Finding Out Which Fuel Releases the Most Energy Per Gram
Aim:
To find out which fuel releases the most energy per gram.
Scientific Theory:
Heat is the transfer of energy between two objects due to a
temperature. Heat is lost through the atmosphere because of combustion
a process where a substance and oxygen or other elements combine to
produce heat and light (fire). Combustion of alcohols produces water
and carbon dioxide. Therefore the amount of heat which is not being
used to heat the water is lost through the air. There are three types
of heat: conduction, convection and radiation. There are a number of
ways to control the heat lost, an example is taking tiles and
surrounding the fire to decrease the area of the heat that can be lost
so more heat is trapped to concentrate on the water. Another way to
control the heat is to decrease the distance between the boiling tube
and the container.
The amount of energy released increases with the number of bonds
present in the chemical substance or fuel. That is because each bond
has a certain amount of energy stored in it therefore the more bonds
the more energy is stored and more energy is released if these bonds
break through combustion.
Theoretical Values:
Methanol CH OH 17000 J/g
Ethanol C H OH 22000 J/g
Propanol C H OH 25000 J/g
Butanol C H OH 27000 J/g
Hexane C H 35000 J/g
Variables:
The variables used in this experiment are:
Volume of water, mass of fuel, temperature of water, height of tube,
height of flame, type of fuel, time it takes, width of flame, colour
of flame, material of container, size and surface area, purity of
fuel, heat loss and shape of type of wick.
The type of fuel, heat loss will be the variables to change.
We will measure to control the temperature of the water using a
thermometer, time it takes using a stopwatch, mass of fuel using a
First, 100 mL of regular deionized water was measured using a 100 mL graduated cylinder. This water was then poured into the styrofoam cup that will be used to gather the hot water later. The water level was then marked using a pen on the inside of the cup. The water was then dumped out, and the cup was dried. Next, 100 mL of regular deionized water was measured using a 100 mL graduated cylinder, and the fish tank thermometer was placed in the water. Once the temperature was stabilizing in the graduated cylinder, the marked styrofoam cup was filled to the mark with hot water. Quickly, the temperature of the regular water was recorded immediately before it was poured into the styrofoam cup. The regular/hot water was mixed for a couple seconds, and the fish tank thermometer was then submerged into the water. After approximately 30 seconds, the temperature of the mixture leveled out, and was recorded. This was repeated three
Warmer water temperature discharged by waste industrial heat into water can affect many aquatic species that cannot tolerate the warmth. A higher level of temperature can result in low oxygen concentrations by speeding up the rate of decomposition of organic matter. "The discharges are often associated with coal-or nuclear-fuelled power plants, and sometimes with large factories." (H.J. Dorcey). The increase of heat materials dumped into water can increase the temperature level in the water bodies and can affect all living organisms within that body. There are many disadvantaging technology which has been affecting water and raising the water temperature from normal. For example, electric power plants might withdraw water from nearby water bodies for the purpose of cooling in the plant and then return the heated water back to the same water body. This is insanely affecting the regular temperature. If the water is not the same, it can lead to many damages within the water body. For example, fishes will dies exhausted from the warmth and it will also affect other aquatic organisms causing them to boil in the water caused by others, sacrificing these creatures. Water from excessively heating up can be best prevented by using special cooling towers and ponds that disperse the energy into the
This container must have a value of specific heat capacity so I can calculate heat transferred to it as well. Probably the most conductive container available for use in the classroom is a calorimeter. As well as not wasting energy on the heating of the container, I could also try to stop heat from escaping the top and edges of the container by covering it with a fitting lid. I will try to prevent the wind from blowing the flames in a different direction so all the windows must be shut. HYPOTHESIS More energy is released as more bonds are formed, below is the list of approximate energy required to break and form all bonds involved in burning alcohols.
Investigation to Find the Relative Energy Release of Five Alcohols: Ethanol, Methanol, Propanol, Butanol and Propanol
on how long it takes to heat up. If we heat a large volume of water it
cm∆T where c is the specific heating capacity of water (4.17 Jg-1K-1) -m is the mass of water, in g -∆T is the change of temperature of the water Apparatus Apparatus I will use Size of the apparatus Value /quantity distill water / >3 litres, as much as possible* thermometer 0-110C thermometer 1 measuring cylinder 100 cm3 1 electronic balance correct to 2 decimal places 1 Bunsen burner / 1 draught shielding each approx. 20cm x 20cm 5 metal calorimeter *** 4 clamp about 1 meter 6 spirit burner with wick / 4 match/wooden stick / as many as possible burner cap / 4 tile as big as possible 1 Propan-1-ol / half filled the spirit burner * Butan-1-ol / half filled the spirit burner * Butan-2-ol / half filled the spirit burne * Cyclohexanol / half filled the spirit burner * ***-I will find out in preliminary test *-Half filled the spirit burner because alcohol should be away from
This is so I can calculate the mass which is lost in each alcohol. The spirit burner and alcohol I am using is on a brick under a tripod. On the tripod I placed a clay pipe triangle which holds a beaker containing 100ml of water. Light the spirit burner and stir the water with the thermometer constantly. When the temperature has risen to 30oC, I quickly place the top back on the spirit burner.
This software enables you to simulate experiments. This means that I am able to quickly carry out experiments to help in planning for my investigation. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Alcohol Temperature Increase (oC) Mass of burner before exp. (g) Mass of burner after exp.
Conduction, Convection, and Radiation Heat transfer is the way heat moves through matter to change the temperature of other objects. There are three types of heat transfers, Conduction, Convection, and Radiation. The first kind of heat transfer, conduction, is heat transferring through direct contact of materials. This would be the same thing as a pan on the stove. The heat from the stove touches the pan directly, therefore making the pan hot.
To investigate the relationship between three different alkanols in terms of their carbon chain length, rate of increased temperature, and heat of combustion, in order to determine which is the most efficient at heating water to a certain temperature whilst reducing time and effects on the environment.
Heat is thermal energy being transferred from one place to another, because of temperature changes. This can take place by three processes. These three processes are known as conduction, convection, and radiation.
Fuel alternatives for the future are very important because, we need resources for life. We won’t have fossil fuels forever. It is important to start now. If we did not have any fuel alternatives how would the world be?
Objects that are not the same size but have the same surface area to volume ratios loose heat at the same rate. So a flask, with a volume of 200cm3 with a surface area of 160cm2 and a surface area to volume ratio of 1.25:1, will loose heat at the same rate as a similar flask of volume 625 and a surface area of 500 which also has a surface area to volume ratio of 1.25:1. However, generally when you increase the size of an object the surface area to volume ratio decreases so in this example it is very likely that the two flasks in question are different shapes.
The heating rate of biomass for fast pyrolysis can be high as 1000°C/s- 10,000°C/s, however maximum temperature for the process is maintained below 650°C. the primary interest is to produce for tis process is to produce bio-oil, however temperature can be increased up to 1000°C produce fuel gases in the same process (Table 1). There are 4 important factors that can affect the liquid yield heating rate, reaction temperature, residence time and rapid quenching of the product gas. Maintaining these factors can increase the liquid yield of biomass and maximize the production of bio-oil.
Thermodynamics is the branch of science concerned with the nature of heat and its conversion to any form of energy. In thermodynamics, both the thermodynamic system and its environment are considered. A thermodynamic system, in general, is defined by its volume, pressure, temperature, and chemical make-up. In general, the environment will contain heat sources with unlimited heat capacity, allowing it to give and receive heat without changing its temperature. Whenever the conditions change, the thermodynamic system will respond by changing its state; the temperature, volume, pressure, or chemical make-up will adjust accordingly in order to reach its original state of equilibrium.