Specific Heat Capacity of Diesel Liquid & Gas - J/kgK

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The discussion centers on the specific heat capacity of diesel in both its liquid and combusted gas states for a heat exchanger report related to a domestic boiler. It highlights the distinction between evaporated diesel and combusted diesel, emphasizing that the specific heat capacity of combusted diesel is more relevant for heat transfer calculations. The specific heat capacity of liquid diesel is approximately 1750 J/kg K, but the combustion products (CO2 and H2O) are what matter for heat exchange. The lower heating value (LHV) of diesel is crucial for understanding the heat produced and its efficiency in heating water. The conversation concludes with an acknowledgment of the complexities involved in calculating heat exchange and a willingness to address further questions.
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I am doing a heat exchanger report for a domestic boiler, and would anyone know what the specific heat capacity for diesel in its liquid and gas(having been combusted) state. In J/kgK please thanks
 
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Mech_guy said:
I am doing a heat exchanger report for a domestic boiler, and would anyone know what the specific heat capacity for diesel in its liquid and gas(having been combusted) state. In J/kgK please thanks

There is a big difference between the gaseous form of diesel (evaporated) and combusted diesel. I'm assuming you're looking for evaporated diesel but you should clarify.

Wolfram Alpha has some good info: http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?...a=*DPClash.CommodityE.diesel-_*NYMEX:LL.dflt-
 
The diesel is being used to fuel the boiler that heats my house. So to obtain the ideal heat transfer of the gas the exits the exhaust, I would need to know its specific heat capacity. The site you gave me didn't quite yield the results i was looking for, but thank you
 
I think you're a bit confused about the tools you need to solve this problem. If I'm following you correctly, you are looking at a boiler that runs off of diesel and it is heating water, that in turn, heats your house via steam.

The specific heat capacity (~1750 J/kg K) of the diesel is largely irrelevant to this problem, unless you're designing a preheater to the boiler. The outlet for this side of the boiler does not contain diesel fuel. The diesel is consumed in a reaction, and (for all intents and purposes) CO2 and H2O are produced. The specific heat of that mixture can be found by taking a simple mixture of the gases produced using a combustion equation and something like C12H23 as a decent stand-in for diesel fuel.

If I were looking at this, I'd first want to know the lower heating value (LHV) of the diesel fuel. The LHV is the heat of combustion, minus the vaporization energy of the stoichiometrically produced water. This basically tells you how much heat is produced by the diesel and is available for exchange, assuming 100% efficiency. This value will let you know how much water you are able to vaporize and use to heat your house.

For a quick back of the napkin calculation, you can take the LHV of the diesel and assume an 80% or so thermal efficiency. That's about typical for most process boilers, but it could range from 50-90%, depending on your specific model.
 
mhmounty,


thanks very much for interoperating my query correctly as i was having a lot of trouble with that aspect. Rather embarrassed actually that it didn't dawn on me that it would be a CO2 and h20 mixture for the exhaust. As it turns out it is in a way a preheater, though you have given me a lot to think about. I may have more questions in the future, if you would oblige.


Thanks
Mech-Guy
 
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