Energy Content in common Energy Sources
Heating fuels and their energy content.
Energy content in some commonly used energy sources:
| Energy Source | Unit | Energy Content (Btu) |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity | 1 Kilowatt-hour | 3412 |
| Butane | 1 Cubic Foot (cu.ft.) | 3200 |
| Coal | 1 Ton | 28000000 |
| Crude Oil | 1 Barrel - 42 gallons | 5800000 |
| Fuel Oil no.1 | 1 Gallon | 137400 |
| Fuel Oil no.2 | 1 Gallon | 139600 |
| Fuel Oil no.3 | 1 Gallon | 141800 |
| Fuel Oil no.4 | 1 Gallon | 145100 |
| Fuel Oil no.5 | 1 Gallon | 148800 |
| Fuel Oil no.6 | 1 Gallon | 152400 |
| Diesel Fuel | 1 Gallon | 139000 |
| Gasoline | 1 Gallon | 124000 |
| Natural Gas | 1 Cubic Foot (cu.ft.) | 950 - 1150 |
| Heating Oil | 1 Gallon | 139000 |
| Kerosene | 1 Gallon | 135000 |
| Pellets | 1 Ton | 16500000 |
| Propane LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas) | 1 Gallon | 91330 |
| Propane gas 60 oF | 1 Cubic Foot (cu.ft.) | 2550 |
| Residual Fuel Oil 1) | 1 Barrel - 42 gallons | 6287000 |
| Wood - air dried | 1 Cord | 20000000 |
| Wood - air dried | 1 pound | 8000 |
1) Residual Fuel Oil - The liquid or semi-liquid, high-boiling fraction of residue from the distillation of crude oil.
- 1 Gallon (U.S.) = 3.785×10-3 m3 = 3.785 dm3 (liter)
- 1 ft3 = 0.02832 m3
- 1 barrel (US, oil) = 1.33 barrel (US, liq) = 5.61458 cu foot = 42 gallons (US, liq) = 158.9873 liter
- 1 lbm = 0.4536 kg
- 1 ton (short) = 2000 lbs = 907 kg
Btu - British Thermal Unit
The unit of heat in the imperial system - the BTU - is
- the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water through 1 oF (58.5 oF - 59.5 oF) at sea level (30 inches of mercury).
- 1 Btu (British thermal unit) = 1055.06 J = 107.6 kpm = 2.931×10-4 kWh = 0.252 kcal = 778.16 ft lbf = 1.0551010 ergs = 252 cal = 0.293 watt hours
An item using one kilowatt-hour of electricity will generate 3412 Btu.
