Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila

(University of the City of Manila )

College of Engineering and Technology
Chemical Engineering Department

Spreadsheet Calculations on the

Adiabatic Flame Temperature
Laboratory Experiment 4

Submitted by:

Almera, Carl John V.

Requinto, Arch Mikael R.

Salvador, Andrea R.

Salvador, Shydene C.

Submitted to:

Engr. Francis Dominic H. Lavilles

October 2023
 Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
(University of the City of Manila)
College of Engineering and Technology
Chemical Engineering Department

Table of Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 3

Theories ......................................................................................................................................................... 4

Formula Used:............................................................................................................................................ 6

Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................................... 9

Excel Documentation/ Computation ............................................................................................................ 10

References .................................................................................................................................................... 19

CHE 0314.1 – Computer Application in CHE

Laboratory Experiment 4: Spreadsheet Calculations on the Adiabatic Flame Temperature 2
 Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
(University of the City of Manila)
College of Engineering and Technology
Chemical Engineering Department

Introduction
In terms of combustion engineering and thermodynamics, the adiabatic flame temperature
is an important parameter for understanding the combustion process. An exothermic reaction,
combustion is the chemical process of burning that takes place between a fuel and an oxidizer and
produces the release of heat energy. This process is pivotal for chemical engineers, including
industrial processes, energy production, furnaces, engines, and chemical reactions. During
combustion under adiabatic conditions, the adiabatic flame temperature denotes the maximum
temperature reached during the combustion process.

There is no heat transfer between the surroundings and the system when it is adiabatic. The
term "adiabatic flame temperature" refers to the ideal temperature required to achieve the
combustion process. This shows that the heat generated by the chemical reaction is contained
within the system and isn't exchanged with the environment through heat transfer. It is attained by
fuel and oxidizer reacting with no external heat; therefore, it refers to the maximum temperature
to attain combustion without any heat loss. To optimize combustion processes and guarantee
effective energy usage, it is crucial to understand adiabatic flame temperature.

Heat capacity is an extensive property where it is the required heat to change the
temperature of the matter by one degree Celsius. Chemical engineers can precisely predict the
temperature changes during the combustion process. The heat of reaction, also known as the
enthalpy of reaction, is the amount of heat needed to maintain the same temperature for all
reactants during a chemical reaction. By taking this into account within the energy balance the
energy, inputs and outputs can be analyzed. It ensures energy conservation within a closed system,
and this validates the adiabatic flame temperature to have an in-depth comprehension of energy
transformation taking place within chemical reactions.

This lab report's goal is to determine the adiabatic flame temperature as a parameter of the
combustion process. Using Microsoft Excel, the students must be able to calculate the heat

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Laboratory Experiment 4: Spreadsheet Calculations on the Adiabatic Flame Temperature 3
 Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
(University of the City of Manila)
College of Engineering and Technology
Chemical Engineering Department

capacity as a function of temperature, the heat of reaction, and the energy balance. They must
provide an in-depth analysis of how the different percent excess air affects the adiabatic flame
temperature.

Theories

When the combustion process occurs adiabatically, with no heat, and no loss of energy such
as kinetic and potential energy. In this case, it is termed as the adiabatic flame temperature, which
represents the maximum temperature that can be achieved by the reactants since any heat transfer
from the reactants and incomplete combustion will result in a lower temperature (Sakhrieh, 2019).
In addition to this, understanding the general purpose of the adiabatic flame temperature holds
immense significance and various applications such as heat exchanger, designing industrial
furnaces, curbing the formation of pollutants, enhance the combustion efficiency in engines, and
machinery. Adiabatic flame temperature (AFT) represents the complete energy input into an air-
fired combustion chamber for a given fuel rate and combustion stoichiometry. During the
combustion of oxy-fuel, warm recycled flue gases can transfer energy to the furnace chamber
(Pizzuti et al., 2016). These insights can facilitate the development of energy efficiency while
reducing the environmental effects in combustion-based systems.

The relationship between the enthalpy of reaction (ΔH) and adiabatic flame temperature is
crucial, since the enthalpy of reaction represents heat energy transfer throughout the chemical
reaction, be it release (exothermic) or absorption (endothermic). In terms of energy balance,
exothermic reactions will result in high adiabatic flame temperature while the endothermic
reaction will lead to a lower temperature. The efficiency of combustion process correlates to this
because the higher the exothermic values indicate the more efficient conversion of chemical
energy to thermal energy. Also, specific heat capacity correlates with the adiabatic flame
temperature, as it denotes the amount of heat required to increase the temperature of a substance
by 1 degree Celsius at constant pressure. It is necessary in computing changes in temperature in
different processes and determining the adiabatic flame temperature.

CHE 0314.1 – Computer Application in CHE

Laboratory Experiment 4: Spreadsheet Calculations on the Adiabatic Flame Temperature 4
 Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
(University of the City of Manila)
College of Engineering and Technology
Chemical Engineering Department

Moreover, the correlation between the excess air and adiabatic flame temperature lies in
optimizing combustion processes. Excess air means the additional air supplied beyond the
stoichiometric requirement. By using air as the oxidizer instead of O2, the adiabatic flame
temperature is significantly reduced, and the flame temperature is further reduced by increasing
the percentage of excess air (Falconer, n.d.). Regarding the heat of enthalpy of reaction, it is
essential for determining the adiabatic flame temperature as why the reaction approaches zero it
only signifies the complete combustion under ideal conditions. Also, it indicates that the reactants
are transforming into products without absorbing or releasing the heat.

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Laboratory Experiment 4: Spreadsheet Calculations on the Adiabatic Flame Temperature 5
 Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
(University of the City of Manila)
College of Engineering and Technology
Chemical Engineering Department

Formula Used:
The following formulas are used in this computational laboratory experiment:

A. Heat Capacity

𝐶𝑝,𝑖 = 𝐴𝑖 + 𝐵𝑖 𝑇 + 𝐶𝑖 𝑇 2 + 𝐷𝑖 𝑇 3

where 𝐶𝑝,𝑖 is the heat capacity of component i in J/mol-K, and Ai, Bi, Ci, and Di are constants for

component, obtained from Elementary of Principles of Chemical Processes, 3rd edition.

B. Heat of Reaction

∆𝐻𝑟𝑥𝑛 = ∑𝑣𝑖 ∆𝐻𝑓,𝑖

where ∆𝐻𝑟𝑥𝑛 is the heat of reaction at 298 K, 𝑣𝑖 is the stoichiometric coefficient, and ∆𝐻𝑓,𝑖 is the

heat of formation of species i at 298 K.

C. Energy Balance
𝑇 𝑇𝑖𝑛
∆𝐻 = 𝑄 = 0 = 𝑛𝑓𝑢𝑒𝑙 ∆𝐻𝑟𝑥𝑛 + ∑(𝑛𝑖𝑜𝑢𝑡 ∫ 𝐶𝑝 𝑑𝑇) − ∑(𝑛𝑖𝑖𝑛 ∫ 𝐶𝑝 𝑑𝑇)
298 298

Where 𝑛𝑖𝑜𝑢𝑡 is the moles of component i leaving the furnace, 𝑛𝑖𝑖𝑛 is the moles of component i fed

to the furnace, Tin is the feed temperature, and T is the adiabatic flame temperature.

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Laboratory Experiment 4: Spreadsheet Calculations on the Adiabatic Flame Temperature 6
 Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
(University of the City of Manila)
College of Engineering and Technology
Chemical Engineering Department

Results and Discussion

Presented below is the data from the Excel calculations performed for feed temperature,
excess air percentage, and adiabatic flame temperature.

Table 1. Tabulated feed temperature, excess air percentage, and adiabatic flame temperature

Feed temperature, ℃
Excess air, mol%
300 400 500
2015 2105 2200
25

1773 1858 1945

50

1596 1680 1766

75

1458 1542 1629

100

As observed from the calculated data, the adiabatic flame temperature decreases as the
excess air input increases at three different feed temperatures. This is indicative of the indirect
relationship between the feed temperature and excess air.
In terms of the energy balance equation for enthalpy change used in the experiment,
𝑇 𝑇𝑖𝑛
∆𝐻 = 𝑄 = 0 = ∑ 𝑛𝑓𝑢𝑒𝑙 ∆𝐻𝑟𝑥𝑛 + ∑ (𝑛𝑜𝑢𝑡 ∫ 𝐶𝑝𝑑𝑇) − ∑ (𝑛𝑖𝑛 ∫ 𝐶𝑝𝑑𝑇 )
298 𝐾 298 𝐾

these observations can be attributed to the reduction in the enthalpy of the reaction when excess
air is introduced to the system that dilutes the mixture components, which also contributes to a
reduction in the heat released by the reaction. Moreover, as for the heat feed, the initial temperature
of the reactants is lowered when excess air is added since this air has also a lower temperature as
compared to that of mixture components, which balances the equation and attains Q = 0. Lastly,
with the same case as the enthalpy of reaction, the concentration of the products is diluted with the

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Laboratory Experiment 4: Spreadsheet Calculations on the Adiabatic Flame Temperature 7
 Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
(University of the City of Manila)
College of Engineering and Technology
Chemical Engineering Department

excess air that were not consumed as the combustion proceeds to completion, which then lowers
the adiabatic flame temperature and attains balance in the equation at Q = 0.

300 deg C 400 deg C 500 deg C

2500
Adiabatic Flame Temperature (oC)

2000

1500

1000
y = -0.0004x3 + 0.1152x2 - 17.253x + 2565
R² = 1
500 y = -0.0003x3 + 0.1016x2 - 16.147x + 2450
R² = 1
y = -0.0003x3 + 0.0936x2 - 15.487x + 2348
R² = 1
0
0 25 50 75 100 125
Excess Air (%)

Figure 1. Plot for the excess air percentage and adiabatic flame temperature (℃).

In this graph, the relationship between adiabatic flame temperature to varying excess air is
projected. The trends at three different temperatures conformed to the observed inverse
relationship that exists between the two variables; as the amount of air supplied to the reaction
rises, a decrease in the adiabatic flame temperature is observed. In this case, the 25%, 50%, 75%,
and 100% excess air is represented by the x-axis and adiabatic flame temperature being the y-axis
on the polynomial degree 3 graph. The negative slope of the lines indicates the indirect relationship
between the excess air percentage and the adiabatic flame temperature, while the coefficient of
determination of 1 infers that the experimental values obtained have a perfect fit or a strong linear
relationship.
Aside from relating these observational trends to the energy balance equation for enthalpy
change, the relationship is represented by Le Chatelier’s principles, which states that at changing

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Laboratory Experiment 4: Spreadsheet Calculations on the Adiabatic Flame Temperature 8
 Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
(University of the City of Manila)
College of Engineering and Technology
Chemical Engineering Department

conditions (temperature, pressure, concentration), a system at dynamic equilibrium will adjust to

compensate for this change (Libretexts, 2023). The excess air introduced in the combustion
reaction constitutes a larger amount of air supplied in the system leading to less heat produced and
greater heat absorbed by nitrogen. Therefore, the shift towards equilibrium within the system
lowers the adiabatic flame temperature. The higher the amount of excess air, the lower the flame
temperature, assuming no heat loss, since at greater excess air more amount of inert nitrogen will
absorb the produced heat.

Conclusion
In this computational laboratory experiment conducted, the spreadsheet calculation was
utilized to compute the adiabatic flame temperature of the combustion of hydrocarbons specifically
methane (CH3), ethane (C2H6), propane (C3H8), and butane (C4H10). The percentage of excess air
and adiabatic flame temperature are observed to have an indirect relationship with one another.
This observation can be explained by the reduction in the enthalpy of the reaction when excess air
is introduced to the system since it dilutes the mixture components, and this excess air absorbs the
heat that should be achieved in the adiabatic flame condition.
In summary, the presence of excess air in a combustion reaction highly affects its adiabatic
flame temperature. To maintain the system at equilibrium and shift towards complete combustion,
the excess air will absorb the heat and prevent the reaction from producing an even higher
temperature that may affect the equipment if the reaction proceeds further. Le Chatelier’s principles
further explain the observation that in changing conditions, a system at dynamic equilibrium will
adjust to compensate for this change.

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Laboratory Experiment 4: Spreadsheet Calculations on the Adiabatic Flame Temperature 9
 Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
(University of the City of Manila)
College of Engineering and Technology
Chemical Engineering Department

Excel Documentation/ Computation

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Laboratory Experiment 4: Spreadsheet Calculations on the Adiabatic Flame Temperature 10
 Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
(University of the City of Manila)
College of Engineering and Technology
Chemical Engineering Department

CHE 0314.1 – Computer Application in CHE

Laboratory Experiment 4: Spreadsheet Calculations on the Adiabatic Flame Temperature 11
 Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
(University of the City of Manila)
College of Engineering and Technology
Chemical Engineering Department

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Laboratory Experiment 4: Spreadsheet Calculations on the Adiabatic Flame Temperature 12
 Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
(University of the City of Manila)
College of Engineering and Technology
Chemical Engineering Department

CHE 0314.1 – Computer Application in CHE

Laboratory Experiment 4: Spreadsheet Calculations on the Adiabatic Flame Temperature 13
 Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
(University of the City of Manila)
College of Engineering and Technology
Chemical Engineering Department

CHE 0314.1 – Computer Application in CHE

Laboratory Experiment 4: Spreadsheet Calculations on the Adiabatic Flame Temperature 14
 Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
(University of the City of Manila)
College of Engineering and Technology
Chemical Engineering Department

CHE 0314.1 – Computer Application in CHE

Laboratory Experiment 4: Spreadsheet Calculations on the Adiabatic Flame Temperature 15
 Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
(University of the City of Manila)
College of Engineering and Technology
Chemical Engineering Department

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Laboratory Experiment 4: Spreadsheet Calculations on the Adiabatic Flame Temperature 16
 Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
(University of the City of Manila)
College of Engineering and Technology
Chemical Engineering Department

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Laboratory Experiment 4: Spreadsheet Calculations on the Adiabatic Flame Temperature 17
 Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
(University of the City of Manila)
College of Engineering and Technology
Chemical Engineering Department

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Laboratory Experiment 4: Spreadsheet Calculations on the Adiabatic Flame Temperature 18
 Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
(University of the City of Manila)
College of Engineering and Technology
Chemical Engineering Department

References
Falconer, J. L. (n.d.). Adiabatic flame temperature. LearnChemE. https://learncheme.com/quiz-

yourself/interactive-self-study-modules/adiabatic-flame-temperature/adiabatic-flame-

temperature-

summary/#:~:text=Increasing%20the%20percent%20of%20excess,must%20be%20taken

%20into%20account.

LibreTexts. 2023. Le Chatelier’s Principle Fundamentals.

https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry_Textbook_

Maps/Supplemental_Modules_(Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry)/Equilibria/Le_Chat

eliers_Principle/Le_Chatelier's_Principle_Fundamentals

Pizzuti, L., Martins, C. A., & Lacava, P. T. (2016). Laminar burning velocity and flammability

limits in biogas: A literature review. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 62, 856–

865. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2016.05.011

Sakhrieh, A. (2019). The adiabatic flame temperature and laminar flame speed of methane

premixed flames at varying pressures. Acta Periodica Technologica, 50, 220–227.

https://doi.org/10.2298/apt1950220s

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