Chemistry & Reaction Engineering

Thermochemistry & Combustion Simulators

A focused Chemistry & Reaction Engineering hub for thermochemistry & combustion tools, keeping related formulas, assumptions, and engineering checks together.

5 simulators

Adjacent categories

Simulator list

How to Use

  1. Select fuel type (natural gas, diesel, coal, biomass) and specify composition by mass fraction or molar ratio
  2. Set inlet air temperature, pressure (kPa), and stoichiometric ratio (lambda) for lean/rich combustion analysis
  3. Input desired outlet temperature or adiabatic flame temperature assumption, then run equilibrium solver to obtain products, heat release (MJ/kg), and pollutant yields (NOx, CO, soot formation)

Worked Example

Methane combustion at lambda=1.1 (10% excess air): CH4 inlet at 25°C, 101.325 kPa with dry air at 20°C. Stoichiometric reaction yields adiabatic flame temperature 1957 K. With 10% excess O2, flame temperature drops to 1847 K, CO concentration falls from 89 ppm to 12 ppm, and NOx formation (via Zeldovich mechanism) reduces from 247 ppm to 156 ppm. Heat released: 50.0 MJ/kg methane.

Practical Notes

  1. Use lambda >1.0 for industrial burners; lambda=1.05–1.15 balances emissions and efficiency in natural gas boilers
  2. Adiabatic flame temperature assumes zero heat loss; real furnaces run 200–400 K cooler due to wall losses and radiation
  3. CO formation spikes when lambda <0.95; incomplete combustion wastes 2–5% fuel energy
  4. Gibbs free energy minimization required for accurate equilibrium K values above 1500 K; ideal gas assumption valid up to 3000 K at atmospheric pressure