Comparative Exergy and Ecological Performance Assessment of Shale Gas and Conventional Gaseous Fuels in a Steady-Flow Adiabatic Combustion Chamber

The increasing demand for cleaner and more efficient energy systems has intensified interest in evaluating the thermodynamic performance of alternative gaseous fuels. This study investigates the exergy distribution of methane, ethane, propane, and two shale gas compositions in a steady-flow adiabatic combustion chamber to assess their thermodynamic and environmental performance. A first- and second-law thermodynamic analysis was conducted under steady-state and adiabatic conditions. Chemical and physical exergy balances were established for each fuel, and exergy destruction, exergy efficiency, and ecological efficiency were determined based on combustion products and operating conditions. The results indicate that fuel composition significantly influences exergy distribution and system performance. Among the fuels considered, shale gas mixtures exhibited competitive thermodynamic characteristics, while variations in hydrocarbon composition affected exergy destruction and combustion efficiency. The ecological efficiency analysis further demonstrated differences in the environmental performance of the investigated fuels, highlighting the potential advantages of specific shale gas compositions under identical operating conditions. These findings provide a comprehensive comparison of conventional gaseous fuels and shale gas mixtures from an exergy perspective and contribute to a better understanding of fuel selection for sustainable combustion systems. The presented approach may also serve as a useful framework for future studies on the thermodynamic optimization of combustion processes.