Practical No.

P02

ME 1822: BASIC ENGINEERING THERMODYNAMICS

THOMPSON’S CALORIMETER

Instructed By

Group Members

Name :

Index :
 Group :

Date of Performance :

Date of Submission :

Introduction

Thompson’s calorimeter practical is performed in order to determine the calorific value of a given solid
fuel. Calorific value is the amount of energy produced by the complete combustion of a material or fuel,
at constant pressure. It is measured in units of energy per amount of material (kJ/kg). In our practical, we
tried to determine the calorific value of coal. The main apparatus used we used was the Thompson’s
calorimeter. The items (other than the Thompson’s calorimeter) we used for the practical are as follows,

 2g of finely powdered coal

 6.5 g of Potassium Nitrate (KNO3)
 19.5 of Potassium Chlorate (KClO3)
 Nitrate paper
 Thermocouple
 Stopwatch
 Measuring Cylinder with 2000ml of water

KNO3 and KClO3 are used to provide oxygen for the combustion of the fuel.

Procedure

 Coal powder, KNO3 and KClO3 were thoroughly mixed and packed into the furnace tube of the
Thompson’s calorimeter, along with a piece of nitrite paper, part of which could stick out.
 One terminal of the thermocouple was placed inside the measuring cylinder
 Nitrite paper fuse was ignited and the cover (with the stopcock closed) was fixed and the
calorimeter was quickly lowered into the 200ml of water and the stopwatch was started.
 Readings were taken at every 30 seconds until temperature dropped by several degrees
 Once the bubbles stop, indicating the end of combustion stop cock was opened and the tube was
cleared using the metal wire given
 The water was stirred by moving the calorimeter up and don while the temperature readings were
taken
Theory

Calorific value of a fuel is the amount of heat produced by the complete combustion of the fuel.

Assumptions
 Heat loss to the environment by convection is negligible
 Everywhere in the water & calorimeter has the same temperature

Using the above assumptions, can write the energy equation as follows to determine the calorific value of
coal.

𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑑𝑏𝑦𝑡ℎ𝑒 Energyabosrbed 𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑠𝑜𝑟𝑏𝑒𝑑

+
𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑏𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑜𝑓𝑐𝑜𝑎𝑙 by2000mlofwater bycalorimeter

Let,

mf = Mass of coal in kg

mw = Mass of water in kg

mc = Mass of calorimeter in kg

cf = Calorific value of coal

cw = Specific heat capacity of water

cc = Specific heat capacity of calorimeter

Δθw = Temperature difference of water

Δθc = Temperature difference of calorimeter

t1 = Initial temperature

t2 = Mean value of the maximum temperature obtained from the

experiment and the extrapolated maximum temperature obtained
from graph
 Therefore (Using Q=mcΔθ),

𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑑𝑏𝑦𝑡ℎ𝑒
mf ×cf
𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑏𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑜𝑓𝑐𝑜𝑎𝑙

Energyabosrbed
mw ×cw ×Δθw
by2000mlofwater

𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑠𝑜𝑟𝑏𝑒𝑑
mc ×cc ×Δθc
bycalorimeter

Since both the calorimeter and water are were in the room temperature initially, their initial temperatures
are the same.

We assume that the maximum temperature is same for all of water and all of calorimeter.

∴Δθw Δθc –t1

Then the previous energy equation can be written as follows and a formula for the calorific value can be
obtained,

mf ×cf mw ×cw ×–t1 +mc ×cc ×–t1

(mw ×cw +mc ×cc )

cf mf
×–t1
Calculation

The mass of the mixture used in the practical attempt = 22.52𝑔

Mass ratio (Fuel :𝐾𝑁𝑂3 : 𝐾𝐶𝑙𝑂3 ) = 2: 6.5: 19.5

Using this ratio, mass of fuel can be found.

mf 2
= 28
× 22.52𝑔 = 1.60867𝑔

mw = 2kg

mc = 455.53×10−3 kg

cw = 4.2kJkg −1 K −1

cc = 0.45×10−3 kJkg −1 K −1

t1 = 30.3℃

From the graph,

Maximum measured temperature = 33.7℃

Extrapolated maximum temperature = 33.93℃

(33.7+33.93)
∴t 2 (Average) = =33.82℃
2

Now we can assign this data to the formula derived in the theory section,

(mw ×cw +mc ×cc )

cf mf
×–t1

(2kg×4.2kJkg −1 K −1 +455.53×10−3 kg×0.45×10−3 kJkg −1 K −1 )

cf ×(33.82–30.3)K
1.60867×10−3 kg

cf 18,380.51kJkg −1
Results

The corrected maximum temperature (using the Dickinson method) = 33.82℃

The calorific value obtained from practical: 18.38 MJ kg-1

Interpretations

 It is different to the value in data tables. The errors while performing the practical and heat losses
are the reason for the difference.

 Calorific value of a solid fuel can be found with reasonable accuracy using Thompson’s
calorimeter method.

 The Dickinson method can be used to correct the losses due to radiation.
Discussion

1. Describe briefly the method used in correcting for heat loss by radiation, etc

The average of the maxmum observed temperature and the exptrapolated maximum temperature
was used as the final temperature to correct for heat loss by radiation.

In addition to that, starting the practical at a slightly smaller temperature than the surrounding
temperature and finishing the practical at a slightly higher temperature can also negate the effect of
heat loss in the practical.

In addition to correction of heat loss, it can be reduced while performing the practical.

Heat is lost by
 Radiation
 Conduction
 Convection

Losses by radiation can be reduced by polishing the surface of the calorimeter.

Losses by conduction in this practical can be reduced by insulating the measuring cylinder
Losses by convection can be reduced by insulating the all the equipment.

2. Describe the Dickinson method of correcting for radiation losses as prescribed by ASTM

Dickinson method is a method prescribed by ASTM, to correct radiation losses. In this method we
extrapolate the cooling curve and get an extrapolated maximum temperature. Then we take the
average value of the extrapolated temperature and the maximum temperature to get the correct
maximum temperature using this method.
(𝑡| |𝑚𝑎𝑥 + 𝑡𝑒𝑥𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑝𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 )
𝑡𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡 =
2

3. How was the heat of reaction of Nitrate and Chlorate accounted for?

Reaction of nitrate decomposition

2KNO3 →2KNO2 +O2 - equation 1

Reaction of chlorate decomposition

2KClO3 →2KCl+3O 2 – equation 2

Equation 1 is an endothermic reaction; therefore, it absorbs heat from the surrounding.

Equation 2 is an exothermic reaction; therefore, it emits heat to the surrounding.
 Because of this the two reactions exchange heat with each other, and it can be assumed that no heat
is released to the system or absorbed from the system by these reactions. Therefore, heat effects of
these reactions can be ignored.

4. What is the expected calorific value of coal? Reasons of any discrepancy between the observed
values and expected values

Power plant coals have a calorific value in the range of 9500 kJ/kg to 27000 kJ/ kg.

Reasons for discrepancy

 Errors in measurements
 Coal sample not burning 100%
 Heat losses to the surrounding
 Impurities in the coal sample or the chemicals
 The mixture not mixing properly
 Temperature discrepancies in the system

5. What type of calorific value (higher or lower) is calculated from this experiment?

Higher calorific value is the total heat released when burning the coal.
Lower calorific value is the heat energy available after reducing the loss due to heat absorbed by
moisture.

We did not take any steps to remove moisture which could be present in the coal. Since the mixture
was exposed to the atmosphere during mixing, it is further exposed to water vapour or moisture in
the air. Therefore, what we have calculated from this experiment is the higher calorific value.

6. What other important methods are used to obtain the calorific value of fuels?

 Bomb calorimeter method

 Boy’s calorimeter method
 Theoretically

7. If you were asked to find the calorific value of a given sample of firewood, how would you do
it?

1. Dry a small sample and finely powder the wood.

2. Mix known quantities of KNO3 and KClO3 with a known quantity of wood flour.
The quantity of the wood flour needs to be greater than the mass of coal used for this practical
to observe a significant temperature change.
3. Then perform the same steps used to find the calorific value of coal
4. Calculation can be done the same way, by assigning to the following formula.
All the symbols have the same meaning as before except for mf and cf being the mass and the
calorific value of the wood.

(mw ×cw +mc ×cc )

cf ×–t1
mf