Fuels and Combustion

Abstract

Fuel is the general name of any material that releases energy (heat) when a change occurs in its physical and chemical structure. Fuels set free their energy either in a chemical sense like burning or nuclear sense like nuclear fusion. For example, coal, natural gas, oil, etc., are burned to produce heat and power. Fuels can be stored to produce energy and this energy is used for work when necessary. Organic carbon constitutes the main material of fuels. Heat is released because of the reaction of this organic carbon with oxygen. This reaction heat is greatly utilized in industry. Fuels used in industry can be divided into three large groups: solid fuels, liquid fuels, and gaseous fuels.