Welcome! Here are the website rules, as well as some tips for using this forum.
Need to contact us? Visit https://heatinghelp.com/contact-us/.
Click here to Find a Contractor in your area.

MCF Nat gas and BTU

Jim Bergmann_2
Jim Bergmann_2 Member Posts: 79
in THE MAIN WALL
Was at CSA lab, and saw the heat content of gaas varies form 930 to 1050 over the course of an hour sometimes, 1025 seems to be a good average

An MCF = 1000 CF

Average BTU Content of Fuels

Fuel Oil (No. 2)140,000 BTU/gallon

Electricity 3,412 BTU/kWh

Natural Gas 1,025 BTU/cubic foot

Propane 91,330 BTU/gallon 2500 BTU/cubic foot

Wood (air dried)*20,000,000 BTU/cord or 8,000 BTU/pound

Pellets (for pellet stoves; premium) 16,500,000 BTU/ton

Kerosene 135,000 BTU/gallon

Coal 28,000,000 BTU/ton

From U.S. Department of Energy

Comments

  • Rob Blair
    Rob Blair Member Posts: 227
    Conversion of MCF to BTUs

    NEVER MIND GUYS!!! SHOULD HAVE GOOGLED IT IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!

    I know that 1KW will produce 3415 Btus. What about 1MCF of natural gas to Btu and also oil to Btus?

    Thanks,

    Rob
  • Brad White_169
    Brad White_169 Member Posts: 11
    It depends... :)

    Natural gas has a range of BTU contents depending on what the admixtures are. Natural gas is mostly methane (CH4; about 94-97%) and the rest is made up with butane, ethane, propane and other 'anes... plus air, CO2, fossilized dinosaur flatulence...

    The BTU content varies with local supply; the gas company may have a deal on butane or propane they can mix in at the distribution point. (Is it still "natural" at that point? Mmmmm....)

    Methane itself is about 1,000 BTU's per CF which sets the standard but as "natural" gas can range up or down 50 or more BTU's per CF. In the end you are charged for "therms" or 100,000 BTU blocks, so if they add more ingredients which raise the BTU per CF level, don't worry! You will be charged for them in full... :)

    In short though, 1,000 BTU's per CF is a good figure.

    Fuel oil: #2 is traditionally given as 140,000 BTU's per gallon total heat content. This too can vary by a couple of thousand depending on source of supply, degree of solids, etc. 138,500 BTU's per gallon is a conservative number I have in my Mark's Handbook. 138-140,000 would be fair figures.

    The higher grades (less refined) such as #4 and #6 have higher fuel contents, over 150,000 due to having more "chunks" :)

    Not that you will be burning the stuff, just for comparison.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories