Fuel Oil

Name:
Fuel Oil
Detailed information:
Any liquid petroleum product that is burned in a furnace for the generation of heat or used in an engine for the generation of power, except oils having a flash point of approximately 100F (37.7C) and oils burned in cotton or woolwick burners. The oil may be a distillated fraction of petroleum, a residuum from refinery operations, a crude petroleum, or a blend of two or more of these. Because fuel oils are used with burners of various types and capacities, different grades are required. ASTM has developed specifications for six grades of fuel oil. No. 1 is a straight-run distillate, a little heavier than kerosene, used almost exclusively for domestic heating. No. 2 (diesel oil) is a straight-run or cracked distillate used as a general purpose domestic or commercial fuel in atomizing-type burners. No. 4 is made up of heavier straight-run or cracked distillates and is used in commercial or industrial burner installations not equipped with preheating facilities. The viscous residuum fuel oils, Nos. 5 and 6, sometimes referred to as bunker fuels, usually must be preheated before being burned. ASTM specifications list two grades of No. 5 oil, one of which is lighter and under some climatic conditions may be handled and burned without preheating. These fuels are used in furnaces and boilers of utility power plants, ships, locomotives, metallurgical operations, and industrial power plants.

Use:

Domestic and industrial heating, power for heavy units (ships, trucks, trains), source of synthesis gas.

See Diesel Oil.