Info Centre >> Fuel and Lube Oil Technical Manual >> 2. Fuel Oil - Characteristics >> 12.15 Summary
Density - Essential for quantity
calculations, setting purifier, indicates specific energy and ignition quality
Viscosity - Determines injection and transfer temperature
Flash point - Legal requirement
Pour Point - Fuel must be maintained above pour point
Carbon residue - High values may give deposit problems
Ash - If excessive can give fouling deposits
Water - Can cause sludge and combustion problems
Vanadium and Sodium - Potential high temperature corrosion can be minimised by temperature control and materials selection
Aluminium and Silicon - Usually present as catalyst fines which are abrasive, can normally be reduced to an acceptable level by a centrifuge
Sediment and Stability - Fuel is stable if it does not break down giving heavy sediment
Compatibility - The ability of two fuels when mixed to remain stable
Specific energy - Net value for diesel engines and gross value for boilers, usually calculated from empirical equations
Ignition quality - Relates to part of the combustion process. For residual fuels, empirical equations for CCAI
