Fuel Calorific Value

The calorific value (CV) of a fuel is the heat available from that fuel when it is completely burned, expressed as heat units per unit of fuel weight or volume. The gross, or higher, value is determined in the laboratory using a calorimeter. It can be defined as the total heat liberated by the complete combustion of the fuel. It is determined by measuring the heat removed when cooling the products of combustion to a standard reference temperature, and it includes latent heat recovered from condensation of the water vapour component. This water vapour forms as a result of the combustion of any hydrogen molecules contained within the fuel, and the vaporisation of any moisture present. The net, or lower, value is determined by calculation and equals the gross calorific value minus the latent heat of the water vapour formed from the combustion of hydrogen and from any moisture present in the fuel. The net value is more representative of the heat available in practice when fuels are burned in equipment such as furnaces and boilers. The latent heat of the water vapour contained in exhaust gases is not normally recoverable, except where low-temperature heat recovery involving condensation is used. The use of gross or net calorific value varies with industry. Engine and gas turbine manufacturers, for example, use net calorific value, whereas UK boiler manufacturers use gross when stating the efficiency of their plant. Importantly all fuel is purchased on the basis of its gross value, and site energy consumption is always expressed in terms of gross calorific value (GCV), so it is important to use gross calorific value in the energy analysis relating to CHP feasibility. Any energy balance derived will vary with the calorific value used for the calculations, and this, in turn, results in different thermal efficiency figures for combustion plant and equipment. Great care must, therefore, be exercised in any analysis and interpretation of performance data. The following table summarises the relationship between gross and net calorific value for the most common CHP fuels.
Commercial fuels: the ratio between gross and net CV Fuel Natural gas Gas-oil Heavy fuel oil Bituminous coal Ratio of gross/net CV 1.109 1.067 1.060 1.040

Depends on moisture content as fired

The table below outlines the typical properties of selected fuels.

Typical properties of selected fuels CV as normally expressed Fuel Steam coal Wood waste Heavy fuel oil Gas-oil Natural gas Landfill gas Mine gas Gross 30.6 MJ/kg 15.8 MJ/kg 41.2 MJ/litre 38.3 MJ/litre 38.0 MJ/cubic metre 20.0 MJ/cubic metre 21.0 MJ/cubic metre Net 29.7 MJ/kg 14.4 MJ/kg 38.9 MJ/litre 36.0 MJ/litre 34.2 MJ/cubic metre 18.0 MJ/cubic metre 18.9 MJ/cubic metre Contaminants % Sulphur 1.2 0.4 2.0 0.15 Trace Trace Water 10.0 15 0.3 0.05 Trace Trace 5.0 Ash 8.0 Trace 0.04 0.01 -

3.11.4 Calorific values of solid, liquid and gaseous fuels

By custom the basic calorific value for solid and liquid fuels is the gross calorific value at constant volume and for gaseous fuels it is the gross calorific value at constant pressure. The word gross here signifies that the water formed and liberated during combustion is in the liquid phase. The values given are approximate because many of the substances listed are not well defined. The calorific values of pure substances can be calculated from information in Section 3.10. More detailed information on technical fuels can be found in J. W. Rose and J. R. Cooper (eds) (1977) Technical Data on Fuel, 7th edn, British National Committee, World Energy Conference, London.
Calorific values of solid, liquid and gaseous fuels

Solid and liquid fuels Alcohols Ethanol Methanol Coal and coal products Anthracite (4% water) Coal tar fuels General purpose coal (510% water) High-volatile coking coals (4% water) Low temperature coke (15% water) Medium-volatile coking coal (1% water) Steam coal (1% water) Peat Peat (20% water) Petroleum and petroleum products Diesel fuel Gas oil Heavy fuel oil Kerosine Light distillate Light fuel oil Medium fuel oil Petrol Wood Wood (15% water)

Gross calorific value/ MJ kg1 30 23

36 3641 3242 35 26 37 36

16

46 46 43 47 48 44 43 44.846.9

16

Gaseous fuels at 15 C, 101.325 kPa, dry Coal gas coke oven (debenzolized) Coal gas continuous vertical retort (steaming) Coal gas low temperature Commercial butane Commercial propane North Sea gas natural Producer gas coal Producer gas coke Water gas carburetted Water gas blue

Gross calorific value/MJ m 3 20 18 34 118 94 39 6 5 19 11