4.

FUELS
The principal fuels used are gas, oil, coal, wood products, and electricity as a source of heat. point, water and sediment content, sulphur content, ash, and distillation characteristics. Fuel oils are prepared for combustion in most low-pressure boiler burners by atomization (spraying). The types of atomization commonly used are: high-pressure mechanical atomization, low-pressure mechanical atomization, centrifugal atomization (rotary cup), compressed air atomization, and steam atomization. A. Grade Number 1. A light viscosity distillate oil intended for vaporizing pot type burners. The heating value is approximately 135,000 Btu /gal. B. Grade Number 2. A distillate oil used for general purpose heating. The heating value is approximately 138,000 Btu /gal. C. Grade Number 4. An oil heavier than Number 2 but not heavy enough to require preheating facilities. Because the oil is no longer available in many locations as a straight run distillate, but is a mix of Number 2 and heavier oils, it may be necessary in northern climates to provide tank heaters or small recirculating preheaters to insure delivery of the blended fuel to the burner. If the fuel is not blended properly, the Number 2 oil and the heavier oil may separate in time. Many dealers blend the two grades of oil in the tank truck while delivering to the location. This may result in physical separation of the two grades if they stand in the tank for any length of time. The heating value is approximately 147,000 Btu /gal. D. Grade Number 5. This grade has been divided into hot Number 5 and cold Number 5. The hot grade requires preheating and the cold may be burned as is from the tank, but because of the increased demand for distillate products, the residual oils may be lower in quality and may require preheating for good results. Sometimes Grade Number 5 is a mix of Number 2 and Number 6. The usual heating value is approximately 152,000 Btu /gal. E. Grade Number 6. A residual type oil for use in burners equipped with recirculating preheaters. Num43

4.01

GAS NATURAL, MANUFACTURED, MIXED

Gas used for fuel may be in the form of natural, manufactured, mixed, or liqueed petroleum gas. Natural, manufactured, and mixed gases are normally distributed through underground piping. They require no storage facilities. Heating values of these gases in Btu per cubic feet are:
Low Natural gas Manufactured gas Mixed gas 950 350 600 High 1150 600 800

4.02

LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS (LPG)

Liqueed petroleum gas is normally stored in tanks at high pressure so that it will be in a liquid state. Storage may be either above or below ground, with storage and handling requirements in accordance with NFPA Pamphlet #58 and local regulations. The liqueed fuel is reduced in pressure and its state is changed to a gas at the required pressure for the burner. Propane or butane gas has a heating value of 2500 Btu /cu ft to 3300 Btu /cu ft. Modication of the fuel burning equipment is necessary when changing from liqueed petroleum gas to other gases or from other gases to liqueed petroleum gas.

4.03

FUEL OILS

Fuel oils are graded in accordance with specications of the American Society for Testing and Materials. Oils are classied by their viscosities. Other characteristics of fuel oils which determine their grade, classication, and suitability for given uses are the ash point, pour

4.03

1998 SECTION VI

4.05

ber 6 fuel oil is sometimes referred to as Bunker C. The usual heating value is approximately 153,000 Btu /gal. F. Preheating Requirements. The correct temperature range must be used for each grade of preheated oil. Improper preheating may cause poor combustion, smoke, and high fuel consumption. The oil delivered to the burner must be preheated to the temperature recommended by the burner manufacturer for the grade of fuel used.

Heating value of anthracite and semianthracite coals, as received, is 12,000 Btu /lb to 13,000 Btu /lb. B. Bituminous Coal. This classication covers a wide range of coals, from the high grades found in the eastern part of the United States to the lower grades of the western part. Bituminous coal, commonly called soft coal, is the most extensively used of all coals. The various types of soft coal differ in composition, properties, and burning characteristics. Some are rm in structure and present no handling problem, while others tend to break when handled. Bituminous coals ignite rather easily, and burn readily, usually with a long ame. Medium volatile and high volatile coals coke in the re and smoke when improperly burned. The as received heating value of bituminous coals vary from approximately 10,500 Btu /lb to 14,500 Btu /lb.

4.04

COAL

Although automatic equipment for burning coal is not in common use, a brief treatment of coal is considered to be in order. A. Anthracite Coal. Anthracite coal is dense, stonelike in structure, and shiny black in color. Because of its hardness, it can be handled with little breakage. When ignited, it burns freely with a short, relatively smokeless ame and does not coke. It has very little volatile matter and is commonly referred to as hard coal. Semianthracite is not so hard as anthracite and is higher in volatile matter. It is dark gray in color and of granular structure. Semianthracite swells considerably in size when burning, but it does not coke.

4.05

ELECTRICITY

Although electricity is in itself not a fuel, it is used as a source of heat for heating boilers. The two general methods of application are electrodes and immersed direct resistance elements. When electrodes are used, the boiler water serves as the heating element by offering resistance to the passage of current between the immersed electrodes. Direct resistance elements create heat by the resistance offered to the passage of electric current through the immersed element.

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