Summary
Specific energy and energy density are useful measures of the energy that will be released from a given weight or volume of fuel when it is burned. This article provides a quick reference for common values of specific energy and energy density.
Definitions
| : | Energy density | |
| : | Specific energy | |
| : | Energy released during combustion | |
| : | Volume | |
| : | Volume |
Introduction
The Heat of Combustion of a product measures the energy released when that substance is burned in air, this information is often presented in units of .
The specific energy and energy density of a fuel provide practical measures of the energy content of a fuel in units more commonly used in the storage and handling of these substances (energy per weight and volume).
Specific Energy
Specific energy is the energy per unit mass of a fuel.
Energy Density
Energy density is the energy per unit volume of a fuel.
Typical Values of Specific Energy and Energy Density
The Specific Energy and Energy Density of some common fuels and combustible compounds are given below. Note the values are negative as they represent the energy lost from the substance as it burns. The surrounding environment will gain this amount of energy.
Common Fuels
| Fuel | Density | Specific Energy | Energy Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | 716 | -47.3 | -33,867 |
| Kerosene | 830 | -46.2 | -38,346 |
| Diesel Fuel | 830 | -44.8 | -37,184 |
| Ethanol | 784 | -29.7 | -23,278 |
| Coal (Anthracite) | 1350 | -27 | -36,450 |
| Methanol | 787 | -22.7 | -17,855 |
| Wood | 600 | -15 | -9,000 |
| Coal (Lignite) | 801 | -15 | -12,015 |
Alkanes
| Fuel | Density | Specific Energy | Energy Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Methane (CH4) | 423 | -55.6 | -23,529 |
| Ethane (C2H6) | 545 | -51.8 | -28,246 |
| Propane (C3H8) | 585 | -50.3 | -29,449 |
| Butane (C4H10) | 601 | -49.5 | -29,729 |
| Pentane (C5H12) | 621 | -48.7 | -30,223 |
| Hexane (C6H14) | 655 | -48.3 | -31,633 |
| Heptane (C7H16) | 680 | -48.1 | -32,690 |
| Octane (C8H16) | 698 | -47.9 | -33,433 |
| Nonane (C9H16) | 714 | -47.7 | -34,086 |
| Decane (C10H18) | 726 | -47.6 | -34,581 |
| Undecane (C11H20) | 737 | -47.5 | -35,039 |
| Dodecane (C12H22) | 745 | -47.5 | -35,378 |
| Hexadecane (CH3(CH2)14CH3) | 770 | -47.3 | -36,388 |
Alcohols
| Fuel | Density | Specific Energy | Energy Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Methanol (CH3OH) | 787 | -22.7 | -17,855 |
| Ethanol (CH3CH2OH) | 785 | -29.7 | -23,278 |
| 1-Propanol (CH3(CH2)2OH) | 800 | -33.6 | -26,902 |
| 2-Propanol (CH3CH(OH)CH3) | 781 | -33.4 | -26,068 |
| 1-Butanol (CH3(CH2)3OH) | 806 | -36.1 | -29,107 |
| 1-Pentanol (CH3(CH2)4OH) | 816 | -37.8 | -30,817 |
| 1-Hexanol (CH3(CH2)5OH) | 814 | -39 | -31,732 |
| 1-Heptanol (CH3(CH2)6OH) | 822 | -39.9 | -32,809 |
| 1-Octanol (CH3(CH2)7OH) | 825 | -40.7 | -33,545 |
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