Introduction
Heavy Oil is a fossil fuel obtained from crude oil, which is used in heating furnaces to generate heat. It is classified under several grades including fuel oil, diesel, and crude oil. The advantages of using Heavy Oil as the main fuel for a heating furnace are expansive and depend on several factors. These advantages include cost-effectiveness, availability, storage, stability, simplicity of use, and environmental friendliness.
Cost Effects of Heavy Oil
The use of heavy oil as a fuel for heating furnaces often proves to be an economical decision. Much like other oil-related products, heavy oil possesses an advantage over electric or gas powered furnaces. Price spikes in the electricity and natural gas markets often increase the cost of using these heating sources, but heavy oil, on the other hand, has less market volatility due to its indirect standardization through OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries). Additionally, trends in the oil markets, production capacity, and Government regulations can also be taken into consideration when deciding on the cost-effectiveness of heavy oil usage.
Availability and Storage of Heavy Oil
For heating furnaces, Heavy Oil is an easier fuel option to acquire and store. Generally, it takes less time to acquire and store Heavy Oil than other types of fuels such as LP. Furthermore, it is easier to transport Heavy Oil as, unlike Gas, it is not flammable and is safer to manage. On the logistical side, since heavy oil is variously classified as fuel oil, diesel, and crude oil, there is an ease in sourcing the required type of fuel depending on the level of carbon and efficiency one desires.
Stability of Heavy Oil
The stability of the fuel used in heating furnaces is a crucial factor to consider. Generally, heavy oil is far less prone to changes in temperature and does not require additional measurement tools to maintain its stability. This proves very beneficial when one needs to provide heat for a long period of time, as the furnace’s fuel does not need to frequently be replenished. Additionally, heavy oil does not become brittle at colder temperatures, allowing easy flow across the fuel lines within the furnace.
Usability of Heavy Oil
Another advantage of using heavy oil in furnaces is its general simplicity of use. It does not require complex parts and mechanisms to work, rather it has fewer moving parts, thus making it easier to maintain. Furthermore, if one is using a furnace which requires the oil-air mix to be adjusted manually, heavy oil is much easier to do this with than with gas fuels. Additionally, the combustibility of heavy oil is much easier to ignite and maintain than when using gas.
Environmental Friendliness of Heavy Oil
The environmental impact of heavy oil usage is not necessarily determined by the fuel itself, but rather by the quality and condition of the furnace itself. If a furnace is not well sealed or maintained, then considerable amounts of carbon monoxide leakage may occur; large amounts of CO2 emissions may indicative of improper tuning. Fortunately, recent developments in heating furnace technologies allow for much higher quality furnaces that not only perform better but also emit much less harmful gases. As such, the choice of an efficient furnace is the key to reducing the environmental impact of heavy oil usage.
Conclusion
In summation, the usage of heavy oil as a fuel for heating furnaces offers many advantages. When it comes to cost-effectiveness, availability, storage, stability, ease of use, and environmental friendliness, Heavy Oil is a viable option as fuel for furnaces. The decision to prefer Heavy Oil over other fuel options should be taken into consideration when deciding on a heating source and the associated costs.
