How to convert kilocalories to MW(thermal)

[Guest]

Hi....
I need to convert 5 million kilocalories to MW (or MWthermal) [has to do with boiler output]. Using online tools (including at this site, I believe) I came up with 5.815MW. I was told that this seemed like too large a number. Someone told me that the boiler has an output of 2.5125 KWh, which is MUCH smaller.

Would someone be able to tell me which (if either) of the above numbers is correct? And explain to me how to convert from kilocalories to MW or MW thermal?

Many thanks!
edie :)

[Guest]

Hi....
I need to convert 5 million kilocalories to MW (or MWthermal) [has to do with boiler output]. Using online tools (including at this site, I believe) I came up with 5.815MW. I was told that this seemed like too large a number. Someone told me that the boiler has an output of 2.5125 KWh, which is MUCH smaller.

Would someone be able to tell me which (if either) of the above numbers is correct? And explain to me how to convert from kilocalories to MW or MW thermal?

Many thanks!
edie :)

The calorie (or kilocalorie) is a unit of energy, not power. Watts are unit of power, which is energy/time.

To determine power, there must be a period of time associated with the 5 Million kcal. A human needing 2000 kcal.day is rated for 5 million kilocalories in only 2500 days.

1 kcal = 4.1868 kJ.

Ince you know the period of time associated with your output, you can convert that time to seconds, and determine joules per second which are watts. Use an appropriate prefix.

The kWh is a unit of energy as it is power x time.
1 kWh = 3.6 MJ