Therm
The therm is a non-SI unit of heat energy equal to 100,000 British thermal units, and approximately megajoules, kilowatt-hours, 25,200kilocalories and thermies. One therm is the energy content of approximately of natural gas at standard temperature and pressure. However, the BTU is not standardised worldwide, with slightly different values in the EU, UK, and United States, meaning that the energy content of the therm also varies by territory.
Natural gas meters measure volume and not energy content, and given that the energy density varies with the mix of hydrocarbons in the natural gas, a "therm factor" is used by natural gas companies to convert the volume of gas used to its heat equivalent, usually being expressed in units of "therms per CCF". Higher than average concentration of ethane, propane or butane will increase the therm factor and the inclusion of non-flammable impurities, such as carbon dioxide or nitrogen will reduce it. The Wobbe Index of a fuel gas is also sometimes used to quantify the amount of heat per unit volume burnt.
Definitions
- Therm ≡ BTUISO
- : = joules
- : ≈ kWh
- : The therm is often used by engineers in the US.
- Therm ≡ BTU59°F
- : = joules
- : ≈ kWh.
- Therm ≡ joules
- : ≡ kWh
Decatherm
This unit of energy is used primarily to measure natural gas. Natural gas is a mixture of gases containing approximately 80% methane and its heating value varies from about or, depending on the mix of different gases in the gas stream. The volume of natural gas with heating value of one dekatherm is about. Noncombustible carbon dioxide lowers the heating value of natural gas. Heavier hydrocarbons such as ethane, propane, and butane increase its heating value. Since customers who buy natural gas are actually buying heat, gas distribution companies who bill by volume routinely adjust their rates to compensate for this.
The company Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation, a natural gas pipeline company, started to use the unit dekatherm in about 1972. To simplify billing, Texas Eastern staff members coined the term dekatherm and proposed using calorimeters to measure and bill gas delivered to customers in dekatherms. This would eliminate the constant calculation of rate adjustments to dollar per 1000 cubic feet rates in order to assure that all customers received the same amount of heat per dollar. A settlement agreement reflecting the new billing procedure and settlement rates was filed in 1973. The Federal Power Commission issued an order approving the settlement agreement and the new tariff using dekatherms later that year, Other gas distribution companies also began to use this process.
In spite of the need for adjustments, many companies continue to use standard cubic feet rather than dekatherms to measure and bill natural gas.