Calorific Value Calculator
Measuring Heating Value Directly, Not by Formula
Rather than estimating heating value from a fuel's chemical composition, a bomb calorimeter measures it directly by burning a small sample and recording how much it heats a known mass of water.
The Formula
Calorific Value = (Water Mass × Specific Heat × Temperature Rise) / Fuel Sample Mass
Worked Example
A 1 gram fuel sample raises 2 kg of water by 3.2°C in a calorimeter:
CV = (2 × 4.186 × 3.2) / 0.001 = 26,790 kJ/kg = 26.79 MJ/kg
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the calorimeter Water Mass in kg.
- Enter the measured Temperature Rise.
- Enter the Fuel Sample Mass in kg.
- Select Calculate to get calorific value in MJ/kg.
Related Calculations
Compare against the formula-based estimate in the HHV Calculator, or convert this into total energy content in the Energy Content Calculator.