What is FO (FURNACE OIL)?

It is a dark viscous product used as a fuel in industrial and marine boilers, furnaces and marine engines. It
meets IS : 1593 – 1982 specifications.

NOMENCLATURE

Bunker fuel, furnace oil , Fuel oil are other names for the same product. Though Fuel oil is a general term applied to any oil used for generation of power or heat, Fuel oil can included distillates and blends of distillates and residue such as Light Diesel Oil.

VISCOSITY

Viscosity is the most important characteristic in the furnace oil specification. It influences the degree of pre-heat required for handling, storage and satisfactory atomization. If the oil is too viscous it may become difficult to pump, burner may be hard to light and operation may be erratic. Poor atomization may result in the carbon deposits on the burner tips or on the walls. The upper viscosity limit for furnace oil is such that it can be handled without heating in the storage tank is excepting under server cold conditions. Pre-heating is necessary for proper atomization following is the table giving pre-heating temperatures for fuel oils.

FLASH POINT

As per the Controller of Explosives classification, Furnace oil falls in the class "C" category with minimum flash point standard of 66 deg. C. This test serves to indicate the temperature below which oil can be used without danger of fire. Closed tester such as Penskey – Martens (ASTM D-93) is more accurate than the open cup
method. The lower the flash point higher is the percentage of low boiling Hydrocarbons.

POUR POINT

The pour point (ASTM D-97) is useful in estimating the relative amount of wax in oil. However, all oils will solidify if cooled to a low enough temperature and hence these tests do not indicate the actual amount of wax
in oil but it is a very rough indication of the lowest temperature at which Furnace Oil is readily pumpable. In
the specification the pour point of Furnace oil is not stipulated. However, for Furnace oil manufactured indigenously and for imported parcels, the pour point is such that current supplies normally can be handled without heating the fuel oil handling installation. Pour Point of Furnace Oil should be in the range of 20–25
deg C.

WATER

Water may be present in free or emulsified form and can on combustion cause damage to the inside furnace surfaces especially if it contains dissolved salts. It can also cause sputtering of the flame at the burner tip. Water content of furnace oil when supplied is normally very low as the product at refinery site is handled hot
and maximum limit of 1% is specified in the standard.

SEDIMENT

Furnace oil being a blend of residues contains some quantity of sediments. These have adverse effect on the burners and cause blockage of filters etc. However, the typical values are normally much lower than the stipulated value of maximum 0.25 percent, by mass.

ASH

Ash is incombustible component of the furnace oil and is expressed as a percentage mass of the furnace oil sample. Ash consists of extraneous solids, residues of organometallic compounds in solution and salts dissolved in water present in the fuel. These salts may be compounds of sodium, vanadium, calcium magnesium, silicon, iron etc. Ash content in Furnace Oil should not exceed by 0.1% w/w.

Ash has erosive effect on the burner tips, causes damage to the refractories at high temperatures and gives
rise to high temperature corrosion and fouling of equipments.

SULPHUR

Sulphur determination includes burning of known quantity of oil, treating the sulphur oxidation products formed during combustion and weighing of sulphur in the form of sulphate.

The sulphur di oxide may come in direct contact with the product during the combustion process and may create adverse quality effects in the product.

CALORIFIC VALUE

Calorific value of a fuel is the quantity of heat generated in kilocalories by complete burning of one-kilogram weight of fuel. Gross calorific value is higher than net calorific value to the extent of heat required to change water formed by combustion into water vapours

Typical Gross Calorific Value of Furnace Oil varies between 9800-10200 Kcal/Kg.

TYPICAL COMPOSITION

Furnace Oil has low C/H ratio than lighter fuels.

SPECIFICATION FOR FURNACE OIL-IS 1448