In this article, I will share some of the factors that affect the combustion efficiency of fuels.
For fuels to burn up with higher efficiency, some factors should be met.
If these factors are affected in one way or another by either internal or external factors, the combustion rate will be affected.
Without wasting time, let me share what you should know about these factors.
These are the factors affecting the combustion efficiency of fuels;
1. The amount of air available or supplied.
This is one of the factors that affect the combustion efficiency of fuels.
The amount of air available or supplied to the furnace has a huge impact on the combustion rate of the fuel.
For the fuel to burn completely, there has to be a sufficient amount of air supplied in the furnace.
Oxygen is responsible for the oxidation of the fuel, which ends up resulting in complete combustion.
On the other hand, if the amount of air supplied is insufficient, it will result in incomplete combustion.
Incomplete combustion of the fuel will result in a lower burning rate; thus, combustion efficiency will be lower; carbon monoxide will also be another issue that you will experience.
The flame produced will also be dirty, thus increasing the maintenance of the furnace after every short period.
Too much amount of air in the furnace will also affect the combustion efficiency of the fuel.
A higher amount of air will dilute the gasses used in combustion and cool the furnace; this will affect the combustion efficiency of the fuel.
The amount of energy produced will be lower, yet the amount of fuel consumed will be larger.
So, the amount of air supplied to the furnace should be regulated to the required volume to ensure that the full potential of combustion of fuel is achieved.
2. The air and fuel mixture.
The air and fuel mixture is another factor that affects the combustion efficiency of the fuel.
The fuel and air should be mixed thoroughly in the furnace to ensure that the combustion is at a higher rate.
And that is why the firing systems used in boilers or steam power plants create proper turbulence to ensure that the air and fuel are mixed thoroughly.
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The combustible materials should come into contact with the oxygen in the air to facilitate the combustion.
If the air and fuel mixture is improper, the combustion of the fuel will be incomplete, and this will affect the overall efficiency of combustion.
The furnace should have a mechanism that allows the fuel and air to be mixed thoroughly when combustion is happening.
3. The length of time the fuel remains in the furnace.
The longer the fuel remains in the furnace, the higher the rate of combustion will be.
If the fuel gets into the furnace and stays for a short time, the combustion won’t be complete, thus resulting in lower efficiency of combustion.
And that is why if the furnace used is moving, a good example is the chain grate stoker; its speed should be controlled to ensure that the fuel remains in the furnace for a sufficient amount of time to ensure that the fuel burns completely.
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4. The initial temperature of the furnace.
The initial temperature is one of the factors that affect the combustion efficiency of fuel.
The furnace should be hot enough to allow quick ignition of the air-fuel mixture that enters the furnace.
The higher the initial temperature of the furnace, the higher the rate of combustion of fuel.
If the initial temperature of the furnace is lower, the combustion of the fuel is going to be delayed when it enters the furnace, thus affecting the overall efficiency of combustion.
Preheated air may be used to increase the initial temperature of the furnace and lower the ignition temperature of the fuel.
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Lastly…
The combustion of fuel should be of higher efficiency to ensure that energy is produced to the maximum.
Especially in power plants where the energy produced by the fuel is highly dependent on power production.
These factors should be checked regularly to ensure the combustion of the fuel is of the required efficiency.
The higher the efficiency of combustion of fuels, the higher the energy produced in the furnace.
Thank you for reading; if you have any questions, leave your comment. See you in my next article.
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