1 PB
1 PB
1 PB
org
ISSN 2224-3232 (Paper) ISSN 2225-0573 (Online)
Vol.5, No.1, 2015
Simeon. O. Jekayinfa
Agricultural Engineering Department, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria
Abstract
This paper presents a framework of thermodynamic, energy and exergy, analyses of industrial steam boilers.
Mass, energy, and exergy analysis were used to develop a methodology for evaluating thermodynamic properties,
energy and exergy input and output resources in industrial steam boilers. Determined methods make available an
analytic procedure for exergetic analysis on steam boilers for appropriate applications. Chemical exergy of the
material streams was considered to offer a more comprehensive detail on energy and exergy resource allocation
and losses of the processes in a steam boiler.
Keywords: exergy, energy, steam boilers, chemical exergy, exergy destruction
LIST OF SYMBOLS
LPFO low pour fuel oil Chemical symbols
AFRst stoichiometric air-fuel ratio (kg of air/kg of fuel) C x H y hydrocarbon (fossil fuel)
molecules
AAF actual air-fuel ratio (kg of air/kg of fuel) C carbon
mɺ i inlet mass flow rate, kg/s H hydrogen
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1. Introduction
Steam boilers are closed vessels which are usually used to produce steam from water by combustion of fuel
(Rajput, 2006). The steam may further be utilised, for many other production processes. Owing to its great
significance in today’s industrial world, it is imperative to fully understand how to effectively assess the energy
resources utilization and outputs in steam boilers to ensure adequate energy management. The increasing energy
demand from emerging economies versus the day-to-day decreasing storages of energy resources, the rising cost
of fossil fuels and the considerable environmental impact connected with their exploitation are implications that
policy makers cannot disregard. These would consequently result in energy-related problems to become more
pronounced in the future (Tonon et al., 2006). Therefore, the need for effective and efficient energy utilization in
production systems cannot be overemphasised.
The impact of steam boilers on the environment, as regards competing for scarce energy resources as
diesel, coal, natural gas, etc. for its operation with attended environmental degradation like air pollution,
emission of green house gases, which continues to threaten quality of life and the ecosystem calls for closer
attention. For a given environment, energy which is convertible into other forms of energy is called useful
energy or exergy. Energy which is impossible to convert into other energy forms is called useless energy or
anergy (Ayhan and Demirtas, 2001). Exergy analysis appears to be a significant tool in addressing the impact of
energy resource utilization of steam boilers on the environment as raised in past work by Dincer et al. (2003) to
further the goal of more efficient energy resource utilization of steam boilers; enabling locations, types, and true
magnitudes of wastes and losses to be determined for steam boilers; revealing whether or not and how much it is
possible to design more efficient steam boiler systems by reducing the inefficiencies in the existing systems;
providing a sustainable development for steam boilers for sustainable supply of energy resources; and
distinguishing the high-quality and low-quality energy resources of steam boilers.
This study presents a framework to evaluate thermodynamic properties and performance variables
associated with material streams in boilers, such as, mass flow rate, temperature, enthalpy, entropy, energy and
exergy transfer with chemical, heat and material interactions, efficiencies, and exergetic losses in steam boilers.
2. Method
2.1 Methodological Framework
The framework for the methodology of this study was classified into 2 major categories as shown in Figure 1.
These include determination of operational variables and performance variables of steam boilers (Osemene,
2008, Ohijeagbon, 2012).
Methodological framework
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Measurable Computable
properties properties
Other non-measurable
temperatures and mass
flow rates
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3. Theoretical Framework
3.1 Air-fuel ratio determination for complete combustion
During the combustion of fossil fuels, hydrocarbon molecules ( C x H y ) are combined with oxygen to produce
carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) in an exothermic reaction (Process Heating, 2010). The stoichiometric
quantity of oxidizer is just that amount that is necessary to completely burn a quantity of fuel. The stoichiometric
air-fuel ratio is calculated by balancing carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O) atoms in the combustion
reaction.
Typical composition of low pour fuel oil LPFO (No. 6 fuel oil) and diesel (No. 2 fuel oil) given in
Table 2, can be used to compute the amount of oxygen required, and other products released during the
combustion of oil-fired boilers. Hence, the ultimate and proximate values of the products of combustion for
complete combustion can then be determined.
Since air contained 23.3% O2 by mass,
O2 required per kg of fuel
∴ Air required/kg of fuel = (3)
0.233
Hence, the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio,
Air required/kg of fuel
AFRst = by mass (kg of air kg of fuel) (4)
1
The actual air-fuel ratio ( AAF ) can be determined by (Process Heating, 2010),
AAF = (1 + EA) × AFRst (5)
where, EA = excess air
Recommended excess air levels for fuel oil burners are: Register type, 15-20%; Multi-fuel burners and
flat-flame type, 20-30% (Bureau of Energy Efficiency, 2010a).
Since air contained 76.7% of N2 by mass,
∴ N 2 supplied = 0.767 × AAF kg/kg of fuel (6)
Similarly,
O2 supplied = 0.233 × AAF kg/kg of fuel (7)
The excess air = O2 supplied − O2 required kg / kg of fuel (8)
That is,
O2 contained in the products of combustion = The excess air kg/kg of fuel (9)
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(%CO) p
(%O2 ) p −
% EA = 2 × 100 (11)
(% CO) p
21 − (%O2 ) p −
2
where,
%EA = percentage excess air
(%O2)p = percentage oxygen from proximate (volumetric) analysis
(%CO)p = percentage carbon monoxide from proximate (volumetric) analysis
Equation (11) can be re-arranged and expressed in terms of percentage carbon monoxide as follows:
2 × (%O2 ) p (1 + EA) − 2 × 21× EA
(%CO) p = (12)
(1 + EA)
5 7
2
Fuel 3 Heat 6
Combustio Exhaust
n unit exchangin flue gas
Air Hot g unit
1 product
s 4
Water
Qɺ = ∑ mɺ e he − ∑ mɺ i hi (14)
Iɺ = ∑ mɺ i ε i − ∑ mɺ eε e (15)
The exergetic balance of a boiler can be determined using equations (13) to (15).
where,
mɺ i = inlet mass flow rate, kg/s
mɺ e = exit mass flow rate, kg/s
Qɺ = heat transfer rate to the system, kJ/s
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3. Combustion temperatures
From an energy balance analysis of a combustion process, the combustion temperature can be
calculated as follows (Process Heating, 2010),
hr
Tc = Tca + (22)
[c p × (1 + AAF )]
where,
Tc = combustion temperature
Tca = temperature of the combustion air before entering the burner
hr = heat of reaction (hr = LHV, if exhaust gas streams is above 60 0C, (Kitto and Stultz, 2005) cp = specific heat
of fuel at ambient temperature of products of combustion
To maintain satisfactory working conditions for personnel around a boiler, a cold face temperature or
boiler room ambient temperature, Tar of 57 0C (135 0F) or less is considered satisfactory (Kitto and Stultz, 2005).
The following data may be used to calculate the values of the combustion temperature, Tc for LPFO and
diesel operated boilers:
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Tca = Ta
hr(LPFO) = 40,515.15 kJ/kg, hr(diesel) = 42,790.21 kJ/kg
AAF(LPFO) = 16, AAF(diesel) = 17
The specific heat of petroleum oils can be modeled as follows (Petroleum, 2011):
1
cp = [1.6831 + 3.3913 × 10 − 3 Tar ] (23)
d
where,
d = relative density at 15 0C
cp = specific heat, kJ/kg K
Tar = ambient boiler room temperature
d = relative density = 0.95 for LPFO and 0.86 for diesel at 15 0C (Armstrong, 2010)
hence, the values of cp were obtained as follows from equation (23);
c p( LPFO ) = 1.866 kJ / kg K , c p( diesel ) = 1.9612 kJ / kg K
Using the values of cp obtained above, the values of Tc = Tf can be obtained from equation (22) with their
different combustion air temperature, Tca.
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a = 1.683x10-5
b = 0.233
c = -18.03
Equation (27) can be used to evaluate the enthalpy of the exhaust flue gases. It should be noted that the constants
a, b and c are stated only for the quoted temperature range given in 0F.
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e x ch
H = molar chemical exergy of water vapour (H2O), kJ/kmol
2O
∆ g = the change in the standard Gibbs function, kJ/kmol
The chemical exergy of fuel can thus be obtained by (Chemical Exergy, 2011, Roger and Mayhew,
1992),
n ( x + y / 4)
= −∆g + R T0 ln x 2 y / 2
O
e x ch (35)
fuel
nCO n
2 H 2O
The mole fraction of oxygen ( nO ), carbon dioxide ( nCO ) and water ( nH O ) in a standard
2 2 2
environment are given in Table 1.
where,
R = 8.3144 kJ/kmol K (molar or universal gas constant)
The standard Gibbs functions of formation of other components in equation (35) are given as follows
(Roger and Mayhew, 1992):
gCO = -394,390 kJ/kmol
2
g H 2O (v ) = -228,590 kJ/kmol
gO2 = 0
The change in standard Gibbs function can be determined by (Chemical Exergy, 2011, Roger and Mayhew,
1992),
y y
∆g = xg CO2 + g H 2 O ( v ) − ( x + ) g O2 (36)
2 4
The specific chemical exergy was obtained by equation (37)
ch exch
ε = (37)
M
where, M = molar mass of chemical substance, kg/kmol
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Table 3: Chemical exergies of components of atmospheric air at reference conditions, 250C, 1 atm, 70%
relative humidity
Components Chemical exergies
Nitrogen, N2 0.6681
Oxygen, O2 3.9305
Carbon dioxide, CO2 19.610
Argon, Ar 11.640
Water, H2O (g) 9.474
Water, H2O (liq) 0.8842
Hydrogen, H2 236.098
Carbon monoxide, CO 274.87
Source: Ertesvag (2007)
The molar mass of air is given as Mair = 28.96 kg/kmol (Cengel and Boles, 2006).
where, ε aph , ε fph and ε pph are the specific physical exergies of air and fuel at inlet and that of hot products at
1 2 3
ch
exit, while ε ach , ε f ( HHV ) , are the specific chemical exergies of air and the combustion fuel at inlet, and
1 2
ε ch
f 3 is the specific chemical exergy of the combustion fuel at exit.
Usng equations (1) and (2), equation (41) may be re-written as follows
IɺC = mɺ a [( ha − T0 s a ) + ε ach1 ] − mɺ p ( h p − T0 s p ) + mɺ f [( h f − T0 s f ) + ε ch ch
f2 − ε f3 ] (42)
where, h p = specific enthalpies for hot products, s f and sa are the specific entropies of combustion fuel and
air, and the reference state temperature, T0 = 25 0C (298.15 K). The specific chemical exergies can be determined
using equations (35) to (37).
The exergy efficiency of the combustion unit can be determined by
mɺ p ε pph
3
ψC = ph
(43)
mɺ f [ε f2
+ ε ch
f2 − ε ch
f3 ]
Equation (43) may be re-written as
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mɺ p (h p − T0 s p )
ψC = (44)
mɺ f [(h f − T0 s f ) + ε ch ch
f 2 − ε f3 ]
where, ε pph , ε wph , ε sph and ε gph , are the specific physical exergies of products of combustion, feed water,
3 4 5 6
steam and exhaust flue gas, while ε wch4 , ε sch5 and ε gch6 are the chemical exergies of the feed water, steam and
exhaust flue gases, The specific chemical exergies of steam and liquid water are respectively given as 526.33
kJ/kg (9474 kJ/kmol) and 49.12 kJ/kg (884.20 kJ/kmol) (Ertesvag, 2007, Szargut et al., 2011, Talens, et al., 2007).
Equation (47) may be re-written as
IɺH = mɺ p (h p − T0 s p ) + mɺ w [(hw − T0 s w ) + ε wch4 ]
(48)
− mɺ s [(hs − T0 s s ) + ε sch5 ] − mɺ g [(hg − T0 s g ) + ε gch6 ]
where, s g , s s and s w are the specific entropies of exhaust flue gas, steam and feed water.
The exergy efficiency of the heat exchanging unit can be determined by
mɺ s [ε sph + ε sch5 ] − mɺ w [ε wph + ε wch4 ]
5 4
ψH = (49)
mɺ p ε pph − mɺ g [ε gph + ε gch6 )]
3 6
Equation (49) may be re-written as
mɺ s [(hs − T0 s s ) + ε sch5 ] − mɺ w [(hw − T0 s w ) + ε wch4 ]
ψH = (50)
mɺ p (h p − T0 s p ) − mɺ g [(hg − T0 s g ) + ε gch6 )]
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Eɺ desired output
ψB = (53)
Eɺused
Equation (53) may be expressed as
mɺ s [ε sph − ε wph + ε sch5 − ε wch4 ]
5 4
ψB = ph
(54)
mɺ f [ε f2 + ε ch ch
f 2 − ε f3 ]
4. Conclusion
The framework to evaluate thermodynamic properties and performance variables associated with material
streams in steam boilers as presented in this study would afford researchers with a broad base of alternatives in
analysing and determining vital parameters needed in an energy and exegy analysis of steam boilers. The
framework offers advanced thermodynamic solutions based on first principles to determine mass flow rate,
temperatures, enthalpies and entropies which could be used to obtain performance indices, resources allocation,
areas and magnitude of energy losses and exergy destruction.
Instructors, researchers and advanced students of engineering, sciences and energy analysis are
expected to find this material as a helpful tool to quickly understand fundamental concepts and approach
required in energy and exergy analysis of industrial plants. A number of information that is not commonly
contained in a single text or in a simplified manner has been elaborated in this methodology with worked
examples presented in the appendix. Furthermore, the framework does not in any way place a limit on its users,
on the contrary, users would interestingly discover a divergent and varied alternatives to tackling and solving
problems related to energy and exergy analysis in diversified circumstances. Also, users could find the
framework as a good starting point for modelling and simulation of energy and exergy related solutions of
industrial plants and facilities.
References
1. Aljundi, I. H. (2009), Energy and Exergy Analysis of a Steam Power Plant in Jordan, Applied Thermal
Engineering, Vol. 29, pp324–328.
2. Armstrong (2010), Specific Heat-Specific Gravity, [online]. Available:
www.armstronginternational.com/files/common/allproductscatalog/cg-53.pdf (November 15, 2010,)
3. Ayhan, B. and Demirtas, C. (2001), Investigation of Turbulators for Fire Tube Boilers Using Exergy Analysis,
Turk J Engin Environ Sci, TUBITAK Vol. 25, pp249-258.
4, Bureau of Energy Efficiency (2010a), Boilers: Types, Combustion in boilers, Performances evaluation,
Analysis of losses, Feed water treatment, Blow down, Energy conservation opportunities, [online].
Available: emt-india.com/BEE-Exam/GuideBooks/2Ch2.pdf (October 19, 2010)
5. Bureau of Energy Efficiency (2010b), Energy Performance Assessment of Boilers, [online]. Available:
www.em-ea.org/Guide Books/book-4/4.1Boiler.pdf (December 9, 2010)
6. Cengel, Y. A. and Boles, M. A. (2006), Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach, 5th Edition, McGraw
Hill.
7. Chemical Exergy (2011), Lecture 7.5 [online].
Available: www.oocities.org/pldhar/Lecture 7_5.ppt (July 4, 2011],)
8. Cornelissen, R. L. (1997), Thermodynamics and Sustainable Development-The Use of Exergy Analysis and
the Reduction of Irreversibility, Enschede, The Netherlands, pp2-5, 11-14.
9. Dincer, I. Hussain, M. M. and Al-Zaharnah, I. (2003), Energy and Exergy Use in the Industrial Sector of
Saudi Arabia, Proc. Instn. Mech. Engrs., Vol. 217, pp481-492. Part A: J. Power and Energy, A02603 IMechE.
10. Dincer, I. and Rosen, M. A. (2007), Exergy: Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development, Elsevier,
London.
11. ETSAP (Energy Technology Systems Analysis Programme) (2010), Industrial Combustion Boilers, IEA
ETSAP-Technology Brief 101-May 2010, Available: www.etsap.org
12. Ertesvag, I. S. (2007), Sensitivity of the Chemical Exergy for Atmospheric Gases and Gaseous Fuels to
Variations in Ambient Conditions, Energy Conservation and Management, Vol. 48, pp1983-1995.
13. Jorge Luis Hau, M.S. (2005), Toward Environmentally Conscious Process Systems Engineering Via Joint
Thermodynamic Accounting of Industrial and Ecological Systems, Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation, Ohio
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1. Combustion temperatures
Using equation (22) and the data stated as follows:
at cp = 1.866 kJ/kg K, AAF = 16, Tca = 80.63 0C, hr(LPFO) = 40,515.15 kJ/kg
The combustion temperature of a boiler operation was calculated as
hr 40,515.15
T f = Tc = Tca + = 80.63 + = 1,084.82 0 C
[c p × (1 + AAF )] [1.866 × (1 + 16)]
2,716.92
sf = = 2.0009 kJ / kgK
1,357.82
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(
exch( air ) = ∑ ni exchi )
air
= 1702.65 kJ / kmol
The molar mass of air is given as Mair = 28.96 kg/kmol (Cengel and Boles, 2006). Hence, the specific chemical
exergy of atmospheric air can be determined using equation (37) as follows;
1702.65
ε ach = = 58.79 kJ / kg
28.96
9. Chemical exergy of LPFO before combustion
The chemical exergy of LPFO before combustion is equivalent to their respect Gross heating value
(HHV) as shown in Table 2 as follows;
ε chf ( LPFO) = 42,657.34 kJ / kg
= −8,760,186.70kJ / kmol
The molar chemical exergy of LPFO can be determined using equation (35) as follows;
(14.88 +
25.3
)
0.2035 4
ex ch
fuel = −(−8,760,186.70) + 8.3144 × 298.15 × ln
( 25.3 )
0.000314.88 × 0.0303 2
= 9,085,359.82kJ / kmol
The specific chemical exergy of LPFO can be determined using equation (37) as follows;
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ch
e xch( f ) 9,085,359.82
ε ( LPFO) =
f = = 44,566.66kJ / kg
M f ( LPFO ) 203.86
Appendix Table 2: Ultimate and proximate analysis of the products of combustion for complete
combustion of LPFO
Product Mass of Wet Flue Mass of Dry Flue Ultimate Analysis (%) Proximate Analysis (%)
Gas Gas Wet Dry Wet Dry
(kg/kg of Oil) (kg/kg of Oil)
CO2 3.2080 3.2080 18.740 19.780 12.4840 13.6430
H 2O 0.8928 - 5.220 - 8.4940 -
SO2 0.0280 0.0280 0.164 0.173 0.0754 0.0823
O2 0.6263 0.6263 3.660 3.860 3.3570 3.6680
N2 12.3600 12.3600 72.220 76.190 75.590 82.6070
17.1151 16.2223 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00
Source: Ohijeagbon (2012)
Hence, the molar chemical exergy of exhaust flue gases was determined as follows;
1
e xch( g ) =
100
∑ (
ni e xchi )
g
1
= [12.4840(19,610) + 8.4940(9,474) + 0.0754(609,600.00)
100
+ 3.3570(3,930.50) + 75.590(668.10) + 0.336( 274.87)]
1
= [435035.9598]
100
= 4,350.36 kJ / kmol
The molar mass of the exhaust gas from the combustion of LPFO was also determined from the mole
fractions of the products of combustion and the respective molar masses of each constituent member contained
in the gas as shown in Appendix Table 2.
The molar mass of the exhaust flue gases was determined as follows;
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M g ( LPFO ) = ∑ ni M i ( g )( )LPFO
1
= [12.4840(44) + 8.4940(18) + 0.0754(64)
100
+ 3.3570(32) + 75.590(28) + 0.336(28)]
1
= [2940.3656]
100
= 29.40 kg / kmol
The specific chemical exergy of the exhaust flue gases can be determined using equation (37) as follows;
e xch( g ) 4,350.36
∴ε gch6 = = = 147.97 kJ / kg
M g ( LPFO ) 29.40
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mɺ w (hs − hw ) 66.69
ηH =
mɺ p (h p − hg )
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