The full form of BTU is British Thermal Unit. This is a traditional unit of energy that is equal to approximately 1,055 joules. One British Thermal Unit is the average amount required to heat one pound of water from 39 degrees Fahrenheit to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Although commonly used as a unit within air condition, the British Thermal Unit is also used in the power, steam generation and heating industries. There are several definitions of British Thermal Units given that are based on different water temperatures. These differences can vary the BTUs by point five per cent. To put the measurement in a real life context, one British Thermal Unit is what is required to burn a single wooden match or the amount of energy that is required to lift a one pound weight 778 feet high.
When considered in a scientific context, British Thermal Units have mostly been replaced by the joule, the SI unit of energy. British Thermal Units are still used quite commonly, however, as a measure of agricultural energy production. In metric English speaking countries it is still used as an unofficial unit and within the air conditioning industry it still remains the standard unit of classification. Within North America, BTU is used to describe the heat value or energy content of fuels. It can also be used to describe the power of cooling and heating systems, for example furnaces, barbecue girls, stoves and air conditioners. BTUS are more correctly used as BTU per hour. Engineers also use the units MBTU and MMBTU to represent one thousand British Thermal Units and one million British Thermal Units respectively. The M prefix is often confused with the SI M prefix which multiplies by one million. This is why the latter unit (MMBTU) is used in order to avoid confusion. A therm may also be used to represent 100,000 or ten to the power of five British Thermal Units while a quad represents ten to the power of 15 British Thermal Units.
When considered in a scientific context, British Thermal Units have mostly been replaced by the joule, the SI unit of energy. British Thermal Units are still used quite commonly, however, as a measure of agricultural energy production. In metric English speaking countries it is still used as an unofficial unit and within the air conditioning industry it still remains the standard unit of classification. Within North America, BTU is used to describe the heat value or energy content of fuels. It can also be used to describe the power of cooling and heating systems, for example furnaces, barbecue girls, stoves and air conditioners. BTUS are more correctly used as BTU per hour. Engineers also use the units MBTU and MMBTU to represent one thousand British Thermal Units and one million British Thermal Units respectively. The M prefix is often confused with the SI M prefix which multiplies by one million. This is why the latter unit (MMBTU) is used in order to avoid confusion. A therm may also be used to represent 100,000 or ten to the power of five British Thermal Units while a quad represents ten to the power of 15 British Thermal Units.
