pommikalorimetrejä

Pommikalorimetrejä, also known as bomb calorimeters, are instruments used to measure the heat released or absorbed during a combustion reaction. They are designed to operate at a constant volume and are particularly useful for determining the calorific value of solid and liquid fuels. The core of a bomb calorimeter consists of a sealed, robust vessel, often made of stainless steel, where the sample to be tested is placed. This vessel, referred to as the "bomb," is then filled with a precise amount of oxygen under high pressure. The bomb is subsequently submerged in a known mass of water contained within an insulated outer jacket.

To initiate the combustion, a fuse wire connected to the sample is ignited electrically. As the sample burns completely within the oxygen-rich environment of the bomb, it releases a significant amount of heat. This heat energy is transferred to the surrounding water. The calorimeter is designed to minimize heat loss to the environment, allowing for an accurate measurement of the temperature change in the water. By measuring the initial and final temperatures of the water, and knowing the heat capacity of the calorimeter and the water, the amount of heat released by the combustion can be calculated using the principle of calorimetry. This calculated heat value directly corresponds to the energy content of the sample, often expressed in joules per gram or kilocalories per gram.