MEP 435 – FUELS AND HEAT POWER

FUEL LOSSES
HEAT LOSS DUE TO MOISTURE IN FUEL
Moisture entering boiler with fuel leaves as superheated vapour. This moisture
loss is made up of sensible heat to bring moisture to boiling point [Cpw(100-
Ta)], superheat required to bring this steam to temperature of exhaust gas
[Cpv(Tg-100], and latent heat of evaporation (hfg). All the three forms of losses
are grouped as

HLmf = (mcf/100)[cpw(100-Ta)+cpv(Tg-100)+hfg]

Where HLmf , heat loss due to moisture in fuel, MJ/kg; mcf moisture content
of fuel, % as-fired; hfg, latent heat of evaporation of water (2.26MJ/kg at
100°C); cpw, average specific heat capacity of water (0.0042 MJ/kg°C at
100°C); cpv, average specific heat of water vapour (MJ/kg°C).
HEAT LOSS DUE TO INCOMPLETE COMBUSTION
Product formed by incomplete combustion could be mixed with oxygen and
burned again with further release of energy. Such products include carbon
monoxide (CO), H2 and various hydrocarbons and are generally only found in
flue gases. CO is the only gas whose concentration can be determined
conveniently in a power plant test.

HLIC = HHVCO(mc)[y2/(y1+y2)]
Where HLIC , heat loss due to incomplete combustion, MJ/kg; HHVCO,
higher heating value of CO, typically equal to 10.143 MJ/kg; mc, carbon
fuel, % as-fired; y1 and y2 are volume fraction of CO2 and CO respectively in
flue gas.
LOSS OF FUEL THROUGH THE GRATE
All the combustible constituents of the fuel may not be burned, as a part of it falls into
the ash pit with the ashes in the form of unburned or partially burned fuel and cinders.
This loss is about 10 to 50 percent of the total weight of the refuse depending on the size
of coal, quality of coal, type of grate and rate of driving.
The loss due to this condition ranges from about 0.5 to 10 percent of the calorific
power of the fuel. At normal driving rates of the most mechanical stokers, losses can
be 0.5 to 5 percent. When some types of natural draft travelling grates are used,
some of the fine fuel falls from the end of the grate. In such cases, a special hopper
may be installed in the ash pit to reclaim it. The heat loss, hg, through the grate, in
cal per kg of fuel as fire is

hg = (hc/100)[ra/(100+r)]
hc, calorific value of combustible in refuse; r, percentage of combustible in dry refuse; a,
percentage of ash in the coal as fired; hg, heat loss in the refuse or grate.

For most boiler tests, the calorific value of the combustible in the refuse may be taken as
that pure carbon. Thus the formula is good only when appreciate amounts of ash are
discharged through the stack. In such a case, the refuse in the ash pit should be weighed
and analyzed for its combustible content.
Thank You!