Related Resources: heat transfer

Fuel Gas and Heating Values

Heat Transfer
Thermodynamincs

Types of Fuel Gas and Heating Values

Natural gas, LPG, and propane are commonly used fuel gases. LPG is a mixture of propane and butane. It is generally transported and stored in liquid form. Other gases may also be used as fuel, but cost and availability may dictate the use of a specific gas over another. Table 1 lists commonly available fuel gases and their properties such as heating value and density.

LPG is the commercial term for a liquid under pressure that contains varying proportions of propane (C3H8) and butane (C4H10). It is generally transported and stored as a liquid under pressure ranging from 200 to 300 pounds per square inch (lb/in2 or psi). As a liquid it is approximately half as heavy as water. When the pressure is reduced, LPG vaporizes to form a gas with a specific gravity of approximately 1.52 (air = 1.00).

Gas name
Heating value
Specific
gravity
Density,
lb/ft3
Specific
volume,
ft3/lb
Btu/ft3
Btu/lb
Gross
Net
Gross
Net
Acetylene
1,498
1,447
21,569
21,837
0.91
0.070
14.4
Blast furnace gas
92
92
1,178
1,178
1.02
0.078
12.8
Butane
3,225
2,977
21,640
19,976
1.95
0.149
6.71
Butylene
3,077
2,876
20,780
19,420
1.94
0.148
6.74
Carbon monoxide
323
323
4,368
4,368
0.97
0.074
13.5
Carbureted gas
550
508
11,440
10,566
0.63
0.048
20.8
Coke oven gas
574
514
17,048
15,266
0.44
0.034
29.7
Sewage gas
690
621
11,316
10,184
0.80
0.062
16.3
Ethane
1,783
1,630
22,198
20,295
1.06
0.060
12.5
Hydrogen
325
275
61,084
51,628
0.07
0.0054
186.9
Methane
1,011
910
23,811
21,433
0.55
0.042
23.8
Natural gas,
1,073
971
20,065
18,158
0.70
0.054
18.4
California, U.S.
Propane
2,572
2,365
21,500
19,770
1.52
0.116
8.61
Propylene
2,332
2,181
20,990
19,630
1.45
0.111
9.02
Water gas
(bituminous)
261
239
4,881
4,469
0.71
0.054
18.7

Related:

Reference:

  • Piping Calculations Manual,
    E. Shashi Menon
    SYSTEK Technologies, Inc