Net calorific

value
Although granulates obtained from
used tyres are not used for energy
recovery, Aliapurs Research
and Development department
wanted to study their net calorific
value and thus establish the reference
data that was not at the time
available for this type of product.
These data could also be re-used for
recycling sport and leisure surfaces,
the granulates of which have
reached their end-of-life phase.
In this case, energy recovery would
become an imaginable solution.

Calorific value
Definition
Net calorific value
Quantity of heat released during the complete combustion of one cubic meter of gas under normal temperature
and pressure conditions (1.01325 bar or 101 325 Pascal at 0C) when the water formed during combustion
remains as steam and the combustion products are evacuated under normalised test conditions.
In French: pouvoir calorifique infrieur.
Combustion is the chemical reaction that occurs between a fuel and a combustion agent, for example oxygen in
the air in the presence of a heat source. The result of complete combustion is essentially carbon dioxide (CO2),
water (H2O) and heat.

(C, H) + O2

CO2 + H2O + heat

C3H8 + 5 O2

3 CO2+ 4 H2O + heat

A compound composed of
carbon and hydrogen
reacts with the oxygen

Example of propane

to produce carbon dioxide,

water and heat

The calorific value is the quantity of heat released by the combustion of one kilogram of fuel, or a cubic meter
if it is a gas.

Reference value
The net calorific value of ELT granulates is 35 MJ/kg.

How is the calorific value calculated?

The fuel sample is placed in a sealed steel cylinder called a bomb calorimeter, with pure oxygen. The water
formed during combustion is liquid and vaporises, a change of state that requires energy. The total quantity of
heat generated by combustion, known as the gross calorific value (GCV) is thus equal to the heat released by
the combustion, to which is added the heat needed to vaporise the water.
In reality, water vapour generally condenses on the outside, particularly when it comes out of the chimneys of
industrial or domestic apparatus. The quantity of heat produced during combustion is thus lower than the gross
calorific value, as the water vaporisation heat is not recovered.
The net calorific value (NCV) is calculated by subtracting from the GCV the water vaporisation heat. This is more
characteristic of the quantity of energy provided by the fuel under consideration.
For gaseous fuels, the NCV is a value around 90% of the GCV. It is expressed in megaJoule per kilo (MJ.kg
or MJ/kg).

-1

Projects for standards with regard to analyses of solid recovery fuels are currently being studied. Aliapur hopes
to validate the analysis methods specific to ELT for harmonisation with the other processes implemented, even if
used tyre granulates are the subject of material recycling.

Method recommended and studied by Aliapur

Operating method
This method was established using the NF ISO 1928 (May 2004) standard.
The samples of ELT are prepared from micronisation of the granulates contained in 1.8 g samples. These samples
are themselves obtained, by means of a rotating divider, from 500 g taken from a big bag of 500 kg.

ELT
granula s
te

Micronisation at 500 m taken

from the samples = 0.3 g

500 g
sample
Sample composed using the
heavy method

see Samples and sampling sheet

500 kg

Reduction of the sample using

a rotating divider = 1.8 g

The micronised ELT granulates sample (0.3 g) is placed in a bomb calorimeter filled with pure oxygen. The bomb is
then placed in a calorimeter filled with distilled water and equipped with a stirring device and a thermometer.
After measuring the initial temperature, combustion is started inside the bomb. Changes in the water temperature
of the calorimeter are monitored for the duration of the experiment. These changes are directly linked to the heat
released by the combustion, that is, the calorific value of the sample.

CVsample =

mtotal x HCwater x
msample

Ttotal

This equation means that the calorific value of the sample is equal to the total mass (mass of the water in the tank +
equivalent mass which is constructors data) multiplied by the specific heat of the water multiplied by the difference
between the initial temperature and the maximum temperature attained during the experiment, all divided by the
mass of the sample.
The reference studies have shown that the preparation of the sample (reduction followed by micronisation) guarantees
better reproducibility of the measurement than direct use of non-micronised granulates. The tests and results obtained
confirm the choices made in terms of analysis method and preparation and sampling protocol.

Example of a device

Calorimeter
Tank
Cover

Stirrer

Bomb + cover
Cell

Weighing the mass in the tank

Putting the cover in place

Taking the sample

Measuring the temperature

at the end of the test

Results
Regardless of the samples tested (granulate essentially obtained from truck tyres, passenger car tyres or a mixture),
the NCV was 35 MJ/kg.
Examples of NCV
n

Dry wood: 21 MJ/kg

Coal: 24-29 MJ/kg (coal comes in a range of different qualities)

This operating method is currently the subject of a study with a view to establishing a standard.

Conclusion
In cases where tyre granulates could not be used for material recycling, for example when recycling play areas,
synthetic turf, etc., it was nevertheless possible to use them as fuel thanks to their truly remarkable NCV

FILIRE DE VALORISATION DES PNEUS USAGS

References
Standards
n
n

PR CEN/TS 15400 Solid Recovered Fuels Methods for the Determination of Calorific Value.
 F ISO 1928 Mai 2004 Solid mineral fuels Determination of gross calorific value by the bomb calorimetric
N
method and calculation of net calorific value.

Reference studies
n
n

Caractrisation de granulats de PUNR CTTM1 pour Aliapur Fvrier 2007.

Etude et analyses de granulats de PUNR LRCCP1 pour Aliapur Juin 2007.

Sample sites
The studies carried out by Aliapur were based on a
variety of batches of ELT granulates from four European
granulation factories using different processes and
raw materials. These batches correspond to the main
products marketed by these sites.
The four sites from which the samples were taken
collectively represent the main configurations of what
can be found in terms of processes and types of tyre
used. Aliapur used a wide variety of products for its
analyses, guaranteeing an overall view of the sector
and good representativeness of the results.
n
n

Factory 1: successive shredding of truck tyres.

F actory 2: successive shredding of passenger car
tyres.
F actory 3: shredding by crushing of truck and
passenger car tyres.

2
4

F actory 4: cryogenics followed by shredding of

truck and passenger car tyres.

(1) Centre de Transfert de Technologie du Mans (CTTM) et Laboratoire de Recherches et de Contrle du Caoutchouc et des Plastiques (LRCCP).

Editorial coordination: R&D Aliapur - Graphic Coordination: communication Aliapur - Design/production: Crayon Bleu - Photo credits:Aliapur DR, Michel Djaoui March 2010
Printed within the framework of Imprim Vert on recycled paper - In its quality of issuerof papers, Aliapur adheres to the eco-body Ecofolio for their recycling.

A project for a standard concerning solid recovered fuels is currently being studied for ELT shred. Aliapur thus hopes,
in an attempt to harmonise methods, to validate these methods on ELT granulates even though most granulates are
used for material recycling.

ALIAPUR - Research & Development

71, cours Albert Thomas - 69003 Lyon - FRANCE
Tel: +33 (0)4 37 91 43 20 - Fax: +33 (0)4 78 54 67 14
www.aliapur.fr - contact@aliapur.fr
Used tyre recovery in France