>Õ>ÀÞÊÓä£{ÊU ÓÇ
University of Connecticut Research Institute analyzed the Fitch
Fuel Catalyst in the lab and in the field and confirms that:
Ü
A
molecular reformulation
passing thr
Ü
This
reformulation positively affects the combustion
within the f
Ü
The averag
reveals
6.7% to 36% reduction in fuel consumption,
with an average of 14.8%
across all installations.
Ü
Residential installations tended to yield greater reductions,
averaging
20.3%, versus commercial installations,
which averaged 14.0%.
s INFO FITCHFUELCATALYST COM
of the fuel takes place when
ough the Fitch Fuel Catalyst.
urnace, enabling a reduction in nozzle size.
e user in observed and historical instances
Ü
Ü
Ü
Ü
:FC; N<8K?<I @J K?< 98E< F= ?FD<
heating oil that is stored outside, whether
above ground or below. The typical problem
is
g blocka e due to g g,
ellin wax accumulation
on filters or strainers, or frozen condensate
in the supply line or filter. While additive
use can prevent these problems, it is impor-
tant to distinguish between oil problems and
water problems. Often thought of together,
they are separate issues that require separate
preventive treatments.
Regarding oil issues, industry profes-
sionals generally know the terms cloud
point and pour point. Cloud point is the
temperature at which a cloud of wax crystals
begins to form. Wax remains in suspension
and can build up on filters or strainers to
block oil flow to the burner. Pour point is the
temperature at which the oil will just flow.
Lower than the cloud point, it is the tempera-
ture at which the oil has virtually gelled and
cannot flow to the burner. These definitions
are clear, but in practice cloud point and
pour point temperatures are moving targets.
K?< JK8K< PFLËI< @E
ASTM specifications for No. 2 oil
include a cloud point minimum tempera-
ture requirement that varies by state and
from month to month. For example, while
the temperature minimum for oil delivered
in New Jersey is 36°F in October and 10°F in
January, for oil delivered in Massachusetts
it’s 28°F in September and 0°F in January.
To complicate matters further, these speci-
fications are “10th Percentile Minimum
Temperatures,” which means that actual
temperatures will fall below the specifica-
tion approximately 10% of the time. This is
why oil flow problems occur and additional
low temperature protection is needed.
The preventive approach for cold
weather is to treat the oil with a cold flow
improver
in advance
. Also called pour point
depressants, these additives modify the wax
crystal structure and lower the temperature
flow range of the oil, usually by 20°F or
more. These products will not melt wax or
liquefy gelled fuel; only heat can return oil
to its original condition. Given the monthly
variations, the safest policy is to treat outside
tanks with each delivery. It’s cheap insurance
against an expensive no heat emergency.
Cold flow improvers are described by
the number of degrees they lower the cloud
point or pour point. In other words, the
additive is giving protection beyond the
original cloud point of the oil. This can be
g
confusin because you need to know the
cloud point temperature of the oil being
treated to really know what temperature
protection you are getting. For example, if
an additive will lower the cloud point by
20°F, then oil with an original cloud point
of 30°F will be protected to a temperature
of 10°F. While it is nearly impossible to
be precise about the original cloud point,
by treating outside tanks with a cold flow
improver that gives at least 20°F improve-
ment your oil should not wax or gel.
KI<8K@E> N8K<I
Frozen condensation water, or icing, is
the second cold weather problem, requiring
an additive that treats the water rather than
the oil. Icing is easy to understand, because
water always freezes at 32°F. Water con-
denses and settles to the bottom of the tank
and can migrate to the filter and oil supply
line. Depending on the amount of conden-
,
sation outside tanks can be vulnerable to
ice blockages at temperatures of 32°F or
lower. A good deicer additive will remove
normal amounts of condensed water and
serve as an anti-freeze for larger quantities
of water. Just as with cold flow treat-
ment, preventative anti-icing treatment
in
advance
of cold weather is the safest policy.
Some deicer products are able to thaw
frozen lines and filters. But why wait for an
emergency?
The products described above are
available in bottles for treating heating oil
tanks individually. Proactive treatment
throughout the heating season makes good
sense. It is a service that provides additional
profit and minimizes the chance for cold
weather-related no heat emergencies and
customer dissatisfaction.
Gi
\m\ek`m\ Ki\Xkd\
ek B\\g
j F`c Dfm`
e
^
`
e k_\ :fc[
By David Lodding, Lincoln Laboratory
