Using fuel-oil in furnaces

homework?

If it is low-sulfur fuel oil - and I can't think of any reason a high-sulfur or acidic-type fuel oil would be allowed to be burned anywhere in the world nowadays - then the benevolent non-corrosive EPA-compatible organic fuels are are very tolerant to common pipe internal metals.

Raw oils and hydrocarbons, bulk oil or unrefined oils and high-temperature and in-process hydrocarbons are nasty and corrosive. But you are not going to be allowed to burn those.

"... how can I eliminate the bad effect of fuel oil" What type of bad effect do you have in mind if you have proper combustion?

Obviously, you'll have to change the current gas burners to fuel oil burners, and also run an atomising air line to each burner. Also check what other changes are required depending on whether these are forced draught or induced draught burners. As others say, check fuel oil quality for suitability, including metals content - residual vanadium in the fuel oil can ruin the firetubes for instance.

hi
Some people advise that fuel oïl may contain more metal impurities such as vanadium or... than fuel gas.
This may promote deposition of vanadium salts that have relatively low melting temperature. These salts may induce fast corrosion on flamme side due to the formation of such electrolyte at the tube surface at high temperature.

regards

Sujpal ....

Let us begin the eng-tips guessing game ....

1) Specifically, which fuel oil are you asking about ?

2) Were the burners in your boiler designed to burn this oil ?

3) Was the boiler designed to burn this specific oil ?

MJCronin
Sr. Process Engineer

When burning fuel oil the consequence is to have fouling in convection finned tubes and sulphur ash in radiation pipes, is also usual to have coke build up on burner tips, if the atomising steam is being done poorly. A chemical anti fouling injection in the base of burners, when burning fuel oil, has some benephitial effects to avoid ash formation over the tubes.