For every cubic foot of natural gas burned, how many cubic feet of flue gas are produced?

When natural gas is burned, it undergoes a combustion process that produces flue gas, which contains carbon dioxide, water vapor, and other combustion byproducts. The specific amount of flue gas produced from burning a given volume of natural gas can be influenced by various factors, such as the efficiency of combustion and the specific composition of the gas.

Typically, the combustion of natural gas results in a production ratio where approximately 10 cubic feet of flue gas are generated for every cubic foot of natural gas consumed. This is due to the chemical reactions involved in combustion, which combine the fuel with oxygen from the air, leading to a significant increase in volume as gases expand during combustion, and additional byproducts are formed.

Understanding the approximate ratio of flue gas to natural gas is essential for designing heating systems, venting, and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations. This knowledge helps in calculating ventilation needs, sizing of exhaust systems, and understanding the overall efficiency of heating applications.