Furnace oil is a dark, viscous residual fuel oil which is obtained by blending residual products from various refining processes with suitable diluents usually middle distillates to obtain the required fuel oil grades. These fuel oil grades are similar in nature and have been marketed under different specifications in various countries. In India it is sold under BIS specification IS 1593-1982 (Reaffirmed 1997), Medium Viscosity Grade 2 (MV 2 – 180 cst FO)
Uses of Furnace Oil are:
1. As fuel for Power Generation in DG Sets
2. As fuel for Boilers/ Furnaces/ Air preheater/ Any other Heaters
3. Fuel/ Feedstock in Fertilizer Plants
4. Furnace oil is a class C product having Flash Point above 66°C. Since this is a residual fuel, there has to be gradual filtration system to prevent the filter choking and fuel nozzles choking. Due to its viscous nature, it has to be heated to improve its flow and to a proper temperature for proper atomisation. Normally gear pumps are preferred to avoid cavitation problems.
Specifications:
Sr. No. |
Characteristics |
Grade
(MV2) |
Methods |
(i) |
Acidity Inorganic |
Nil |
IS:1448 [P:2] |
(ii) |
Ash Content |
0.1 |
IS:1448 [P:4] |
(iii) |
Gross calorific value, Cal/ gm |
Not limited but to be reported (typical – 10000) |
IS:1448 [P:6 or 7] |
(iv) |
Density at 15°C |
Not limited but to be reported (typical – 0.950) |
IS 1448 [P:16] |
(v) |
Flash point (PMCC) °C. Min |
66 |
IS:1448 [P:21] |
(vi) |
Viscosity (Kinematic) at 50 deg C |
125-180 |
IS:1448 [P:25] |
(vii) |
Sediment by extraction |
0.25 |
IS:1448 [P:30] |
(viii) |
Total Sulphur |
4 |
ASTM D 4294 |
(ix) |
Water Content |
1 |
IS:1448 [P:40] |
(x) |
Pour Point |
27 |
IS:1448 [P:10] |
(xi) |
Conradson Carbon Residue (CCR) |
Max - 14 % wt |
|
Light Diesel Oil (LDO) is a blend of distillate components and small proportion of residual components. It falls under class C category with flash point above 66°C. It is marketed under BIS 15770-2008 specification. LDO is used for slow speed diesel engines (below 750 rpm). It is also used in Lift irrigation pumpsets, DG Sets and as a fuel in certain boilers and furnaces where low sulfur fuel is required.
Specification of Light Diesel Oil :
Sl No. |
Characteristics |
Requirements |
Methods |
(i) |
Acidity, inorganic |
Nil |
IS:1448 [P:2] |
(ii) |
Ash, percent by mass, Max |
0.02 |
IS:1448 [P:4] |
(iii) |
Carbon residue (Ramsbottom) on 10 percent residue, percent by mass, Max |
1.5 (on whole sample) |
IS:1448 [P:8] |
(iv) |
Pour point, Max |
|
IS:1448 [P:10] |
|
a) Winter |
12°C |
|
|
b) Summer |
21°C |
|
(v) |
Copper strip corrosion for 3 h at 100°C |
Not worse than No.2 |
IS:1448 [P:15] |
(vi) |
Flash point Pensky Martens, °C, Min |
66 |
IS:1448 [P:21] |
(vii) |
Kinematic viscosity, cst at 40°C |
2.5 to 15.0 |
IS:1448 [P:25] |
(viii) |
Sediment, percent by mass, Max |
0.1 |
IS:1448 [P:30] |
(ix) |
Density at 15°C, kg/ m3 |
To be reported |
IS:1448 [P:16] |
(x) |
Total sulphur, percent by mass, Max |
1.5 |
IS:1448 [P:33] |
(xi) |
Water content, percent by volume, Max |
0.25 |
IS:1448 [P:40] |
Conforms to IS:15770-2008 Light Diesel Oil Specifications