Energy required to vaporize a human

[evan price]

Don't ask how I know this, but-

To cremate a human body in a natural gas fired crematorium requires roughly 1000 btu per pound of weight. 1000 btu is a cubic foot of natural gas. Figure that your efficiency of the process depends on insulation and heat losses through the flue, which can be regained through secondary combustion or afterburners....call it roughly 50% efficiency.
So for a 200-pound human corpse you would need roughly 400,000 btus or 400 cubic feet of natural gas. That converts to roughly 117.25 kilowatt-hours. That converts to about 422,100,000 joules.

This does not include clothing or a casket, and it will leave behind ash.
The total efficiency of the process will alter the final energy budget.
Preheating is not included.

[Netpackrat]

Sometimes you guys disturb me.

[Rich Jordan]

Sometimes you guys disturb me.

Wow, and Yogi didn't even post in this thread...