The calorific value of a fuel is the quantity of heat produced by its combustion - at constant pressure and under "normal" ("standard") conditions (i.e. to 0oC and under a pressure of 1,013 mbar).
The combustion process generates water vapor and certain techniques may be used to recover the quantity of heat contained in this water vapor by condensing it.
The combustion process generates water vapor and certain techniques may be used to recover the quantity of heat contained in this water vapor by condensing it.
- Higher Calorific Value (or Gross Calorific Value - GCV, or Higher Heating Value - HHV) - the water of combustion is entirely condensed and that the heat contained in the water vapor is recovered
- Lower Calorific Value (or Net Calorific Value - NCV, or Lower Heating Value - LHV) - the products of combustion contains the water vapor and that the heat in the water vapor is not recovered
| Fuel | Higher Calorific Value (Gross Calorific Value - GCV) | Lower Calorific Value (Net Calorific Value - NCV) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| kJ/kg | Btu/lb | kJ/kg | |
| Acetone | 29,000 | ||
| Alcohol, 96% | 30,000 | ||
| Anthracite | 32,500 - 34,000 | 14,000 - 14,500 | |
| Bituminous coal | 17,000 - 23,250 | 7,300 - 10,000 | |
| Butane | 49,510 | 20,900 | 45,750 |
| Carbon | 34,080 | ||
| Charcoal | 29,600 | 12,800 | |
| Coal (Lignite - Anthrasite) | 15,000 - 27,000 | 8,000 - 14,000 | |
| Coke | 28,000 - 31,000 | 12,000 - 13,500 | |
| Diesel | 44,800 | 19,300 | 43,400 |
| Ethane | 51,900 | 47,800 | |
| Ethanol | 29,700 | 12,800 | |
| Ether | 43,000 | ||
| Gasoline | 47,300 | 20,400 | 44,400 |
| Glycerin | 19,000 | ||
| Hydrogen | 141,790 | 61,000 | 121,000 |
| Kerosene | 46,200 | 43,000 | |
| Lignite | 16,300 | 7,000 | |
| Methane | 55,530 | 50,000 | |
| Oils, vegetable | 39,000 - 48,000 | ||
| Paraffin | 46,000 | 41,500 | |
| Peat | 13,800 - 20,500 | 5,500 - 8,800 | |
| Pentane | 45,350 | ||
| Petrol | 48,000 | ||
| Petroleum | 43,000 | ||
| Propane | 50,350 | 46,350 | |
| Semi anthracite | 26,700 - 32,500 | 11,500 - 14,000 | |
| Sulfur | 9,200 | ||
| Tar | 36,000 | ||
| Turpentine | 44,000 | ||
| Wood (dry) | 14,400 - 17,400 | 6,200 - 7,500 | |
| kJ/m3 | Btu/ft3 | ||
| Acetylene | 56,000 | ||
| Butane C4H10 | 133,000 | 3200 | |
| Hydrogen | 13,000 | ||
| Natural gas | 43,000 | 950 - 1150 | |
| Methane CH4 | 39,820 | ||
| Propane C3H8 | 101,000 | 2550 | |
| Town gas | 18,000 | ||
| kJ/l | Btu/Imp gal | ||
| Gas oil | 38,000 | 164,000 | |
| Heavy fuel oil | 41,200 | 177,000 | |
| Kerosene | 35,000 | 154,000 | |
- 1 kJ/kg = 1 J/g = 0.4299 Btu/ lbm = 0.23884 kcal/kg
- 1 Btu/lbm = 2.326 kJ/kg = 0.55 kcal/kg
- 1 kcal/kg = 4.1868 kJ/kg = 1.8 Btu/lbm
- 1 dm3 (Liter) = 10-3 m3 = 0.03532 ft3 = 1.308x10-3 yd3 = 0.220 Imp gal (UK) = 0.2642 Gallons (US)