1. What is Adiabatic Flame Temperature?

The adiabatic flame temperature is the theoretical temperature that combustion gases would reach if the process occurred without any heat loss to the surroundings. It represents the maximum possible temperature for a given fuel-air mixture under ideal conditions.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the adiabatic flame temperature equation:

Where:

• \( T_{ad} \) — Adiabatic flame temperature (K)
• \( T_0 \) — Initial temperature (K)
• \( \Delta H_f \) — Heat of combustion (J/kg)
• \( c_p \) — Specific heat capacity (J/kg·K)

Explanation: The equation calculates the temperature increase by dividing the heat released during combustion by the specific heat capacity of the combustion products, then adding this to the initial temperature.

3. Importance of Adiabatic Flame Temperature

Details: Adiabatic flame temperature is crucial for combustion system design, thermal efficiency calculations, emissions control, and safety analysis in various industrial applications including engines, furnaces, and power plants.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter initial temperature in Kelvin, heat of combustion in Joules per kilogram, and specific heat capacity in Joules per kilogram per Kelvin. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is adiabatic flame temperature theoretical?
A: In real combustion processes, heat loss to surroundings, incomplete combustion, and dissociation effects prevent reaching the theoretical maximum temperature.

Q2: What factors affect actual flame temperature?
A: Actual flame temperature is influenced by heat loss, combustion efficiency, air-fuel ratio, pressure, and the presence of diluents or excess air.

Q3: How does air-fuel ratio affect flame temperature?
A: Maximum flame temperature typically occurs near stoichiometric conditions. Both lean and rich mixtures result in lower temperatures due to excess air or incomplete combustion.

Q4: What are typical adiabatic flame temperatures?
A: For common fuels, adiabatic flame temperatures range from 2000-2500 K, with hydrogen reaching up to 3000 K and methane around 2200 K under stoichiometric conditions.

Q5: Why use Kelvin instead of Celsius?
A: Kelvin is used in thermodynamic calculations because it's an absolute temperature scale where 0 K represents absolute zero, making it essential for energy balance equations.