Therm

The therm (symbol thm) is a non-SI unit of heat energy equal to 100,000 British thermal units (BTU). It is approximately the energy equivalent of burning 100 cubic feet (2.83 cubic metres) – often referred to as 1 CCF – of natural gas.

Since natural gas meters measure volume and not energy content, a therm factor is used by (Natural) gas companies to convert the volume of gas used to its heat equivalent, and thus calculate the actual energy use. The therm factor is usually expressed in units of therms per CCF. It will vary with the mix of hydrocarbons in the natural gas. Natural gas with a higher than average concentration of ethane, propane or butane will have a higher therm factor. Impurities, such as carbon dioxide or nitrogen, lower the therm factor.

The volume of the gas is calculated as if measured at standard temperature and pressure (STP). The heat content of natural gas is solely dependent on the composition of the gas, and is independent of temperature and pressure.

One therm is equal to about 105.5 megajoules, 25,200 kilocalories or 29.3 kilowatt-hours. One therm can also be provided by about 96.7 cubic feet (2.74 m3) of natural gas. The therm sometimes has been confused with the thermie (see below). The names of both units come from the Greek word for heat.

A thermie (th) is a metric unit of heat energy, part of the meter-tonne-second system sometimes used by European engineers. The thermie is equal to the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 tonne of water by 1 °C. The thermie is equivalent to 1,000 kilocalories, 4.1868 megajoules or 3968.3 BTU.

Definitions

= 105,505,600 joules
≈ 29.3071111111111 kWh
The therm (EC) is often used by engineers in the US.
= 105,480,400 joules
≈ 29.3001111111111 kWh.
≈ 29.30710701583 kWh

Ten therms are known as a decatherm. Common abbreviations are as follows:[4]

Dthdecatherm (sometimes dekatherm[4])
MDththousand decatherms
MMDthmillion decatherms

Usage

United Kingdom regulations were amended to replace therms with joules (the S.I. unit of energy) with effect from 1999. Despite this, natural gas is now usually retailed in kilowatt-hours, although the wholesale UK gas market trades in therms, with a typical forward transaction being for 25,000 therms (31 MW) per day. In the United States natural gas is commonly billed in CCFs (hundreds of cubic feet) or therms.

Carbon footprint

According to the EPA burning one therm of natural gas produces on average 5.3 kg (11.7 lb) of carbon dioxide.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Official Journal L 073, P. 0114 27 March 1972
  2. ↑ 15 USC Chapter 6
  3. ↑ The Units of Measurement Regulations 1995
  4. 1 2 Jerry Knight (22 January 1978). "Gas Utilities Stepping Up Efforts to Add Customers". The Washington Post. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
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