Approximately how many BTU's does it take to convert 1 pound of liquid water at 212ºF to steam at 212ºF?

The process of converting water into steam at the same temperature involves a phenomenon known as the latent heat of vaporization. Specifically, when water reaches its boiling point of 212ºF, it does not immediately transform into steam; it requires additional energy, measured in British Thermal Units (BTUs), to effect this phase change.

The latent heat of vaporization for water is typically around 970 BTUs per pound. This is the amount of energy necessary to change water at its boiling point into steam without increasing its temperature. Therefore, if you take 1 pound of water at 212ºF and convert it to steam at the same temperature, it indeed requires approximately 970 BTUs of energy.

Understanding this concept is crucial in various applications, including heating systems, steam generation plants, and thermodynamics, as it highlights the energy needed for phase changes in water, an important factor for efficiency and operation in many industrial processes.