BTU Potential

bwire,

You're always at the mercy of the heat content of the constituents of any fuel. Once you've guaranteed complete combustion, and run the process as close to stoichiometric as you can get away with, and once you've recovered as much exhaust heat (including any water latent you can get) as possible, that's all there is.

Thank you TVP45,

I think I understand that?

I can burn regular heating oil in my boiler but the local authorities frown on it because of high sulfur content causing pollutants.

I can without any modification burn #2 diesel which the authorities prefer.

The regular heating oil produces higher BTU than the #2 diesel.

How to regain the heat?

I'm not following you. I know what No. 2 fuel oil is, but what is "regular"? Is this something like no. 6 (bunker)?

but what is "regular"? Is this something like no. 6 (bunker)?

Regular is #4 (Bunker)

#6 is used to make asphalt for paving

OK, I understand. Thanks.

Probably the only additive that will work is chicken feathers. Some processing plants will pay you to take them off their hands. Just add the feathers to the no. 2 at about a 1:10 ratio. After 2 weeks, the authorities should be begging you to go back to no. 4 .

If that doesn't work, I suspect you're up the creek without a paddle. Desulfurization is expensive as all get out. I don't think there are any additives that would increase BTU content without requiring a completely new burner set-up.

You might try Googling maritime burners to see if they have found any solution. A lot of ships burn no. 6 and get away with it because they're at sea, but maybe...

Desulfurization is expensive as all get out.

Before or after burning

Check Annex VI of the MARPOL 73/78 Convention.

This is a relatively new annex.

Vegetable oil seeds are spendy, a situation created by Gov subsidies making use prohibitive.

We have many very small producers of low grade petroleum spread across the country many barely able to justify running the pump when in competition with sweeter petroleum. We have in place a delivery system for this type product.

I suppose I'm shooting holes in the roof but my interest is in this far more abundant and less processed fuel. The heavier petroleum fuel products, as a bridge type commodity that should wane as more efficient mediums become available.

Hello bwire,

How to regain the heat?

Don't loose it in the first place.

Borrow an IR camera or Camcorder. It will show you what you need to do. Windows are a big looser so put some storm windows in also and heavy drapes (the misses should like to buy new curtains).

There are all types of inexpensive ways to reduce your heat loss. Though many are time consuming.

Brad

A good way to burn cleaner and with no agravation from the authorities is to burn gas and insulate your home well so that you will burn as little of it as possible.

Natural Gas boilers are far far cheaper, have more "features" and burn much cleaner!!

I have a 22,000 Liter gas tank in the garden, well away from the house. It is filled from a Bowser far less than once a year (I forget exactly how often!) and we like it warm!!! But our house is also well insulated too.....

An oil leak in the basement costs a fortune in cleanup and the house stinks for years afterwards.

A gas tank should never ever leak and if it does, it deposits the gas half solid from a special valve in the base, where it will gas off slowly.....no nacked lights around though till it is gone......our tank sits in a natural depression in the garden. I have never heard of one of these tanks causing a problem though, but I know several people that had too much oil delivered and it flooded the basement!!!!

Think about it.....

British thermal unit: The quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 pound of liquid water by 1 degree Fahrenheit at the temperature at which water has its greatest density (approximately 39 degrees Fahrenheit).

Thanks Andy,

A gas tank should never ever leak and if it does, it deposits the gas half solid from a special valve in the base, where it will gas off slowly.....no nacked lights around though till it is gone......our tank sits in a natural depression in the garden. I have never heard of one of these tanks causing a problem though, but I know several people that had too much oil delivered and it flooded the basement!!!!

Think about it.....

I put the tank vent outside

NG burned releases benzene ugh...LP is not more efficient...Electric is too spendy. I expect to use SVO soon

Insulation is gaining as I can, we're in re-model mode.

Well you might consider kerosene....a combination of high btu content and clean burning...of course fuel prices vary from place to place....but insulation and heatload mitigation is always a first choice...

https://www.biltmoreoil.com/3-reasons-to-consider-kerosene-as-a-heating-oil#:~:text=Unlike%20natural%20gas%20or%20other,kerosene%20is%20low%20as%20well.

British thermal unit: The quantity of heat required.....................

...........at standard atmospheric pressure..........or, at sea level............or, one atmosphere........I think someting like that appeared in the definition of a BTU and CHU.

Of course, we in the civilised world, use Joules(J) or kiloJoules(kJ)

You are quite right I've failed to keep the barbarian at bay

Most assuredly so, my friend.

Of course you could always add sulfur back to the fuel oil, but that seems a bit costly and redundant, plus I am not sure that the regulators would find that a reasonable solution. I am actually surprised they still let you burn Fuel Oil. You could improve you efficiency in the building for retaining heat, i.e. insulate. You could use a more efficient modern heating system like gas or electric. Or even move to a warmer climate is an alternative.

Bye-bye, Combustion, Thanks for everything.

I doubt whether BTU has anything directly to do with the sulfur content

You could maybe convert to a hydrogen fuel cell and get heat, hot water and electric from one unit....

https://www.chapmanplumbers.com/heating-services/fuel-cell-technology-vitovalor/#:~:text=A%20hydrogen%20Fuel%20cell%20Boiler,and%20Power%20units%2C%20or%20CHP.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/mar/21/is-hydrogen-the-solution-to-net-zero-home-heating

https://bwr-innovations.com/solutions/fuel-cell-technology/solsource-powerhouse-microgrid/

https://www.itcenex.com/en/business/detail/enefarm/index.html