Energy Units

Question 1

What is energy?

Answer 1

The capacity to perform work

Question 2

Joule (J)

Answer 2

Basic unit of thermal energy in the International System (SI)
1 Joule = 1 Watt-second

Question 3

BTU

Answer 3

Basic unit of thermal energy in the English System
1 BTU = heat required to raise the temp of 1 lb of water by 1 degree F at sea level
1 BTU = 1055 Joules

Question 4

MBTU

Answer 4

1000 BTU

Question 5

MMBTU

Answer 5

1,000,000 BTU or 10^6

Question 6

Quad

Answer 6

10^15 BTU

Huge amount - used to measure global energy

Question 7

Watt-hour (Wh)

Answer 7

Standard unit of electrical energy
1 Wh = 1 watt used for 1 hour
kWh (1000), MWh, GWh, TWh

Question 8

Nutritional Calorie

Answer 8

1.162 Watt-hours

Question 9

What is power?

Answer 9

The rate at which something uses or produces energy. The average amount of energy something produces or consumes over a given period of time.
Power = Energy / Time

Question 10

1 ton =

Answer 10

12,000 BTU/hour

Question 11

1 Horsepower =

Answer 11

746 Watts

Question 12

Watt (W)

Answer 12

Standard unit of electrical power

Question 13

Power Units

Answer 13

BTU/hour (BTUh), MGH, tons, HP, Watts

Question 14

1 ton = _____ BTU/hour

Answer 14

12,000 BTUh

Question 15

1 Horsepower = ___ Watts

Answer 15

746 Watts (.746 kW)

Question 16

What’s always the common denominator for energy fuels?

Answer 16

BTU

Question 17

1 kWh = ___ BTU

Answer 17

3,412 BTU

Question 18

The energy contect of 1 Cubic Foot (cf or ft^3) of natural gas =

Answer 18

1,000 BTU

Question 19

1 Therm =

Answer 19

100,000 BTU

Question 20

The energy content of 1 Barrel of Crude Oil (42 gal) =

Answer 20

5,100,000 BTU

Question 21

The energy content of 1 gallon of gasoline =

Answer 21

125,000 BTU

Question 22

The energy content of 1 gallon of liquid propane gas (LPG) =

Answer 22

95,000 BTU

Question 23

The energy content of 1 pound of coal =

Answer 23

11,000-14,000 BTU

Use the average of 12,500 BTU

Question 24

The energy content of 1 ton of coal =

Answer 24

25,000,000 BTU

Question 25

The energy content of 1 cord of wood (128 sq ft) =

Answer 25

Approx 30,000,000 BTU

It depends on the species

Question 26

1 Cubic Foot of water =

Answer 26

7.48 gallons

Question 27

1 Gallon of water =

Answer 27

8.33 pounds

Question 28

Energy Efficiency =

Answer 28

Energy Output / Energy Input

Question 29

Overall Efficiency =

Answer 29

Eff 1 x Eff 2 x Eff 3 …

Question 30

Heat rate =

Answer 30

BTUs / kWh produced

Question 31

% Change =

Answer 31

100 x (V2-1)/V1
V1 = starting value
V2 = ending value

Question 32

What’s the standard strategy for comparing different fuels?

Answer 32

Express each in the cost per million BTU ($/MMBTU). Efficiency must always be factored in.