Fuel GCV and NCV online calculators
Gross Calorific Value (GCV), GCV some times also called Higher Heating Value (HHV).
GCV is the total heat released when a fuel is completely burned, including the heat of condensation of water vapor formed during combustion. It assumes that all water vapor formed is condensed, and its heat is fully recovered.
On what factor the GCV of fuel depends?
GCV of the fuel depends on the following parameters;
- Percentage of the Carbon in the fuel
- Percentage of the Hydrogen in the fuel
- Percentage of the Oxygen in the fuel
- Percentage of the Sulphur in the fuel
- Percentage of the Moisture in the fuel
- Below formula is used to calculate the fuel GCV
GCV=8084 X C%+34500(H2%−O2%/8)+2224 X S% / 100
Net Calorific Value (NCV), also called Lower Heating Value (LHV).
NCV is the actual usable heat from fuel, excluding the heat lost due to water vapor escaping in flue gases
NCV=GCV−0.09 X H2 X 587
H2 = % Hydrogen
587 kcal/kg = Latent heat of steam
On what factor the NCV of fuel depends?
- Percentage of the Carbon in the fuel
- Percentage of the Hydrogen in the fuel
- Percentage of the Oxygen in the fuel
- Percentage of the Sulphur in the fuel
- Percentage of the Moisture in the fuel
What are the key differences between GCV & NCV??
| SL No. | Gross Calorific Value (GCV) | Net Calorific Value (NCV) |
| 1 | In the calculation of GCV heat content in water vapour formed is included | In the calculation of NCV heat content in water vapour formed is not included |
| 2 | It has higher heat value | It has lower heat value |
| 3 | Cannot judge actual performance of the Boiler | Can be judged actual performance of the Boiler based on NCV of the fuel |
| 4 | Also called Higher heating value | Called Lower heating value |
A coal is having % of carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen and sulphur 45%, 4%, 8% and 0.75%, then calculate the GCV and NCV if moisture content in the coal is 22%
We have,
GCV=8084 X C% + 34500(H2%−O2%/8) + 2224 X S%/100
GCV = 8084 X 45 + 34500 X (4-8/8) + 2224 X 0.75/100
GCV=4690 kcal/kg
NCV=GCV−0.09 X H2 X 587
NCV=4690−0.09 X 4 X 587
NCV=4478 kcal/kg
What happens if Carbon % in fuel increases?
Increase in carbon % in coal leads to the increase in GCV
What happens if Hydrogen and Oxygen % in fuel increase?
Increase in H2% in the fuel leads to increase in the GCV of fuel, however decrease of NCV of the fuel. Increase in O2% in the fuel will lead to decrease in GCV of the fuel
