Inside an industrial combustion reactor, a fuel with an unknown molecular formula is burned in the presence of oxygen from air. The flue gas coming out of the combustion reactor is analyzed and the composition is reported on a dry basis as shown in the flowchart below. a. Perform a degree of freedom analysis based on an atomic species balance. b. Determine the ratio of carbon:hydrogen atoms in the fuel. Carbon: (nc), [mol C] Hydrogen: (n) [mol H] Air: (nAir)o [mol air] Dry Composition: 9.3 mol % CO₂ 7.6 mol % O₂ 83.1 mol % N₂ nH₂0 [mol H₂O] Industrial plants commonly use boilers to heat up reaction vessels, and the source of heat for boilers is generally the combustion of wood, coal, oil or methane (i.e., natural gas). One particular industrial boiler is fed methane at a flow rate of 1.20 x 108 kmol/year. The air intake valve that delivers air to the boiler was not designed properly by the engineer overseeing the process (clearly not a McMaster alumni!). Instead of delivering an excess amount of air to the boiler, there is a deficiency of 5% air being fed. All of the oxygen in the air fed to the boiler is consumed and the temperature is sufficiently high so that all of the methane that is consumed undergoes complete combustion. This industrial boiler should have been designed to feed 30% excess air to achieve complete combustion of all of the fuel. a. What are the flow rates of all of the components in the flue gas exiting the boiler? b. What is the environmental impact relating to the emissions due to this design flaw? Be quantitative where possible. (Hint: Consider the CO₂ equivalents that are released based on the global warming potential of the species in the flue gas stream)

Introduction to Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
8th Edition
ISBN:9781259696527
Author:J.M. Smith Termodinamica en ingenieria quimica, Hendrick C Van Ness, Michael Abbott, Mark Swihart
Publisher:J.M. Smith Termodinamica en ingenieria quimica, Hendrick C Van Ness, Michael Abbott, Mark Swihart
Chapter1: Introduction
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3. Inside an industrial combustion reactor, a fuel with an unknown molecular formula is burned in the
presence of oxygen from air. The flue gas coming out of the combustion reactor is analyzed and the
composition is reported on a dry basis as shown in the flowchart below.
a. Perform a degree of freedom analysis based on an atomic species balance.
b. Determine the ratio of carbon:hydrogen atoms in the fuel.
Carbon: (nc), [mol C]
Hydrogen: (n) [mol H]
Air: (nAir)o [mol air]
Dry Composition:
9.3 mol % CO₂
7.6 mol % O₂
83.1 mol% N₂
nH₂0 [mol H₂O]
4. Industrial plants commonly use boilers to heat up reaction vessels, and the source of heat for boilers
is generally the combustion of wood, coal, oil or methane (i.e., natural gas). One particular industrial
boiler is fed methane at a flow rate of 1.20 x 10³ kmol/year. The air intake valve that delivers air to
the boiler was not designed properly by the engineer overseeing the process (clearly not a McMaster
alumni!). Instead of delivering an excess amount of air to the boiler, there is a deficiency of 5% air
being fed. All of the oxygen in the air fed to the boiler is consumed and the temperature is sufficiently
high so that all of the methane that is consumed undergoes complete combustion. This industrial
boiler should have been designed to feed 30% excess air to achieve complete combustion of all of the
fuel.
a. What are the flow rates of all of the components in the flue gas exiting the boiler?
b.
What is the environmental impact relating to the emissions due to this design flaw? Be
quantitative where possible. (Hint: Consider the CO₂ equivalents that are released based on
the global warming potential of the species in the flue gas stream)
Transcribed Image Text:3. Inside an industrial combustion reactor, a fuel with an unknown molecular formula is burned in the presence of oxygen from air. The flue gas coming out of the combustion reactor is analyzed and the composition is reported on a dry basis as shown in the flowchart below. a. Perform a degree of freedom analysis based on an atomic species balance. b. Determine the ratio of carbon:hydrogen atoms in the fuel. Carbon: (nc), [mol C] Hydrogen: (n) [mol H] Air: (nAir)o [mol air] Dry Composition: 9.3 mol % CO₂ 7.6 mol % O₂ 83.1 mol% N₂ nH₂0 [mol H₂O] 4. Industrial plants commonly use boilers to heat up reaction vessels, and the source of heat for boilers is generally the combustion of wood, coal, oil or methane (i.e., natural gas). One particular industrial boiler is fed methane at a flow rate of 1.20 x 10³ kmol/year. The air intake valve that delivers air to the boiler was not designed properly by the engineer overseeing the process (clearly not a McMaster alumni!). Instead of delivering an excess amount of air to the boiler, there is a deficiency of 5% air being fed. All of the oxygen in the air fed to the boiler is consumed and the temperature is sufficiently high so that all of the methane that is consumed undergoes complete combustion. This industrial boiler should have been designed to feed 30% excess air to achieve complete combustion of all of the fuel. a. What are the flow rates of all of the components in the flue gas exiting the boiler? b. What is the environmental impact relating to the emissions due to this design flaw? Be quantitative where possible. (Hint: Consider the CO₂ equivalents that are released based on the global warming potential of the species in the flue gas stream)
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