Can anybody confirm that

[Willbe]

12 oz. of nuclear material can put out 1 therm, assuming all the mass was turned into energy?

It seems like too little energy since 14# of hardwood burning (the heat value) can do the same.

 

[tcmtech]

I think the mass to energy conversion ratio is E=MC^2

So the expected theoretical output should be 2.89795e8 Therms!

Their only off by about 289795000 units give or take.

 

[Willbe]

I forgot to square the speed of light. I think 2E-9 pound gives 1 therm.

 

[tcmtech]

close enough.
Guess you wont be firing your DIY reactor with wood huh?

I would be nice though, to be able to heat my place on about one match book worth of wood every year!

Not 1000 -1200 wood pallets, 50000 - 60000 pounds of assorted hard woods. All handled about 5 times over from collection to stacking to cutting and loading the boiler.

Man that sounds like a lot of work when a person puts the weight numbers to it!