Kerosene

Much is discussed about the modern fuel and the way that it burns, or perhaps it is the amount of carbon that leaves behind that causes the fuss....

Either way, it is a widely used product, pre-dominantly in the heating and aviation industries

Here are a few facts that you might not know:

1. Kero is made from crude oil, using the process is known as ‘fractional distillation’ and leaves a clear and thin oil which is roughly 0.81 g/cm³ (gram per cubic centimetre) in density. The actual density of kerosene is 0.82 g/cm³ and 0.8 g/cm³ for paraffin. However, because the two oils are practically exact matches, it’s best to find a happy medium and 0.81 g/cm³ is that figure. (Kero is used in the UK, and almost impossible to buy in Europe).

2. The first known production was by a Persian, and then more frequently by the Chinese in the Ming dynasty - so it has been around for a long time. It was most commonly used for lamps, lighting and heating houses. However it was in the 1850s that the patent for production was first registered, by a Scottish chemist, James Young. Around the globe, it is estimated that we use about 20b gallons per year.

3. Kero is a great cleaner of oily things (like bicycle chains). It is also used for human "Fire Breathing" displays and other theatrical stunts. It is also the mainstay of the aviation business, RP1 (often called Avgas)

4. When kero is burnt, the temperature in the burner warms the kero, which causes the hydrocarbon to split. The carbon builds up on the burner base and local tubing, thus reducing the fuel flow and eventually cutting it off completely. The vapour is what we burn with a lovely blue flame.

5. The quality of the fuel is often blamed for poor messy burns. Yes the sulphur was taken out, but that in itself is not the issue - it is the process by which this is done which affects the quality. In addition to that, the specification of the fuel was widened in the early 2000s.

6. There is one metric widely used which is the CHAR factor. This is the amount of carbon produced when burnt. Typically (in the 2000s) this would be between 4-6mg/kg. An aga will struggle when this number gets to about 10-12mg/kg. The specification is set with a limit of 20mg/kg. So you can see how easy it is for manufacturers to produce a product that is "poor quality" for us users. Today it is reckoned that the average is about 15mg/kg. HENCE the reduced servicing periods down from 12 months plus to about 4-6 months.

7. As a result, ADDITIVES have become a 'thing' - but more on this topic as a separate issue.