GATE 2016 ME (ME1) – Question 27

Thermal Engineering Applications · Basics of Combustion: air-fuel ratio, equivalence ratio · 1 mark · Numerical answer

Propane (C3H8) is burned in an oxygen atmosphere with 10% deficit oxygen with respect to the stoichiometric requirement. Assuming no hydrocarbons in the products, the volume percentage of CO in the products is __________

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Correct answer: 13.7 to 14.9

Explanation

Complete propane combustion needs5moles O2 per mole fuel; actual supply is4.5. With all hydrogen forming4H2O, let carbon products be xCO and(3−x)CO2. Oxygen-atom balance gives x+2(3−x)+4=9, so x=1. Products are1CO+2CO2+4H2O, giving wet CO fraction1/7=**14.286%**.