Determination and study of heat content variations of prunable branches from selected fruit trees using the parr oxygen bomb calorimeter

Date of Publication

1984

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Teaching Major in Physics

Subject Categories

Education | Physics

College

Br. Andrew Gonzalez FSC College of Education

Department/Unit

Science Education

Thesis Adviser

Bee Ching Ong

Defense Panel Chair

Melecio Deauna

Defense Panel Member

Angel Martinez
Vivien Talisayon

Abstract/Summary

This thesis supports government efforts particularly in furthering the (1) development of dendrothermal power plants and gasifiers and (2) utilization of indigenous materials for physics and (mechanical and forest) engineering both for classroom and laboratory purposes. The rationale is in addition to an attempt to help produce any possible answer to our need for more scientific manpower as well as development of our own ingenuity. The dendrothermal and gasifier programs have been considered labor intensive but still infants in their stages. Hopefully, this study will also contribute, however minor, partial solutions to the general socio-economic-energy and related problems encountered today by the Motherland. The main problem is to determine the heat content of each prunable branch of selected fruit trees and to study the heat content variations likewise to compare the overall average of the heat contents with the individual heat content of other biofuels. The selection of fruit trees is to help create or revive more interests in our fruit trees which have been seemingly neglected through the years. An improvement and modernization of our agriculture (similar to those in most developed countries today) in the future will include proper mass planting of various fruit trees in a place and (regular or otherwise) pruning of the branches as part of good orchard cultural management. By then, we will have some if not significant supplies of prunable branches that could further support more feasible dendrothermal power plants and gasifiers in many communities specially in our rural areas.

The methodology uses its main high precision instrument, the Parr 1341 plain oxygen (Isothermal-Jacket) Bomb Calorimeter and its accessories. The other equipments used are equally of high precision. In addition to the calorimeter's manual, the procedure also uses other manuals like that of the Philippine Standards Association, Inc. (PHILSA 122: 1976), the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM D 3286-73, 1974), etc. The methodology is greatly simplified with its developed (original) Data Sheets I and II that served as the main guides for each of all the 90 trials at an average of one-hour-and-a-half each run excluding computations. However, a relatively very minor and negligible error on the titration of bomb washings is committed. Briefly on the methodology, the calorimeter (and the procedure) system is standardized in a series of burning benzoic acid with known computed heat content (H) or heat of combustion of 6315 cal/g. A weighed sample investigated is burned under a constant (for all burnings here) high pressure (35 atm) oxygen in the system. The heat content (H) of the sample is then computed through a recorded net corrected temperature rise and application of appropriate corrections on the systems. Deauna's (1981b) treatment of physics experimental results and other most appropriate statistical tools like the One Factor ANOVA with unequal observations and the Scheffe method are used on analyzing the data gathered. As determined here, the calorimeter system has an energy equivalent (W) of 2457 cal/C.

Abstract Format

html

Language

English

Format

Print

Accession Number

TG01443

Shelf Location

Archives, The Learning Commons, 12F Henry Sy Sr. Hall

Physical Description

192 leaves; 28 cm.

Keywords

Enthalpy; Heat

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