Wobbe index - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Wobbe index
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Wobbe Index (WI) or Wobbe number[1] is an indicator of the interchangeability of fuel gases such as natural gas,
liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and town gas and is frequently defined in the specifications of gas supply and transport
utilities.
If
is the higher heating value, or higher calorific value, and
defined as:

is the specific gravity, the Wobbe Index,

, is

The Wobbe Index is used to compare the combustion energy output of different composition fuel gases in an appliance
(fire, cooker etc.). If two fuels have identical Wobbe Indices then for given pressure and valve settings the energy output
will also be identical. Typically variations of up to 5% are allowed as these would not be noticeable to the consumer.
The Wobbe Index is a critical factor to minimise the impact of the changeover when analyzing the use of substitute
natural gas (SNG) fuels such as propane-air mixtures. The Wobbe Index also requires the addition of propane to some
upgraded biomethane products,[2] particularly in regions where natural gas has a high calorific value such as Sweden [3]

Contents

1
2
3
4

Wobbe Index of common fuel gases [4]

Usage
Limitations
References

Wobbe Index of common fuel gases [4]

Fuel gas

Upper index Lower index Upper index Lower index

Kcal/Nm3 Kcal/Nm3 MJ/Nm3
MJ/Nm3

Hydrogen

11,528

9,715

48.23

40.65

Methane

12,735

11,452

53.28

47.91

Ethane

16,298

14,931

68.19

62.47

Ethylene

15,253

14,344

63.82

60.01

Natural gas

12,837

11,597

53.71

48.52

Propane

19,376

17,817

81.07

74.54

Propylene

18,413

17,180

77.04

71.88

n-butane

22,066

20,336

92.32

85.08

Iso-butane

21,980

20,247

91.96

84.71

Butylene-1

21,142

19,728

88.46

82.54

LPG

20,755

19,106

86.84

79.94

Acetylene

14,655

14,141

61.32

59.16

3,060

12.80

12.80

Carbon monoxide 3,060

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wobbe_index

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Wobbe index - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Note: 1 Joule = 2.3901 104 kcal.

Usage
The Wobbe index is commonly expressed in either British Thermal Units (BTU) per standard cubic foot, or else
megajoules per standard cubic meter (1,000 BTU/scf = 37.3 MJ/Sm3). In the case of natural gas (molar mass 17 g/mol),
the typical heating value is around 1,050 BTU per cubic foot and the specific gravity is approximately 0.59, giving a
typical Wobbe index of 1,367 BTU/scf (51 MJ/m3).
There are three ranges or "families" of fuel gases that have been internationally agreed based on Wobbe index. Family 1
covers manufactured gases, family 2 covers natural gases (with high and low ranges) and family 3 covers liquefied
petroleum gas (LPG). Combustion equipment is typically designed to burn a fuel gas within a particular family:
hydrogen-rich town gas, natural gas or LPG.
Family

Type of gas

Wobbe Index range (MJ/Nm3)

Wobbe number range from [1]

Town gas / Syngas

22.5 30

24 29

2L

Natural

39 45

2H
3

LPG

45.5 55

48 53

73.5 87.5

72 87

Other flame characteristics and composition limits may determine the acceptability of the replacement gas, e.g. flame
speed, "yellow tipping" due to incomplete combustion, sulfur content, oxygen content, etc.

Limitations
In spite of its usefulness, Wobbe index alone is not a good indicator of the interchangeability of two or more gases, or
mixtures of them. It is necessary to bear in mind other criteria while determining the plenty substitution of a fuel by
other, different of the one used to adjust the burning system.[5]

References
"The Wobbe Index and Natural Gas Interchangeability" (PDF). Emerson Process Management. 2007-07-30.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Treloar, R.D. (2005). Gas Installation Technology. Blackwell. p. 24. ISBN 978-1-4051-1880-4.
http://www.biogasmax.eu/media/d3_3v2biogasmax_iwes_v2f_nov2010__052078600_1109_10022011.pdf
B [1] (http://www.sgc.se/gasification2011/Resources/Ingemar_Gunnarsson.pdf).
Wobbe Index and Fuel Gases (http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/wobbe-index-d_421.html)
Flrez-Orrego,Daniel, Escola Politcnica da USP. "Fuel Gas Interchangeability". Retrieved 8 Sep 2012.

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