Plastic2Oil Inc (PTOI)

[arvitar]

"Number 6 fuel oil is a thick, syrupy, black, tar-like liquid. It smells like tar, and may even become semi-solid in cooler temperatures. No. 6 fuel oil, also known as bunk oil, bunker oil, or black liquor, is a petroleum product consisting of a complicated mix of hydrocarbons with high boiling points. It is a "leftover" product of crude oil after the more valuable hydrocarbons have been removed. Manufacturing companies use it as fuel for steam boilers and power generators. It is generally bought in large quantities and stored in large tanks, either above or below the ground. Since No. 6 fuel oil is so thick and viscous, users heat the oil up before they burn it. Heating makes the oil flow more easily, reducing pump demands and allows spray nozzles in the burner to turn the oil into a mist for maximum burning efficiency. The oil is typically heated to anywhere from 150 to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cool or cold No. 6 fuel oil is surprisingly stable. Don't try this at home, but a burning match or a shower of sparks would probably not be sufficient to ignite the fuel oil. On the other hand, when No. 6 fuel oil is heated, problems can arise. Flashpoint is defined as the temperature at which a liquid gives off enough flammable or combustible vapors to sustain a flame. The flashpoint of No. 6 fuel oil is approximately 150 degrees Fahrenheit. If the vapors mix in the correct proportion to air, an ignition source as small as a stray welding spark can cause a violent explosion. The tanks blow up when flame from an accidental ignition source traces a path of vapor up into the empty space in a tank. This headspace is actually filled with flammable vapors if the contents of the tank are above their flashpoint. No. 6 fuel oil is a complicated mixture, and it sometimes contains hydrocarbons with flashpoints significantly lower than 150 degrees. For this reason, No. 6 fuel oil will sometimes give enough flammable or combustible vapors to start a fire when the oil is stored at ambient temperatures. When these vapors burn inside the tank, they produce enormous pressure. Such explosions have been known to tear storage tanks off their foundations, causing oil-spills and expensive fires."
http://www.warren-group.com/publications/articles/characteristics-of-no-6-fuel-oil-and-the-related-fire-hazards-of-welding/index.cfm;jsessionid=f030a132e66a39885988351653429576e1c8?bhcp=1