Q.  With reference to furnace oil, consider the following statements:

  1. It is a product of oil refineries.
  2. Some industries use it to generate power.
  3. Its use causes sulphur emissions into Environment.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

  • 1 and 2 Only
  • 2 and 3 Only
  • 1 and 3 Only
  • 1, 2 and 3

Answer: d) 1, 2 and 3

Notes:

  • Furnace Oil is one of the cheapest fuels available for industrial use.
  • It is a by-product of petroleum refineries.
  • Furnace oil is a dark coloured fuel, either distilled or residual fraction of crude oil that is extracted while petroleum distillation and is used for the purpose of generation heat and power.
  • This fuel is sticky, thick and glutinous in nature.
  • Furnace oil is known by the name of fuel oil internationally and also as bunker fuel.
  • It is used primarily for steam boilers in power plants, aboard ships, and in industrial plants. Various categories of industries such as cement, thermal power plant, fertilizers, nitric acid, lime kiln, ceramic, glass, foundry, reheating furnaces, calcium carbide, aluminium, boiler-based industries etc., use pet coke and furnace oil for various purposes including as fuel.
  • It causes huge emissions of sulphur dioxide and secondary sulphate formation as particulate matter (PM).