Understand Your Fuel: Qualities of Fuel Oil You Need to Know

Posted by SEO Team on February 5th, 2016

Summary: When buying fuel for your specific needs, it is important to have extensive knowledge of the products (and services) you most prefer and/or intend to use.

Choose a seller that offers a wide range of products and is available to give you information whenever you need it.

In this article, we are going to look into the qualities of heavy and light fuel sources. IT is imperative that you understand the key attributes of the oils you buy before buying to prevent you from making the wrong purchase.

Fuel Oil is a product extracted as a residue from the process of distillation of petroleum. It is basically any form of liquid fuel used to generate energy. It important to note that Fuel oil is mainly used in combustion for industrial purposes such as generation of electricity. Let’s take a closer look at the two types of fuel oil broadly used.

Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) is largely used as a low-grade fuel in direct source heating applications such as industrial boilers.

HFO is a product of a blend between crude oil residue (from the refining process), with gas oil and, in other cases, diesel. The residue mentioned refers to a solid substance commonly known as tar or asphalt. Naturally HFO is a highly viscous fluid. This consistency requires the fluid to be heated first before being moved through such channels as pipes.

Qualities of Heavy fuel oil include:

• It is inexpensive.HFO is one of the cheapest oils in the refined fuel oil category.

• Typically, combustion occurs at high temperatures.

• When HFO does burns, it leaves carbon residue in the combustion chamber. This means that the chambers need to be cleaned on a regular basis.

• It is stored at high temperatures

A basic definition of Light fuel oil is:a lightpetroleumresidue which can be used as diesel.

Qualities of light fuel oil include:

• It is a middle distillate with a 180°C to 360°C boiling point..

• It is estimated that it accounts for 60% use (of fuel) in private households

• It has a very low amount of sulphur. It is widely regarded as being almost sulphur-free.

• Less viscous than heavy fuel oil- 3° to5° Engler at a temperature of 50 °C 

Regardless of what Fuel oil you use it is imperative that you find ways to use them without harming the environment. Use it as sparingly as possible following all the laid out procedures and laws. Safety is also a top priority while working with fuel oil. Make sure you wear the appropriate safety gear at all times when using or transporting fuel oil to prevent injury or loss of life.

For more information please visit: Fuel Oil