Carbon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42.0%
      Hydrogen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.9%
      Ash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.5%
      Oxygen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23.1%

Here, 9,460 B.T.U. is the actual calorific value of the absolutely dry peat as determined in the bomb calorimeter.

The presence of moisture in peat fuel lowers its effective heating value since a portion of the heat of combustion is utilized in evaporating the contained moisture, and the heat of the steam formed passes off with the flue gases unused. It is highly desirable, therefore, that the moisture content, except for certain purposes, be kept as low as possible when consistent with economy. The following tables show the effect which the quantity of moisture present in the fuel has upon its calorific value. The column showing the quantity of heat required to evaporate the moisture is calculated: first, assuming that the heat required is only that which overcomes the latent heat of the water, or 970.4 B.T.U. per pound; second, the calculation assumes conditions that prevail in a gas producer or steam boiler in which it is assumed that the water enters at the temperature of the charged peat – about 60°F – and leaves at the temperature of the hot gases-about 600°F. Under these latter conditions, the total heat required to evaporate the water and then superheat it to 600°F will be, per pound, as follows:

      To raise the temperature of the water from 60° to 212°F, 212–60 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .152.0 B.T.U.

      Latent heat of water per pound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 970.4

      Heat required to superheat the steam, assuming the specific heat of superheated
      steam to be 0.48, is 0.48 × (600-212) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .186.0

      Total heat per pound of water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,308.4 B.T.U.
      or, in round numbers, 1,300 B.T.U. per pound.