Combustion and Furnaces

Introduction to Combustion

Combustion is a chemical reaction; it is defined as “rapid combination of oxygen with a fuel which results in release of heat energy and light.”

Notice the key part of the definition deals with combination of oxygen with other elements. As a matter of fact, oxidation is the simplest type of “combustion”. Rusting of iron is simply combination of iron with atmospheric oxygen. Though we do not refer to the rusting process as combustion, but in a true scientific sense, it is very slow combustion process.

The Combustion Process

The basis for combustion process is combination of carbon with oxygen. Other substances present in fuels also combine with oxygen, but the primary process is combination of carbon with oxygen.