TEMPERATURE OF

COMBUSTION

Definition of temperature of combustion

Calorimetric temperature: Tc,c the highest temperature
of the un-dissociated exhaust gases due to adiabatic and
isobaric combustion of fuel with stechiometric amount
of air.
Theoretical temperature of combustion: Tc,t - the
highest temperature of exhaust gases due to adiabatic
and isobaric combustion of fuel in excess of air,
including dissociation .
Combustion temperature: Tc may change accordingly
to heat losses in combustion process.

Theoretical temperature of combustion

Under constant pressure theoretical temp. of
combustion Tc is evaluated from the balance of
subtracts and products enthalpies.
T fuel

m pp ( h tw , st ( pal ) +

T fuel

c p ( pal ) dT ) + m air

T st

( pow ) dT =

T st

Ts

m sp ( h tw , st ( sp ) +

( sp ) dT )

T st

Notation: mpp the stream of fuel mass, mair the stream of air
mass, msp the stream of exhaust gases mass, Tst standard
temperature (298 K), Tc combustion temperature

Calculations theoretical temperature of

combustion
Having cp in the polynomial form, for example:
cp = a1 + a2T + a3T2 +a4T-2
we obtain after integration:

a3Ts4 + a2Ts3 + a1Ts2 + f

Ts a4 = 0
We solve above equation with Tc as a variable

Simplified evaluation of theoretical

temperature of combustion
Considering average specific heat:
cp(fuel) = cp(air) = cp(flue gas)
Tf = Ta = T0
we obtain:

(Tc To) cp,fuelmflue gas = QHHVmfuel

Tc = To + (QHHV mfuel)/(mflue gas cp,flue gas)
Error range of Tc under this estimation: 10-20%.

Real temperature of combustion

Real temperature of combustion is lower than

calorimetric temperature of combustion due to:

heat losses from the flame

in-complete combustion (dissociation),

non-total combustion.

TEMPERATURE OF COMBUSTION
OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF FUEL
Heat losses from flame result mainly from radiation. This is the
reason why deviation from the calorimetric temperature depends
on emission ability of flame:

Temperature deviation from Tc,t

gas flames: 30-50,

oil flames: 200-300,

dust flames: 500-600.

EXAMPLES OF TEMPERATURE OF
COMBUSTION OF SELECTED FUELS
FUEL
Hydrogen, H2
Hydrogen
CO
Methane, CH4
Butane, C4H10
Acetylene, C2H2
Acetylene
Propane, C5H12
Ethane, C2H6
Ammonia, NH3
CO + N2
CH4 + N2
9CH4 + H2

OXIDIZER
Air
Oxygen
Air
Air
Air
Air
Oxygen
Air
Air
Air
Air
Air
Air

FUEL FRACTION,
%vol
31.6
78
20
10
3.2
9
33
4.15
5.8
21
47.3
17.5
10.5

TEMPERATURE,
C
2045
2660
1650
1875
1895
2325
3007
1925
1895
1700
1675
1725
1880