Furnace Oil

Furnace Oil is one of the cheapest fuels available for industrial use. It is a by-product of petroleum refineries. While processing the CRUD Oil, FO ( Furnace Oil ) is one of the products along with other petroleum fuels like HSD, Petrol etc.

Typically it has a calorific value as 10000 cal/gm. The furnaces which are used mainly for heating or pre-heating a large quantity of metal, are the main users of FO. This can be stored in vertical as well as horizontal tanks, above ground or even underground in some cases. The dimensions and capacities of these tanks are predefined in India by CCOE, which is the regulating body for fuel storages.

For direct burning, FO is viscous as well as not suitable for complete combustion. It is pre-heated to 55 degrees Celsius onwards, depending upon application. The flow increases with temperature and it improves the combustion also. A water based scrubber is used in the exhaust chimney of furnace, which arrests considerable amount of carbon suite and improves the emissions.

The entire FO yard, as per IS standards, pre-heating in storage tanks as well as pipes& Pumps etc, pumping station, level controls, control-panels and entire distribution pipeline is designed taking into consideration the application, required capacity of storage, logistics, available space and government norms.

Furnace Oil
IS : 1593 – 1982
Table 1 Requirements for fuel oils (Clause 3.3)

S. No. Characteristic Requirement For Method of Test
   
Grade
LV
Grade MVI
Grade MV2
Grade
HV
Ref to [P : ] of
IS : 1448*
1 2
3
4
5
6
7
  Acidity, inorganic Nil P : 2
  Ash, percent by mass, Max 0.1 P : 4
(Method A)
  Gross, calorific value Not limited, but to be reported
(See Note 1)
P : 6
(for reference) and
P : (for routine)
  Relative density at 15/15oC Not limited, but to be reported
(See Note 2)
 
  Flash point, [Pensky martens (closed)], Min 66oC P : 21
  Kinematic viscosity in centistokes at 50oC, Max
80
125
180
370
P : 25
  Sediment, percent by mass, Max 0.25 P : 30
  Sulphur, total, percent by mass, Max
(See Note 3)
3.5
4.0
4.0
4.5
P : 33
(for reference)
and P : 35
(for routine)
  Water content, percent by volume, Max 1.0 P : 40

NOTE 1: Normally the gross calorific value is of the order of 10 000 cal/g.

NOTE 2: Fuel oil for marine uses in diesel engines shall not exceed a limit of 0.99.

NOTE 3: Recognizing the necessity for low-sulphur fuel oils in some specialized uses; a lower limit may be specified by mutual agreement between the purchaser and the supplier.