Most car engines run on petrol, which is usually treated as octane (c8h18). a top fuel dragster’s fuel includes nitromethane (ch3no2), which has complete combustion products of carbon dioxide, nitrogen and water. the two fuels have calorific values of 43.7 mj/kg and 11.3 mj/kg respectively. a common fuel in drag racing is a mixture of 10% octane and 90% nitromethane (molar fractions).
(i) write the combustion equation for the dragster fuel, including 20% excess air.
(ii) if an engine running on octane produces 100 kw when running with 20% excess air, what power would it produce using the 10/90 fuel mix? assume that the mechanical and volumetric efficiencies of the engine remain the same