The calorific value of a fuel is the quantity of heat produced by its combustion - at constant pressure and

under "normal" conditions (i.e. to 0

o
C 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 Higher Calorific Value (or Gross Calorific alue - GC) suppose that the water of combustion is
entirely condensed and that the heat contained in the water vapor is recovered.
The Lower Calorific Value (or !et Calorific alue - !C) suppose that the products of combustion
contains the water vapor and that the heat in the water vapor is not recovered.
"uel
#igher Calorific alue
(Gross Calorific alue - GC)
kJ/kg Btu/lb
$cetone %&'(((
$lcohol' &)* +('(((
$nthracite +%',(( - +-'((( .-'((( - .-',((
/ituminous coal .0'((( - %+'%,( 0'+(( - .('(((
/utane -&',.( %('&((
Charcoal %&')(( .%'1((
Coal .,'((( - %0'((( 1'((( - .-'(((
Co2e %1'((( - +.'((( .%'((( - .+',((
3iesel --'1(( .&'+((
4thanol %&'0(( .%'1((
4ther -+'(((
Gasoline -0'+(( %('-((
Glycerin .&'(((
#ydrogen .-.'0&( ).'(((
5ignite .)'+(( 0'(((
6ethane ,,',+(
7ils' vegetable +&'((( - -1'(((
8eat .+'1(( - %(',(( ,',(( - 1'1((
8etrol -1'(((
8etroleum -+'(((
8ropane ,('+,(
9emi anthracite %)'0(( - +%',(( ..',(( - .-'(((
Tar +)'(((
Turpentine --'(((
:ood (dry) .-'-(( - .0'-(( )'%(( - 0',((
kJ/m
3
Btu/ft
3
$cetylene ,)'(((
/utane C-#.( .++'(((
#ydrogen .+'(((
!atural gas -+'(((
6ethane C#- +&'1%(
8ropane C+#1 .(.'(((
Town gas .1'(((
kJ/l Btu/gal
Gas oil +1'((( .)-'(((
#eavy fuel oil -.'%(( .00'(((
;erosene +,'((( .,-'(((