How to Calculate Calorific Value of Diesel Fuel
- 1). Determine the energy density of diesel fuel. According to University of Washington, it is approximately 36.4 MegaJoules per liter (MJ/L). A MegaJoule is 1 million Joules.
- 2). Convert the energy density of diesel fuel into Joules by multiplying the energy content in MegaJoules by 1 million. For example, 36.4 MJ/L x 1,000,000 J/MJ = 36,400,000 J/L
- 3). Convert the energy density of diesel fuel into calories per liter by dividing the number of Joules per liter by 4.184 -- the number of Joules in a calorie. For example, 36,400,000 J/L / 4.184 J/c = 8,700,000 c/L. You now know that one liter of diesel fuel contains approximately 8.7 million calories.
