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How do I measure BTU content of my gas supply

How do I measure BTU content of my gas supply

How do I measure BTU content of my gas supply

(OP)
I am looking for an instrument that measures the BTU content of natural gas.  My utility company says they give us anywhere from 1000 to 1030 BTU/ft3, but I've also heard that they really provide less.

RE: How do I measure BTU content of my gas supply

I doubt there is an instrument out there that will provide a measure.  You can calculate your fuel's BTU content using pounds of steam produced, pressure you are producing steam at, and boiler efficiency.  For example:

Steam being produced at 100 PSIA at a rate of 1000 lbs/hr, in one hour

1000 lbs of steam has been produced generating 1187.2(1000) = 1187200 BTU's
(the 1187.2 came from the steam tables)

If your boiler is 80% efficient, N(0.8) = 1187200 = 1484000 BTU's were transferred from the fuel to the feedwater.  For natural gas, if 1250 cu.ft. of gas was burned, then:  1484000/1250 = 1187.2 BTU's per cubic ft. of gas. (the 1250 was an arbitrary number, you need to get that number from your meter.)

RE: How do I measure BTU content of my gas supply

(OP)
I'm looking for a gas calorimeter.  It burns a sample of known CH4 and compares the energy released to a burned line sample of CH4.  They are out there- but they are very expensive.  The cheapest I found was $12,000- but all the ones I've seen give me much more info than I need- I just need BTU content, not Wobbe index, etc.  So I'm hoping there's a company out there that makes a basic one for significantly less $$.

RE: How do I measure BTU content of my gas supply

If you are wondering about BTU content for your home, you are out of luck.  Gas chromatography equipment is expensive.  If you are wondering about measuring gas for a business using large amounts of natural gas a $20,000 cost could be easily justified by the rising cost of natural gas.  I believe the latest figure is about $6/dekatherm.  

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