Gross Calorific Value (Bomb Calorimeter)

Calculate the energy released per unit mass of fuel from calorimeter experiment.

Mass of fuel sample (g)

Water equivalent of calorimeter (g)

Includes water + calorimeter (in grams of water).

Temperature rise (°C)

Specific heat of water (cal/g°C)

Usually 1 cal/g°C.

Correction for fuse wire / acid (cal)

Subtract any known corrections.

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cal/g

(To convert to J/g, multiply by 4.184)

GCV (cal/g) = [(W + w) × ΔT × C - Correction] / m

W = water equivalent, w = mass of water, ΔT = temp rise, C = specific heat, m = mass of fuel

Often w is already included in water equivalent.

Gross Calorific Value (Higher Heating Value) includes latent heat of water vapor.
If your calorimeter constant (water equivalent) already includes water, set "mass of water" to 0.
Correction may include heat from ignition wire and acid formation.