2 fuel oil is a medium distillate used in diesel engines as well as for heating. The energy content of No. 2 fuel oil is typically 140,000 Btu/gal (7 percent less energy per gallon than No. 6 oil).
How many BTUs are in a gallon of gasoline?
Alternative fuels have various energy densities and are measured in a variety of units, making comparisons difficult. The gasoline gallon equivalent (GGE) measure allows drivers to compare a particular amount of energy from alternative fuels on an apples-to-apples basis and determine which fuel best meets their needs. Understanding the energy composition of fuels can help with fuel price and driving range comparisons.
What is a GGE? How about a DGE?
A standardized unit for comparing the energy content of all fuels is the GGE. The amount of alternative fuel that has the same energy content as one gallon of conventional gasoline is measured in this unit. Diesel gallon equivalent (DGE) is commonly utilized in medium- and heavy-duty vehicle fuel applications.
How are GGE and DGE values determined?
The energy content of a fuel is measured in British thermal units (Btus) per gallon and is sometimes referred to as the fuel’s lower heating value. The energy content of one gallon of gasoline or diesel is divided by the energy content of the comparison fuel to calculate GGE and DGE. Conventional gasoline, for example, has a Btus level of 116,090 per gallon, while propane has a Btus content of 84,250 per gallon. As a result, 1.38 gallons of propane equals one gallon of conventional gasoline in terms of energy.
The energy content, GGE, and DGE values of conventional and alternative fuels are shown in the table below.
* Heating value is lower. Transportation Energy Data Book, Edition 35, is the source for CNG and hydrogen (Btu/ft3). Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) Fuel Properties is the source for the remaining values.
** E85 sold in the United States currently has roughly 70% ethanol on average. As a result, the energy content of E85 was determined as+
*** When calculating and comparing miles per GGE, keep in mind that electric vehicles are more efficient (on a Btu basis) than combustion engines (see below).
The figures in the table above can be used to normalize fuel levels so that comparisons can be made. If you have 10,000 ft3 of CNG, divide by 125.77 ft3 to get 79.5 GGE. Similarly, divide 139.21 ft3 by 71.83 DGE to find the number of DGEs.
How are GGE and DGE used to compare fuel prices?
To ensure consistency in pricing, fuel prices might be expressed in dollars per GGE or DGE. As a result, the Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report displays prices in terms of energy equivalent (Table 3 in recent reports). If you don’t have access to pricing per GGE or DGE, you can calculate it yourself. For example, if one gallon of E85 costs $2.04, you’d multiply that by 1.32 (see table above) to get $2.69 per GGE after accounting for energy content.
What are the factors that impact how far I can drive between fill ups?
One aspect that influences driving range is the energy content of fuels. When you fill up with a less energy-dense fuel, you won’t be able to travel as far. Tank capacity and vehicle economy, on the other hand, are important considerations.
Some alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) have tank sizes that are comparable to conventional vehicles, while others have larger fuel tanks to compensate for the energy content differential. Vehicles that run on propane and biodiesel, for example, have fuel tanks that are similar in size to those that run on conventional fuel. Both of these fuels have lower energy densities than their traditional fuel counterparts, as seen in the table above, which can result in lower fuel economy and shorter range per tank. In the case of propane, there are bi-fuel vehicles that can run on both conventional and propane fuel for a longer driving range. In addition, propane and biodiesel have a slew of other advantages that can help to make up for the difference.
CNG and hydrogen vehicles, on the other hand, frequently have larger tanks to compensate for their lower energy densities. When acquiring a CNG vehicle, fleets and drivers may have the option of adding an additional CNG storage tank to the vehicle. Bi-fuel CNG vehicles, on the other hand, are available to enhance the range. In terms of hydrogen, these vehicles often have larger fuel tanks.
The size of the tank isn’t the only aspect that influences range; vehicle efficiency also matters. All-electric cars (EVs), for example, are far more efficient than traditional fuel automobiles. According to FuelEconomy.gov, electric vehicles use between 59 and 62 percent of the electricity generated by the grid to power the vehicle, but traditional gasoline vehicles can only convert 17 to 21 percent of the energy produced by gasoline to power the vehicle. This is one of the reasons why electric vehicles outperform conventional vehicles in terms of fuel efficiency, even when comparing fuels on an energy-equivalent basis.
What is the BTU rating of the diesel?
A calorimeter is used to determine the Heat Value of diesel fuel, which determines how much energy the fuel provides when burned. Essentially, a certain amount of fuel is burned, and the amount of heat produced is meticulously measured in British Thermal Units (BTUs).
- Number 1 diesel fuel has a heat value of 125,500 BTUs per gallon, which is about 10% less than Number 2.
The higher the heat value of the fuel, the more power the engine can produce, requiring less fuel to do the same task.
In a pound of fuel, how many BTUs are there?
is relatively constant, but their density varies greatly as a result, the energy content of a liter, gallon, or other unit of measurement varies between gasoline, diesel, and kerosene.) (The above ranges correspond to 11,500-13,000 Btu/lb and 6,500-8,200 Btu/lb, respectively.)
Which has more Btu: propane or oil?
One of the most important considerations I had to make when building our new home was what sort of heating fuel to utilize. Should we rely on the traditional oil heat that over 90% of New Englanders rely on? Should we use propane instead? (natural gas is not available here in this part of NH).
Pros and Cons
When you sit down and think about it, the answer to that question is somewhat hard. For us, I knew we’d have propane in the house, both for cooking and for our direct vent fireplace. One of my major concerns about oil was having an oil tank in my basement that might spill at any time.
Another important factor to consider was venting the two types of fuel. A direct vent out the side of the house (which is unsightly, stains the house, and gets rather hot) or a regular chimney would be required for an oil-fired boiler. Modern gas boilers allow you to vent the furnace up through the roof or wall using normal PVC piping. I chose the gas heater to shorten a long narrative. The lack of an oil tank, the roof venting, and the opportunity to have a high efficiency boiler were the main factors in my decision.
A cost analysis of the two fuels was something I didn’t look into very much. So, after last winter’s quite hefty fuel expenditures, I did some study on fuel cost comparisons. It’s not as simple as comparing the cost of the two fuels per gallon. A gallon of fuel oil costs $2.69 where I reside right now (2007), whereas a gallon of propane costs $1.93. On the surface, gas appears to be a fantastic deal for the average person. The actual issue, though, is how much energy each fuel can create in a gallon. Fuel oil produces around 130,000 BTUs, while propane produces around 95,000 BTUs. Most oil boilers, on the other hand, have an efficiency of around 85% at most, but gas boilers have an efficiency of up to 95%.
Using this information, I calculated the cost per BTU for both types of fuel using the assumptions listed above.
As a result, propane is slightly more cost-effective in this case. Let me start with a large disclaimer. If you ask a group of heating experts, they’ll tell you that oil is usually a better deal. It is dependent on a number of factors, including the equipment used. What that tells me is that the two fuels are very close in terms of cost per BTU.
For me, the fact that I’m burning a cleaner fuel, my boiler requires almost no maintenance, I don’t have an oil tank to leak, I only have water vapor and carbon monoxide exiting my vent, and I required propane to cook with and heat my home still seems like the right decision for us. I recommend that you consider these points the next time you shop for a new heating system for your home.
Another advantage of propane over oil that is frequently neglected is tank size. Propane users typically have a larger tank than oil users. Most propane tanks are 500 to 1,000 gallons, while most conventional oil tanks are 275 to 400 gallons. This may not appear to make a difference at first glance, yet it can have a significant impact.
In the summer, when fuel prices are typically lower than in the winter, I choose to fill up my propane tank. I can buy more propane at a lesser price with the larger tank than I could with the smaller oil tank throughout the summer. If you have a 1,000 gallon propane tank, this can add up over the course of the year.
Would you want a spreadsheet with a propane vs. oil calculator? If that’s the case, check out our Fuel Calculator for Oil vs Propane.
In a gallon of propane, how many BTUs are there?
Anyone who has ever switched an empty propane barbecue cylinder knows how hefty propane is, but how many people realize that one gallon of liquid propane weighs 4.23 pounds? Perhaps you recall the propane formula from high school chemistry (C3H8), but for the engineers and technicians who develop and install propane heating and cooking systems, this is merely the tip of the iceberg.
In fact, understanding some of propane’s physical features helps to clarify some of the safety standards that we follow and that everyone should adhere to.
At -44 degrees Fahrenheit, propane transforms from a liquid to a gas (its boiling point).
This is one of the reasons why, when installing new equipment, our experts use safety gear such as gloves and face shields.
The low temperature would rapidly freeze skin if they were splashed with liquid propane, which is known as a burn because of comparable effects.
Propane is a heavier gas than air.
This is referred to as its specific gravity, which is 1.52; air has a specific gravity of 1.0.
This means that propane gas can collect in dips and low areas on the floor, which is one of the reasons why you should leave your empty barbeque cylinder outside of the store when exchanging, just in case there is any propane remaining in the cylinder and it leaks.
The energy content of propane is one of the important elements that engineers must consider when designing heating systems. Homeowners and grill masters alike should be aware of the amount of propane they will consume for heating and cooking. The BTUs in a gallon of propane are 91,502. (or British thermal units). Heat system designers must factor this into their calculations when sizing HVAC equipment and propane tanks to achieve the desired heat output. But how about a brand-new 60,000 BTU-per-hour barbeque grill (which I want was mine)? It would take an hour and a half for all of the burners (there are six on that model) to burn through a gallon of propane (60,000 BTU/hr x 1.5 hours = 90,000 BTUs). Larger HVAC systems, Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems, and Gas Heat Pumps are frequently specified in Therms or per thousand cubic feet of natural gas. One Therm equals 100,000 BTUs, or 1.1 liters of propane. 1,000,000 BTU is equivalent to 11 litres of propane in 1 MCF of natural gas.
Is diesel fuel evaporating at a faster rate than gasoline?
Petroleum fuel begins as crude oil, which is found naturally in the earth. When crude oil is refined, it can be split into a variety of various fuels, including gasoline, jet fuel, kerosene, and, of course, diesel.
If you’ve ever compared diesel and gasoline, you’ll notice that they’re not the same. They definitely have a distinct aroma. Diesel fuel is thicker and oilier than gasoline. It takes significantly longer to evaporate than gasoline, and its boiling point is actually higher than that of water.
What is the highest energy-dense fuel per gallon?
Adapted from C. Ronneau, Energy, Air Pollution, and Long-Term Development, Louvain-la-Neuve: Presses Universitaires de Louvain, 2004.
Different fuels have varying degrees of energy density, which can be assessed in terms of equivalent energy released after burning. The quantity of energy released by a given mass or volume of fuel is referred to as energy density. It can be measured in terms of gravimetric energy density (energy density per unit of mass) or volumetric energy density (energy density per unit of volume) (per unit of volume). When evaluating the energy efficiency of different fuels, the gravimetric energy density is important. At the same time, when comparing transportation modes, volumetric energy density is important since storage space (a fuel tank) is required to hold the fuel pushing a vehicle. Fuel quality is inversely related to its chemical complexity, hence the higher the energy density, the higher the fuel quality. Gases are high-quality fuels, while solids are low-quality fuels, with liquids in between. Hydrogen has the highest energy density of any fuel and is also the simplest chemical component known to man.
Gasoline, which is made by refining crude oil, has far more energy than coal (which is twice as low-grade as bituminous coal) or wood (three times). Methane makes up practically all of the bulk of liquid natural gas (LNG), whereas methane makes up around 85% of the mass of natural gas. Jet A-1 is the standard fuel for commercial jet planes, and it’s largely made up of kerosene with a few additives (antifreeze, antioxidant, and antistatic) because it’ll be exposed to high altitudes and cold temperatures. Bunker C fuel, on the other hand, is the primary fuel used in marine shipping and is one of the lowest grade liquid fuels available, although it is appropriate for the great majority of ship engines.
Despite the fact that methane and hydrogen have higher energy densities than gasoline, their gaseous state makes storage challenging. Furthermore, hydrogen must be created, which necessitates the expenditure of energy. In comparison to a conversion rate of 100 percent, capturing the solar energy equivalent of 1 kg of gasoline on a one-square-meter surface would take 100 hours. The lithium battery, which is one of the most efficient energy storage systems, can only store roughly 0.5 MJ per kilogram, highlighting the difficulty of manufacturing electric vehicles.
What is the definition of a diesel knock?
The clanking, rattling sound made by a running diesel engine is known as diesel knock. The compression of air in the cylinders and the ignition of the fuel as it is pumped into the cylinder generate this noise. This is quite similar to pre-ignition or spark knocking in a gasoline engine. To avoid parts damage caused by extreme knock, the timing of the fuel pumped into the diesel engine is crucial.
In a gallon of biodiesel, how many BTUs are there?
Algal biofuels are far superior to ethanol, and some have a higher energy density than petroleum-based biofuels. The ability of algae to accumulate triacylglycerols (TAGs) in the same way that vegetable oils does has piqued curiosity. Fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) are produced via transesterification of the fatty acids in TAGs, and their long chain lengths make them a better substitute for diesel than gasoline. Petroleum diesel has an energy density of over 130,000 British thermal units (BTU) per gallon, while biodiesel has an energy density of around 118,000 BTU per gallon. Both are substantially higher than the BTU per gallon of ethanol, which is around 76,000 BTU. Because biodiesel contains oxygen, which adds to the molecular weight but not the heating value, it has a lower energy density than petroleum diesel. TAGs, on the other hand, can be transformed to alkanes by hydrotreating. The resulting “green diesel” has a heating value that is roughly 2% higher than petroleum diesel.
Because algae biofuels are more closely matched with diesel, this doesn’t solve the question concerning gasoline. However, combining hydrotreating with cracking and isomerization can result in a gasoline-like stream. I don’t have any information on this stuff, although it appears to be similar to petroleum gasoline.