The amount of heat, measured in calories, that is released
when a substance is completely oxidized in a bomb calorimeter
containing 25 to 30 atmospheres of oxygen, is called the gross
energy (GE) of the substance. A sample of the material to be
tested is weighed into a combustion capsule. The combustion
capsule is placed in an oxygen bomb containing 25 to 30 atmospheres
of oxygen. The oxygen bomb is covered with 2000 g of
water in an adiabatic calorimeter. After the bomb and calorimeter
have been adjusted to the same temperature, the sample is Ignited
with a fuse wire. The temperature rise is measured under adiabatic
conditions. From the hydrothermal equivalent of the
calorimeter the temperature rise minus some small corrections for
fuse wire oxidation and acid production, the caloric content of
the sample is calculated