FUELS HIGHER CALORIFIC VALUES

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.
 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

Higher Calorific Value Lower Calorific Value

(Gross Calorific Value - GCV) (Net Calorific Value - NCV)
Fuel
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

 Higher Calorific Value Lower Calorific Value
(Gross Calorific Value - GCV) (Net Calorific Value - NCV)
Fuel
kJ/kg Btu/lb kJ/kg

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

 Higher Calorific Value Lower Calorific Value
(Gross Calorific Value - GCV) (Net Calorific Value - NCV)
Fuel
kJ/kg Btu/lb kJ/kg

Kerosone 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

 Higher Calorific Value Lower Calorific Value
(Gross Calorific Value - GCV) (Net Calorific Value - NCV)
Fuel
kJ/kg Btu/lb kJ/kg

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

 Higher Calorific Value Lower Calorific Value
(Gross Calorific Value - GCV) (Net Calorific Value - NCV)
Fuel
kJ/kg Btu/lb kJ/kg

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)