New York Low Pressure Boiler Certificate of Fitness (COF) Practice Test

What characteristic of No. 6 oil requires it to be heated?

1. Thick and heavy

2. Colorless and odorless

3. Light and volatile

4. Heavy and flammable

The correct answer is: Thick and heavy

No. 6 oil, commonly known as bunker fuel, has a characteristic of being thick and heavy, which necessitates heating before it can be effectively pumped and burned in a boiler system. The viscosity of No. 6 oil is significantly higher than that of lighter oils, making it difficult to handle at ambient temperatures. Heating the oil reduces its viscosity, allowing it to flow more easily through pipes and ensuring efficient combustion in the burners. This heating process is essential to maintain proper operational efficiency and safety within a low pressure boiler system, as well as to facilitate the atomization process required for effective fuel combustion. While other characteristics such as being flammable exist, they do not directly relate to the specific requirement of heating for operational purposes like the thickness and heaviness do.