Calorific Value of Fuels.
The energy content (heating value) of petroleum products per unit mass is fairly constant, but their density differs significantly – hence the energy content of a liter, gallon, etc. varies between gasoline, diesel, kerosene.
Net calorific value is the quantity of heat liberated by the complete combustion of a unit of fuel when the water produced is assumed to remain as a vapor and the heat is not recovered.
Fuels and Petroleum Products
| Specific Gravity/ Density Range | Barrels per metric ton | |
| Naphta Light | 0.66 – 0.70 | 9.55 – 9.01 |
| Crude Oils | 0.8 – 0.97 | 8.0 – 6.6 |
| Aviation gasoline | 0.7 – 0.78 | 9.1 – 8.2 |
| Kerosene | 0.78 – 0.84 | 8.2 – 7.6 |
| Diesel oil | 0.82 – 0.92 | 7.8 – 6.9 |
Energy Density & Rough gross values
| Specific Energy Density by mass (MJ/kg) | Energy Density by volume (MJ/liter) | in Btu per lb | In BTU per US gallon | |
| Crude Oil | 41 – 46 | 29 – 37 | 18,300 – 19,500 | |
| Diesel | 45 – 46 | 37 – 38 | 19,300 139,000 | |
| Gasoline | 45 | 32 – 35 | 20,500 | 124,000 |
| Jet Aviation Fuel | 42 – 45 | 33 – 35 | 19,800 | 120,200 |
| Kerosene | 46 | 38 | 135,000 | |
| Biodiesel | 38 – 43 | 33 – 36 | 127.000 | |
| Jatropha based Biodiesel | 34 | 36.4 | 14,353 | |
| Jatropha Oil (CJO) | 43 – 46 | 39.5 | ||
| Rapeseed oil | 34 – 36 | |||
| Sunflower oil | 39 | 33 | ||
| Gas Oil | 19,200 | |||
| Fuel Oil (Bunker) | 18,300 | |||
| Coal (Bituminous) | 27 | 10,200 – 14,600 | ||
| Charcoal | 30 | |||
| Wood | 15 – 18 | 6,000 | ||
| Dry cow (camel) dung | 10 – 15 |
1) Gasoline is formed from shorter and lighter chains of hydrocarbons than either diesel or fuel oil. Gasoline is lightweight, extremely volatile and evaporates quickly. These qualities contribute to gasoline powered engines having more horsepower and acceleration than an equivalent diesel engine.
Fuel comparison
| Barrel of oil equivalent (boe) The barrel of oil equivalent (BOE) is a unit of energy based on the approximate energy released by burning one barrel (42 US gallons or 158.9873 litres) of crude oil. The value is necessarily approximate as various grades of oil have slightly different heating values. |
approx. 6.1 GJ = 5.8 million Btu, equivalent to 1,700 kWh or 1.7MWh |
| 1 MT of oil | Equivalent to about 7.2 barrels oil = 42-45 GJ. |
| Petro-diesel Density (average) = 0.84 g/ml ( = metric tonnes/m3) |
= 130,500 Btu/gallon = 36.4 MJ/liter or = 42.8 GJ/t |
| coal (average) | = 25.4 MT carbon per terajoule (TJ) |
| 1.0 MT coal | = 746 kg carbon |
| oil (average) | = 19.9 MT carbon per terajoule (TJ) |
| 1.0 US gallon gasoline (0.833 Imperial gallon, 3.79 liter) |
= 2.42 kg carbon |
| 1.0 US gallon diesel/fuel oil (0.833 Imperial gallon, 3.79 liter) |
= 2.77 kg carbon |
| Natural gas (methane) | = 14.4 metric tonnes carbon / TJ |
| 1.0 cubic meter natural gas (methane) | = 0.49 kg carbon |
| Bioenergy feedstocks | 50% for woody crops or wood waste; approx. 45% for graminaceous (grass) crops or agricultural residues |