fuel Density: --- Lbs --- Energy Content
Birch1 41.0 -- 3,485 -- 23,600,000 Btu/cord
Hemlock1 33.6 --- 2,856 -- 22,000,000 Btu/cord
White Spruce1 30 -- 2,550-- 18,100,000 Btu/cord
Sitka Spruce1 30 -- 2,550 -- 18,100,000 Btu/cord
Aspen1 28.4 -- 2,414 -- 16,600,000 Btu/cord
Tamarack2 38.2 -- 3,247 -- 16,000,000 Btu/ton
Black Spruce2 29.2 -- 2,482 -- 15,900,000 Btu/cord
Poplar1 25.5 -- 2,168 -- 15,000,000 Btu/cord
Cottonwood2 24.8 -- 2,108 -- 14,500,000 Btu/cord
Wood Pellets -- 16,000,000 Btu/ton
Lignite Coal3 -- 17,400,000 Btu/ton
Oil3 -- 134,000 Btu/gal
Electricity3 -- 3,413 Btu/kWh
Natural Gas3 -- 1,000 Btu/ft3
Propane3 -- 91,800 Btu/gal
Kinda hard to compare each as there are cords, Kwh, ft3 ,gal, and tons.
I supect non of the woods mentioned would go a ton per cord.
Hardly any hardwoods mentioned, specifically oak, gives off lot more heat per unit.Around here,oak goes for 2-3 times what pine does.
Years ago when wood heat was really getting popular again( late70's around here),any wood stove could burn coal in it if had a grate. I supect any code rated triple wall chimny material could hande it.Most I know of did. My family heated with coal when I was growing up 1943 thru late 50's or so.It was bituminous soft coal. Some of it was strip mine coal that usally burned dirtier than deep mine coal that was washed.Std chimney at that time was brick lined with a terra cotta type liner. Some of them were just brick.
Up until about 5-8 years ago,my parents still burned coal at night in thier open fireplace and wood during the day.In the AM,they just stirred up the fire and then addded wood. That fireplace burnt 24-7 all thru the winter and the chinmey was straight brick.
It does smell some, but I would have no reservations about burning it in the stove the OP mentioned.Probably don't want to burn it with the draft full open. Coal can be banked down a lot easier than wood to make it burn longer,but cooler.
Unless the wood is free,I suspect coal would give more heat per dollar than wood.It also may depend on what part of the country you are in,whether coal is easily available or not. I heated with pine for about 15 years,as all we had was electric,expensive heat. The wood was free on my property except for the cost of chain saw,oil,fuel and time spent.The chimney had to be cleaned about twice per winter to keep from having chimney fires from the creosote.
Just like anything on the internet, a lot of folks chime in when they have never used it or very little. Very much like the guys who start off by saying I have never hunted or killed an elk,but!!!!