2.

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41 views2 pages

Combustion of Acetylene: Air Requirements

1) For the combustion of 1 kg of acetylene, the theoretical amount of air required is 13.196 kg. 2) If the combustion takes place at an equivalence ratio of 0.8, the actual air to fuel ratio would be 16.495 kg of air per 1 kg of acetylene. 3) The combustion equation at an equivalence ratio of 0.8, written on a molar basis, is C2H2 + 3.124[O2 + 3.76 N2] → 1.25/2 CO2 + 2CO2 + H2O + 11.75 N2.

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Quiz-2

Q1. (a) Calculate the amount of theoretical air required (in kg) for the combustion of 1 kg of
acetylene (C2H2) to CO2 and H2O (ideal combustion). [5]
(b) Rewrite the combustion equation, if combustion takes place at equivalence ratio = 0.8 for the
above fuel and air combination. [5]

Solution. (a) For combustion of acetylene (C2H2) the stoichiometric equation is written as:
C2H2 + xO2 ----> a CO2 + b H2O ...(i)
Balancing the carbon atoms on both sides of the combustion equation (i), we get
2C = a C i.e., a = 2;
Now balancing hydrogen atoms on both sides, we get
2H = 2bH
b=1
Thus, equation (i) becomes:
C2H2 + x O2 ---->2CO2 + H2O
Now, balancing oxygen atoms in the above equation
2x = 2 × 2 + 1 = 5 i.e., x = 2.5
Hence, the final combustion equation (i) is
C2H2 + 2.5O2 ----->2CO2 + H2O ...(ii)
Thus, for combustion of C2H2 in air, we get
C2H2 + 2.5O2 + 2.5 [79/21] N2 ----------> 2CO2 + H2O + 2.5[79/21] N2 ...(iii)
On a mass basis, this becomes:
(2 × 12 + 2 × 1) C2H2 + 2.5 (2 × 16) O2 + 2.5[79/21] (2 × 14) N2
------> 2 (12 + 2 × 16) CO2 + (1 × 2 + 1 × 16) H2O + 2.5[79/21] (2 × 14) N2
that is,
26 kg C2H2 + 80 kg O2 + 263.3 N2 -----> 88 kg CO2 + 18 kg H2O + 263.3 kg N2

or 1 kg C2H2 + 3.076 kg O2 + 10.12 kg N2 ------> 3.38 kg CO2 + 0.69 kg H2O + 10.12 kg N2


...(iv)
i.e., Amount of air = 3.076 + 10.12 = 13.196 kg of air per kg of C2H2
Note: That’s the definition of air-fuel ratio.
Hence amount of theoretical air required for combustion of 1 kg acetylene
= 13.196 kg. (Ans.)
(b) If combustion takes place at equivalence ratio, 𝜑 = 0.8
𝐴
( ) 𝐴
𝐹 𝑠
If 𝜑 = 0.8 = 𝐴 where 𝐹 = 𝐴𝑖𝑟 𝑡𝑜 𝑓𝑢𝑒𝑙 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜
( )
𝐹 𝑎

(𝐴/𝐹)𝑠
∴ (𝐴/𝐹)𝑎 =
0.8
from part (a) - theoretical/stoichiometric (𝐴/𝐹)𝑠 = 13.196

13.196
∴ (𝐴/𝐹)𝑎 = = 16.495
0.8
Hence, on mass basis the equation becomes:-

1 kg C2H2 + 16.495 kg [Air] a kg CO2 + b kg H2O + c kg O2 + d kg N2 ...(v)

Note: The excess air in the reactant remain in the product due to equivalence ratio lower than 1.

However, we need to write this equation on mole basis:-

Molar masses: 1 mole C2H2 = 26 kg C2H2

& 1 mole Air = (0.21 mole O2 + 0.79 mole N2) = 28.84 kg

∴ 26 kg C2H2 + 428.87 kg [Air] a kg CO2 + b kg H2O + c kg CO2 + d kg N2 ...(vi)


Note: We can represent air as mixture of O2 & N2 for ease of understanding.

Furthermore, equation becomes more intuitive, if we write for 1 more of O2 in place of 1 mole of
air.

Then 4.76 mole of air = 1mole O2 + 3.76 mole N2

On molar basis equation becomes:-

C2H2 + 14.87 [Air] a CO2 + b H2O + CO2 + d H2

Or

C2H2 + 3.124[O2 + 3.76 N2] a CO2 + b H2O + CO2 + d H2 ...(vii)

By mass balancing:-
𝟏.𝟐𝟓
C2H2 + 3.124 [O2 + 3.76 N2] 2CO2+ H2O + O2 + 11.75 N2
𝟐

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