How many ccf natural gas to heat cup of water?

Answer:
That's going to depend on

-- starting temperature of the water

-- finishing temperature of the water

-- efficiency of the method you use to heat the water.

But we'll play the game.

Here are the numbers we're using:

Energy content of typical commercial grade natural gas in the US: 1,000 BTU per ft3
or 100,000 BTU per ccf.

Heat capacity of water: 1 BTU per pound-mass per degree Fahrenheit.

Density of water: 8.34 lb/gallon = 0.52125 lb-mass per cup

From this mash-up, we get

(1 cup) x (0.52125 lbm/cup) x (1 BTU/lbm-degree) / (100,000 BTU/ccf) = 0.0000052125 ccf per degree Fahrenheit

Example: To raise the temperature of 1 cup of water 100 degrees:

0.0000052125 x 100 = 0.052125 cubic foot of natural gas, IF all of the energy
in the natural gas could be transferred to the water.
First answer by Alcohen2006. Last edit by Alcohen2006. Contributor trust: 1141 [recommend contributor recommended]. Question popularity: 1 [recommend question].