Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
TABLE 5.5
Gasoline Gallon Equivalent (GGE)
Fuel
GGE
Btu
Gasoline (base)
1.0000 gal
114,000 Btu/gal
Gasoline (conventional, summer)
0.9960 gal
114,500 Btu/gal
Gasoline (conventional, winter)
1.0130 gal
112,500 Btu/gal
Gasoline (reformulated gasoline, ethanol)
1.0190 gal
111,836 Btu/gal
Gasoline (reformulated gasoline, ETBE)
1.0190 gal
111,811 Btu/gal
Gasoline (reformulated gasoline, MTBE)
1.0200 gal
111,745 Btu/gal
Gasoline (10% MBTE)
1.0200 gal
112,000 Btu/gal
Gasoline (regular unleaded)
1.0000 gal
114,100 Btu/gal
Diesel #2
0.8800 gal
129,500 Btu/gal
Biodiesel (B100)
0.9600 gal
118,300 Btu/gal
Biodiesel (B20)
0.9000 gal
127,250 Btu/gal
Liquid natural gas (LNG)
1.5362 gal
75,000 Btu/gal
Compressed natural gas
1.26 ft
3
(3.587 m
3
)
900 Btu/ft
3
Hydrogen at 101.325 kPa
357.37 ft
3
319 Btu/ft
3
Hydrogen by weight
0.997 kg (2.198 lb)
119.9 MJ/kg (51,500 Btu/lb)
Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)
1.3500 gal
84,300 Btu/gal
Methanol fuel (M100)
2.0100 gal
56,800 Btu/gal
Ethanol fuel (E100)
1.5000 gal
76,100 Btu/gal
Ethanol fuel (E85)
1.3900 gal
81,800 Btu/gal
Jet fuel (naphtha)
0.9700 gal
118,700 Btu/gal
Source:
USEPA,
Fuel Economy Impact Analysis of RFG
, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Washington, DC, 2007.
Note:
ETBE, ethyl
tert
-butyl ether; MTBE, methyl
tert
-butyl ether.
p
ros
and
c
ons
oF
B
ioethanol
With regard to the use of ethanol for transportation (propulsion), it can be used as an
extender and octane enhancer in conventional gasoline. Its primary advantage is that
its feedstock (plants) is renewable. It can also be used as a primary fuel (in E85), thus
reducing dependence on petroleum products. Ethanol is an important player in the
ongoing effort to reduce environmental pollution from carbon monoxide (CO) gas
and global carbon dioxide (CO
2
). In some locations, E85 and gasohol are less expen-
sive per gallon than conventional gasoline. As the production and use of ethanol as
a fuel increase, farmers will benefit from the increased demand for their products.
From the practical and safety and health point of view, ethanol can be used to pre-
vent gasline freeze in extremely cold weather, and because it is not as flammable as
gasoline it is less likely to cause accidental explosions.
Ethanol use for transportation purposes does have a few negatives. Probably
the most obvious shortcoming is its lack of availability at local gas stations.
Gas stations selling E85 as part of their normal products are not as abundant as
