The third type we can find is incomplete combustion
Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2024 9:49 am
Incomplete combustion
, which is also the one that carries the greatest risk. In this case, not all the fuel is oxidized, while the oxidizer is completely used up.
In these cases, various substances are produced, called unburned, and are more dangerous for the environment. One of the best known is carbon monoxide, the inhalation of which poses a great risk to health.
Types of fuels
Another concept that is important to be clear about is which elements act as fuels, in order to know how to handle them safely in any energy process. Below, we explain what types of fuels we can find according to their nature:
Liquid fuels
This type of fuel is usually found at room temperature and at zambia email list a standard atmospheric pressure level. The most widely used and well-known liquid fuel is petroleum, which is usually transformed to obtain gasoline, diesel, fuel oil or similar.
Oil has been used for the last few decades as one of the most common fuels in sectors such as transport and industry.
Solid fuels
Solid fuels are those that are in the form of compact and tangible material, such as wood or coal. In fact, the many forms in which we find wood constitute solid fuels: firewood, pellets, chips, etc.
Nowadays, it is increasingly common to use biomass as solid fuel, in which agricultural and plant waste are combined to obtain a cleaner fuel.
The higher the quality of the solid fuel, the more complete the combustion will be . Other factors also play a role in this process, such as the combination of carbon, oxygen, nitrogen and other elements.
Gaseous fuels
Finally, fuel can also be used in a gaseous state. In this case, it is most common to find mixtures of gaseous hydrocarbons and other substances such as hydrogen or carbon. Depending on the mixture of components or the nature of the process, we distinguish between several types:
Natural gas, whose main component is methane and is usually extracted from natural deposits.
Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), in which butane and propane are mixed.
Manufactured gases, where different products obtained through industrial processes are mixed.
Biogas, which mainly uses organic compounds mixed with methane.
Combustion: basic concepts to keep in mind
If you are interested in the topic of combustion , you will surely have seen some key concepts to understand these processes:
Excess air. Complete combustion, which is the least risky, requires excess air to ensure that the fuel is completely oxidized.
Excess air coefficient. This concept measures the proportion between the amount of air present and the amount needed for accurate combustion . If it is less than 1, we are talking about combustion with a lack of air. On the other hand, if it is greater than 1, we are talking about combustion with excess air, which may be complete combustion .
Calorific value. This is the amount of heat produced as a result of the complete oxidation of the fuel components at atmospheric pressure. The higher calorific value is the heat generated when water, in the form of steam, condenses and becomes liquid. The lower calorific value is the heat produced when water, in the form of steam, is involved in the combustion process. The higher the calorific value of the fuel, the more energy it will produce.
Solid fuels generally have the risk of producing clouds of dust that we could inhale. Liquid fuels, on the other hand, tend to generate puddles, which makes natural gas the most common and safest option.
, which is also the one that carries the greatest risk. In this case, not all the fuel is oxidized, while the oxidizer is completely used up.
In these cases, various substances are produced, called unburned, and are more dangerous for the environment. One of the best known is carbon monoxide, the inhalation of which poses a great risk to health.
Types of fuels
Another concept that is important to be clear about is which elements act as fuels, in order to know how to handle them safely in any energy process. Below, we explain what types of fuels we can find according to their nature:
Liquid fuels
This type of fuel is usually found at room temperature and at zambia email list a standard atmospheric pressure level. The most widely used and well-known liquid fuel is petroleum, which is usually transformed to obtain gasoline, diesel, fuel oil or similar.
Oil has been used for the last few decades as one of the most common fuels in sectors such as transport and industry.
Solid fuels
Solid fuels are those that are in the form of compact and tangible material, such as wood or coal. In fact, the many forms in which we find wood constitute solid fuels: firewood, pellets, chips, etc.
Nowadays, it is increasingly common to use biomass as solid fuel, in which agricultural and plant waste are combined to obtain a cleaner fuel.
The higher the quality of the solid fuel, the more complete the combustion will be . Other factors also play a role in this process, such as the combination of carbon, oxygen, nitrogen and other elements.
Gaseous fuels
Finally, fuel can also be used in a gaseous state. In this case, it is most common to find mixtures of gaseous hydrocarbons and other substances such as hydrogen or carbon. Depending on the mixture of components or the nature of the process, we distinguish between several types:
Natural gas, whose main component is methane and is usually extracted from natural deposits.
Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), in which butane and propane are mixed.
Manufactured gases, where different products obtained through industrial processes are mixed.
Biogas, which mainly uses organic compounds mixed with methane.
Combustion: basic concepts to keep in mind
If you are interested in the topic of combustion , you will surely have seen some key concepts to understand these processes:
Excess air. Complete combustion, which is the least risky, requires excess air to ensure that the fuel is completely oxidized.
Excess air coefficient. This concept measures the proportion between the amount of air present and the amount needed for accurate combustion . If it is less than 1, we are talking about combustion with a lack of air. On the other hand, if it is greater than 1, we are talking about combustion with excess air, which may be complete combustion .
Calorific value. This is the amount of heat produced as a result of the complete oxidation of the fuel components at atmospheric pressure. The higher calorific value is the heat generated when water, in the form of steam, condenses and becomes liquid. The lower calorific value is the heat produced when water, in the form of steam, is involved in the combustion process. The higher the calorific value of the fuel, the more energy it will produce.
Solid fuels generally have the risk of producing clouds of dust that we could inhale. Liquid fuels, on the other hand, tend to generate puddles, which makes natural gas the most common and safest option.