Assessing Combustion Air Demand and Environmental Impacts of Fuel Choices in Industrial Steam Generation

Nawaze Mahmud; Syed Ahmed Shibly; Avishek Kumar Dey; Md Abdul Kayum; Tapas Barai; Monabbir E Zaman

doi:10.55524/ijirem.2025.12.4.1

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of various fuels including Natural Gas, Diesel, Coal, and Biomass on the air requirements for combustion as well as the environmental impacts within the context of steam production in industries, particularly Bangladesh. This stems from the ongoing fossil fuel crises and the need for an environmentally friendly effective energy solution. Many Bangladeshi factories suffer from poor ventilation and operate with malfunctioning boilers which leads to fuel wastage while exacerbating emissions. To address the problem, the study integrates stoichiometric combustion analysis, thermodynamic calculations, and environmental impact assessments to focus on fuel performance. There is a practical scenario where a steam boiler operating at 5000 kg/hr serves as a benchmark. Among the fuels analyzed, Natural gas emerges as the most efficient and cleanest, requiring only 317.29 kg/hr and emitting 866.37 kg/hr of CO? with no SO? emissions. Biomass, although renewable, requires the highest quantity of fuel while contributing a moderate level of CO? emissions. The existing coal and diesel variants are higher contributors to airborne pollutants including sulfur dioxide. The study conclusively demonstrates how significant air-to-fuel ratios are and fuel selection for industrial efficiency.

Keywords

Steam Generation, Emission, Combustion, Stoichiometry, Biomass.

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Cites this article as

N. Mahmud, S. A. Shibly, A. K. Dey, M. A. Kayum, T. Barai, M. E. Zaman, "Assessing Combustion Air Demand and Environmental Impacts of Fuel Choices in Industrial Steam Generation", International Journal of Innovative Research in Engineering & Management (IJIREM), Vol-12, Issue-4, Page No-1-6, 2025. Available from: https://doi.org/10.55524/ijirem.2025.12.4.1