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Environmental Science/Cremation - energy used
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Question
How much energy (natural gas) is consumed to burn a body in a crematorium?
Roger: Here's a back of the envelope estimate:
The human body is about 95% water. In order to burn, the water has to be evaporated, or it's equivalent. Now, assuming a 150 lb person and the 95% water, that gives you about 142.5 lb of water. Water requires about 970 btu/ lb to convert it into steam. To that you must add about (212-50) btu/lb water to get the body to about 212 where the water will evaporate.
So, the estimate of about 1000- 1100 BTU/ lb is not bad.
To dehydrate the body it will require about 142500-146,700 BTU, plus the inefficies of the air/ body transfer, and furnace and less for the conversion of the hydrocarbons into ash.
So if we assumed about a 40% efficiency factor overall, including all losses etc, that means that the net energy use would be about 356250 BTU, or about 356 cubic feet of natural gas (1000 BTU/ Cu FT) or less if it is pure methane which can come in between 1100 and 1400 BTU/ Cu. Ft.
Hope that this answers your question.
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Answers by Expert:
David L. Russell, PE
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I`m a Chemical,Civil and Environmental Engineer and have a number of projects in all phases of the environment. I have worked in the chemical industry and am active in professional societies, and am currently on an industrial wastes committee for the Water Environment Federation, and have taught courses in remediation in the US and abroad. I have written one book on Remediation of petroleum Contaminated Sites, and have a second book on PRACTICAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT to be published by John Wiley in September, 2006. I've also written over 30 articles on various elements of environmental problems and cleanup. Most Recently, I have addressed a NATO Scientific and Techical Conference on Ecoterrorism, and have worked with the same group on remediation of sites contaminated with Chemical Warfare Agent materials and othe materials as well. . I can answer q`s about Chemical and Environmental Engineering, land development, air pollution, water pollution, soil and water cleanup, combustion, international environmental problems, industrial processes chemical processes. Civil and Environmental and Chemical Engineering. Overall, I have over 35 years of experience in this area. Note: I do not answer homework questions
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I love work in the third world and developing areas because it is challenging and one can get a sense of accomplishment.
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