The Basic Principal Applications Of A Bomb Calorimeter

What is bomb Calorimetry ?

Bomb calorimetry is a procedure which determines the heat of combustion or calorific value of materials which are burned as fuels - is a fundamental test of great significance to anyone concerned with :

• Production and/or utilization of solid and liquid fuels.

• Disposal of combustible wastes.

• Study of foods and feeds.

For these purpose, many bomb calorimeters manufacturer provide a wide selection of equipment for all types of calorimetric service, whether for routine fuel tests, for precise research measurements, for occasional calorific tests, or for student instruction.

Uses for a bomb calorimeters extend into any chemical, physical or physiological process in which heat generation or burning is an important factor.

Principal applications include calorific measurements for:

Coal and coke, all varieties and types
Fuel oil, both heavy and light varieties

Gasoline, all motor fuel and aviation types jet fuels, all varieties

Combustible wastes and refuse disposal

Foodstuffs and supplements for human nutrition

Forage crops and supplements for animal nutrition

Building materials Explosives and heat powders

Rocket fuels and related propellants

Thermodynamic studies of combustible materials

Energy balance studies in ecology

Instruction in basic thermodynamic methods

Heats of combustion, as determined in an oxygen bomb calorimeter, are measured by a substitution procedure in which the heat obtained from the sample is compared with the heat obtained from a standardizing material. In this test, a representative sample is burned in a high-pressure oxygen atmosphere within a metal pressure vessel or “bomb”. The energy released by the combustion is absorbed within the calorimeter and the resulting temperature change is recorded.

Four essential parts are required in any bomb calorimeter:

(1) an insulating jacket to protect the bucket from transient thermal stresses during the combustion process,
(2) a bucket for holding the bomb in a measured quantity of water, together with a stirring mechanism,

(3) a bomb in which the combustible charges can be burned and

(4) a thermometer or other sensor for measuring temperature changes within the bucket.

Different model calorimeters will incorporate these parts with varying degrees of technology.

Also see :

> Four reasonable criteria to select a bomb calorimeter

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