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Gross Net Heating Values

Reference data and engineering information about gross net heating values for material properties applications.

grossnetheatingvalues

Overview

Engineering reference data for Gross Net Heating Values in material science and properties.

Key Formulas

Stress

σ=FA\sigma = \frac{F}{A}

Force per unit area.

Strain

ε=ΔLL0\varepsilon = \frac{\Delta L}{L_0}

Change in length per original length.

Hooke's Law

σ=Eε\sigma = E \varepsilon

Stress proportional to strain in elastic region.

Thermal Expansion

ΔL=αL0ΔT\Delta L = \alpha L_0 \Delta T

Length change due to temperature.

Variables

SymbolDescriptionUnit
σ\sigmaStressPa
ε\varepsilonStrain
EEYoung's modulusPa
α\alphaThermal expansion coefficient1/°C
ΔT\Delta TTemperature change°C
14 rows
Gross and net heating values for common fuel gases. 1 nm³ = 1 normal cubic meter.
Gas
Gross (kcal/kg)(kcal/kg)
Net (kcal/kg)(kcal/kg)
Gross (kcal/nm³)(kcal/nm³)
Net (kcal/nm³)(kcal/nm³)
Hydrogen338892855530502570
Methane132841194695308570
Ethane12400113501670015300
Ethylene12020112701510014200
Natural Gas - approx.120001100090008000
Propane12030110802420022250
Propylene11700109402240020900
n-Butane11830109303190029400
Iso-Butane11810109003170029200
Butylene-111580108302990027900
Iso-Pentane (liquid)1160010730--
LPG (average)11920109972800025775
Acetylene11932115141398013490
Carbon Monoxide2411241130143014

Source: engineeringtoolbox.com

Key Relationship

The difference between the gross and net heating value is the latent heat of vaporization of the water produced during combustion. This relationship can be expressed as: Hgross=Hnet+mH2OhfgH_{gross} = H_{net} + m_{H_2O} \cdot h_{fg} where:

  • mH2Om_{H_2O} is the mass of water produced per unit mass/volume of fuel.
  • hfgh_{fg} is the specific latent heat of vaporization of water (approximately 580 kcal/kg or 2,260 kJ/kg at 100°C).

Practical Implications

  • Net Heating Value (LHV) is the standard used for most boiler and engine calculations, as water vapor in the flue gas is not condensed and its latent heat is not recovered.
  • Gross Heating Value (HHV) is relevant when designing systems with high-efficiency condensing heat exchangers that can recover the latent heat from the water vapor.

Unit Conversion

  • 1 kJ/kg = 1 J/g = 0.4299 BTU/lb = 0.23884 kcal/kg

Interactive Charts

LPG - Liquefied Petroleum Gas

References