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Fuel contains mainly ‘C’ which undergoes

combustion and liberates large amount of heat
energy.

C+ O2  CO2 + heat (Exolhermic)

Burning of a substance (in + ce of O2) or oxdation of

a compound is called combustion.

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Classification :
CHEMICAL FUELS

Primary / Natural Secondary / Derived /Synthetic

Solid Liquid Gaseous Solid Liquid Gaseous

Wood crude oil natural gas coke Tare water gas

Peat coal kerosene
Coal Diesel
Petrol Bio-gas

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Calorific value :

The total quantity of heat liberated, when a unit mass/vol. Of fuel is burnt
completely.

Units : k-cal, cal, B.Th.U. C.H.U. (Centigrade heat).

Higher or gross calorific value :

Total amount of heat liberated by complete combustion of unit quantity of fuel
and products are cooled to R.T.
Lower calorific values : (L.C.V.)
It is the amount of heat liberated by compete combustion of unit quantity of fuel
and products get escaped.

LCV or net C.V = HCV – latent heat of condensed steam

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Characteristics of a good fuel :

 HCV
 Moderate ignition temperature.
 Low moisture content
 Low non-combustible matter
 Combustion products should not be harmful
 Low cost
 Easy to transport
 Should undergo spontaneous combustion
 Should leave less carbon residue.

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Cracking :

The technique of increasing the yield of petrol from

petroleum fractions is called cracking. It is the process
of decomposition of less volatile higher hydrocarbons
into more volatile lower hydro carbons by application
of heat pressure and catalyst.

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 Cracking also increase antiknock propertis of petrol.

 Nature of product formed during crcking depends on
 1. Nature of hydro carbon
 2. temperature and press of cracking
 3. presence of catalyst.

Types of cracking :
 1. Thermal cracking : is done by application of heat
and pressure alone in made of special cromium Ni-
alloy
 Liquid Phase thermal cracking : temp (475 – 5300C)
 High pres (70 atm), yield (65), Octane No. (65 to
70)

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Octane no :
 Indicates ablity of fuel (petrol) to resist knock.
 N-heptane (maxi knocking tendency)
 Octane no = 0
 Iso octane octane no = 100 ( min knock tendency)
 Octane no of a given fuel is the percentage of iso
octane in a mixture of isoctane and n-heptane that
gives same knocking properties of fuel under test,
under similar conditions.

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Cetane number :
 indicates ignition quality of diesel engine fule.
 Cetane (n-hexa decane) ‘100’ (ignite readily)
 2-methyl naphtalene 0 (ignite slowly)
 Cetane no of given diesel fuel is the % of cetane in a
mixture of cetane and 2-methyl napthalene which
has same ignition qualities as the sample fuel under
similar conditions in a test engine.

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DR. E. LAXMINARAYANA
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DR. E. LAXMINARAYANA