# Comparing energy values from Standard fuels
**URL:** http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/comparing-energy-values-from-standard-fuels/2961
**Category:** General Discussion
**Created:** [January 8, 2017, 10:49am UTC](http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/comparing-energy-values-from-standard-fuels/2961 "2017-01-08T10:49:35Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@k\_vanlooken](http://forum.driveonwood.com/u/k_vanlooken)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2017, 10:49am UTC](http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/comparing-energy-values-from-standard-fuels/2961/1 "2017-01-08T10:49:35Z")
Here a basic overview from years collecting real life data.
Modern CHP systems can run a bit more efficient, but overall this is a bit accurate and usable to compare…
If your engine is not running well on CNG, it does not mean it can’t run efficient on woodgas…
I tried to keep it simple, but you never know… questions ? just ask
Edit: i replace this picture with corrected data, thanks to the correct observation and positive comment from Chris
deleted picture
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### Author:  [@KristijanL](http://forum.driveonwood.com/u/KristijanL)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2017, 10:59am UTC](http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/comparing-energy-values-from-standard-fuels/2961/2 "2017-01-08T10:59:46Z")
Interasting and very informative stright forward data!
A question thugh; you have bamboo on your table. Is this bamboo turned to woodgas and runing a ic engine or bamboo made to charcoal, then gasified amd burned in a ic engine?
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### Author:  [@k\_vanlooken](http://forum.driveonwood.com/u/k_vanlooken)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2017, 12:05pm UTC](http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/comparing-energy-values-from-standard-fuels/2961/3 "2017-01-08T12:05:17Z")
Hi Kristijan,
No, these are value’s relative to the actual energy content, LHV, based on dry mass. ( Bamboo having same value as wood in proximity from less then 2% difference )
edit: rereading and comenting.
If the bamboo in the table is used for gasification direct, then yes, but have to take in consideration that the efficiency of the gasifier is not accounted for, nor the moister content.
We actually run our big one (gasifier with pure bamboo ) on 1,4 kg average per Kwh output ( 107 Kwh )
Average you get an input to output conversion, with the power generator from 30% ( gas value to Electric)
Touching the 90% gasifier efficiency is darn difficult… unless charcoal is involved 😉
My big gasifier will be rebuild to full charcoal 200 Kwh and no more straight bamboo
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### Author:  [@Chris](http://forum.driveonwood.com/u/Chris)
#### Post date: [January 9, 2017, 3:00pm UTC](http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/comparing-energy-values-from-standard-fuels/2961/4 "2017-01-09T15:00:43Z")
Hi Koen, nice table, but I can’t make the bamboo numbers line up with what I know about wood.
Forgive the conversion to English units…
1 liter = 3.250 kg
0.264 gal = 7.165 lbs
1 gal = 27.14 lbs
Maybe this is true for bamboo, but it isn’t for wood. Most sources quote a LHV for wood of 8,000 BTU/lb, gasoline has 114,000 BTUs/gal. That comes out to 14.25 lbs/gal equivalent. In addition, our practical experience is around 16 lbs/gallon equivalent running woodgas trucks. I have a hard time believing that we’ve achieved 200% efficiency with our gasifiers. 😉
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### Author:  [@k\_vanlooken](http://forum.driveonwood.com/u/k_vanlooken)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2017, 1:49am UTC](http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/comparing-energy-values-from-standard-fuels/2961/5 "2017-01-10T01:49:03Z")
Hi Chris,
It looks i have to check my homework again 😁
trying to compare my data with established knowledge, but then trying to avoid some obstacles as endless conversing…
I did find an interesting pdf from FAO dough, might be worth using those data as a forward / backward reference ?
[http://www.fao.org/3/a-i4441e.pdf](http://www.fao.org/3/a-i4441e.pdf)
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### Author:  [@k\_vanlooken](http://forum.driveonwood.com/u/k_vanlooken)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2017, 6:00am UTC](http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/comparing-energy-values-from-standard-fuels/2961/6 "2017-01-20T06:00:32Z")
the replacing picture:
I have added the values used in MJ per quantity ( real world quantity’s)
The real consumptions for generating electric power with a generator / gasifier set for wood or bamboo, are more high then in this picture ( 1,2 Kg up to 1,5 Kg )
The wood energy value’s is based on dry mass
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### Author:  [@kmrland](http://forum.driveonwood.com/u/kmrland)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2017, 8:20am UTC](http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/comparing-energy-values-from-standard-fuels/2961/7 "2017-01-20T08:20:16Z")
Thanks Koen for the chart, you are bright on these fuel science,thou i am unclear about distance a vehicle will travel farther on 5 gallon of charco or 5 gallon of wood. If the chunks were all the same size ??
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### Author:  [@k\_vanlooken](http://forum.driveonwood.com/u/k_vanlooken)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2017, 2:57pm UTC](http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/comparing-energy-values-from-standard-fuels/2961/8 "2017-01-20T14:57:23Z")
Hi Kevin,
Now that is a funny brain teaser 😁 just made my day
If we choose our materials well, then we could call that even value’s … energy per volume wise 😁
But with sam sizing and no further specs, i would say more mileage with wood… ( 400gr/liter charcoal vs 700gr/liter wood)
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### Author:  [@kmrland](http://forum.driveonwood.com/u/kmrland)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2017, 2:51am UTC](http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/comparing-energy-values-from-standard-fuels/2961/9 "2017-01-21T02:51:33Z")
Thanks koen on the specs, you are a true educator sportsman.