FUNDAMENTAL PROPERTIES OF GAS
MEASURING HEAT ENERGY
When burning a gas fuel, heat energy is produced. This heat energy is usually expressed in British Thermal Units, or B.T.U.’s. One B.T.U. is equal to the amount of heat needed to raise one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit (see Figure
1 B.T.U. = the heat necessary to raise 1 lb. of water 1˚F
A wooden kitchen match will produce approximately 1 B.T.U. of heat energy.
ONE POUND
OF WATER
˚F
120
110
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
90˚F
˚F
120
110
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
91˚F
HEAT ENERGY PRODUCED
BY BURNING GAS
Figure
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