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This research aims to delve into the intricacies of combustion processes, specifically focusing on heating oil and a blend of heating oil with Tire Pyrolysis Oil (TPO) in a self-developed evaporative combustion chamber featuring steam injection. The primary objective is to scrutinize the impact of steam injection on the combustion dynamics. Conducting a series of tests, the investigation involved the meticulous manipulation of stoichiometric ratios while introducing ambient air through gravity fuel flow. Subsequent iterations of these tests incorporated the introduction of steam into the ambient air stream. The examination encompassed the combustion of both heating oil and the TPO blend within the combustion chamber. The evaluation criteria comprised an in-depth analysis of flame characteristics, temperature distribution within the combustion chamber, and the quantification of emissions such as particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and water vapor (H2O). Throughout the experimentation phase, commercially available diesel fuel served as the primary fuel source. To facilitate the tests, the combustion chamber under scrutiny was seamlessly integrated into an AVL engine test bench system. Essential parameters, including fuel consumption, were meticulously gauged using an AVL 735 fuel flow meter, while fuel temperature was monitored using the AVL 745 fuel temperature conditioning system. The intake air, a crucial element in the combustion process, was quantified with precision using an AVL Flowsonix sensor. Emission measurements were conducted meticulously using state-of-the-art equipment, with gaseous emissions analyzed using an AVL FTIR AMA i60 exhaust gas analyzer. Simultaneously, soot emissions were quantified through employment of an AVL Micro Soot sensor. This comprehensive approach not only delves into the fundamental aspects of combustion but also extends its reach to the exploration of innovative techniques, such as steam injection, to enhance combustion efficiency and reduce emissions. The integration of advanced measurement tools ensures a robust and thorough analysis of the combustion process and its environmental implications.

The methane-hydrogen fraction is a gaseous hydrocarbon by-product during oil processing for obtaining petroleum products. Until recently, the methane-hydrogen fraction was used as furnace oil in internal technological processes at a refinery. Some of the low-calorie methane-hydrogen fraction was burned in flares. Driven by the prospect of the methane-hydrogen fraction use as a fuel alternative to natural gas for burning in thermal power plants boilers, it became necessary to study the methane-hydrogen fraction combustion processes in large volumes. The conversion of ON-1000/1 and ON-1000/2 furnaces from the combustion of the methane- hydrogen fraction with combustion heat of 25.45 MJ/m3 to the combustion of the composition with combustion heat of 18.8 MJ/m3 leads to a decrease in temperature in the flame core for 100 °C as an average. The intensity of flame radiation on the radiant tubes decreases. Therefore, the operation of furnaces during combustion of methane-hydrogen fraction with a low heat of combustion at the gas oil hydro-treating unit is carried out only with a fresh catalyst, which allows lower flame temperatures in the burner.The experiments to determine the concentration of nitrogen oxides NOx and the burning rate w of the methane-hydrogen fraction in the ON-1000/1 furnace and natural gas in the TGM-84A boiler, depending upon the heat of combustion Qnr were carried out. The obtained results showed that the increase in the hydrogen content Н2 from 10.05 % to 18.36% (by mass) results in an increase in the burning rate w by 45%. The burning rate of natural gas with methane CH4 content of 98.89% in the TGM-84A boiler is 0.84 m/s, i.e. it is 2.5 times lower than the burning rate of the methane- hydrogen fraction with H2 content of 10.05%. The distributions of heat flux from the flame qf over the burner height h in the TGM-84A boiler were obtained in case of natural gas burning and calculation of burning of the methane-hydrogen fraction with a hydrogen content of 10.05% and methane of 28.27%. The comparison of the obtained data shows that burning of methane- hydrogen fraction causes an increase in the incident heat flux qf at the outlet of the burner.

Heat pump technology offers a path towards reducing the use of fossil fuels to heat space, providing energy bill savings and reducing air pollution and GHG emissions. The choice of heating method is based on costs; hence, this study examines the gains from operating heat pump systems in public buildings as well as alternative systems using electricity, LPG, and heating oil. The study focuses on the Ruda-Huta municipality in Poland that, as is common in rural areas, lacks access to a district heating system or piped gas. The empirical analysis includes heat pump installations in eight municipal buildings. The study found that the use of ground source heat pumps proved competitive with existing heating systems in terms of payback time. Calculations for three heating energy source scenarios, i.e., electricity, LPG, and heating oil, used the Simple Pay Back Time (SPBT) and the Levelized Cost of Heat (LCOH) methods and the average prices of the three energy types for the period 2012–2021. The payback period calculations disregarded the EU subsidies for heating systems utilizing renewable energy sources (RES). The payback time for electric, LPG, and heating oil were, respectively, 6.7–7.8 years, 4.1–6.1 years, and 6.7–6.9 years. Much larger spreads favoring heat pumps were calculated using the LCOH, and the costs in the case of electric heating were nearly three times higher and doubled when using heating oil and LPG. The gains from investing in heat pump systems have been offset by the increase in electricity, LPH, and heating oil prices, which have been predicted to continue to increase in the foreseeable future supporting the use of heat pumps in rural areas lacking access to, for example, district heating systems. The switch to heat pumps reduced local air pollution by eliminating the burning of fossil fuels to heat space in public buildings.

Polar compounds and polymers are regarded as the most reliable indicators of oil degradation during heating, and it is desirable to find methods to reduce these undesirable changes. The aim of this study was (1) to determine the effect of enrichment with black cumin cold-pressed oil (CP) or essential oil obtained from black cumin cold-pressed oil in an equivalent amount (ES) on limiting the polar compounds and polymers content in blends based on refined rapeseed oil during high-temperature heating in a thin layer; (2) to determine tocochromanol losses and their effect on the change content of the polar compounds and polymers. Four fortified oils were made from refined rapeseed oil and one of the four additives (10% CP, 20% CP, 0.1% ES, and 0.2% ES). All fortified oils and refined rapeseed oil as a control sample were heated at 170 and 200 °C on the pan in a thin layer and evaluated regarding loss of individual tocochromanol homologs by HPLC-FL, polar compounds content, oxidized triacylglycerols (TAG), and polymers content by HPSEC-ELSD. Additionally, the fatty acid profile in nonheated oil was investigated. Tocochromanol analysis showed loss in all the samples. At 170 °C polymers were not detected; no difference was noted for polar compounds and oxidized TAG content; only the 20% CP sample showed a higher level. At 200 °C the 10% CP sample exhibited a significant protective effect with the lowest content of polar compounds, oxidized TAG, and dimers.

The present study investigates the degree to which imperfect competition in the oil sector affects end retail prices. Specifically, we test how positive and negative price shocks in the oil market translate to final retail prices for petrol, diesel, and heating oil prices, focusing on the asymmetry of the price changes. We assume that the higher the level of imperfect competition, the more asymmetric the price change between the initial oil and final retail products will be. In addition, we also test the degree to which uncertainty, or oil price volatility, affects the final prices for these same products. We find that our proxy for market power does affect retail price asymmetries and that increasing volatility lowers retail price asymmetries.

This research work examined how biodiesel produced from frying oils affects the physicochemical properties of its mixtures with conventional heating oil. Through the characterization of biodiesel blends and heating oil, the purpose is to produce an improved heating oil that will meet the specifications of the existing legislation for heating oil, while positively contributing to reducing the production of pollutants. The percentage of biodiesel added to a conventional diesel fuel contributes to the reduction of the pollutants produced during combustion. The examined biodiesel is considered the residual product, which was produced at a factory in Cyprus, and was deemed unsuitable for export, because it does not meet the legal requirements. Using specific volumes of these mixtures, twelve parameters were determined in order to investigate the effect of the mixtures: kinematic viscosity, sulfur content, micro carbon residue (MCR), distillation curves, density, cloud point (CP), fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) content, heat of combustion, iodine value (IV), cetane index (CI) after distillation, oxidation stability, and cold filter plugging point (CFPP). A number of fuel properties including the kinematic viscosity, MCR, distillation temperature—up to 80% distillate—and density showed an increase as the percentage of FAMEs raised from 2.5 to 50%, while others showed a mixed behavior (e.g., IV, CP, CI, CFPP), and the rest an inverse trend (e.g., sulfur content, heat of combustion and oxidation stability). An efficient potential utilization of a residual domestic product is proposed, while the pollutants that accumulate on the urban atmospheres during the winter months, due to increased heating needs of homes and other public or private buildings, will be significantly reduced.

The aim of the study was to determine the response of soil enzymes such as dehydrogenases, urease and acid and alkaline phosphatases to heating oil contaminating (0.0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.5% of soil) the experimental soil supplemented with lime and used for cultivation of yellow lupine of the Markiz variety. An increasing contamination of soil with heating oil stimulated the activity of dehydrogenases and acid and alkaline phosphatases but had a toxic effect on yellow lupine. Lime supplements did not have a significant effect on an average activity of soil dehydrogenases. However, such soil treatment had a significant effect on urease. Increasing heating oil doses in lime-supplemented soil stimulated urease activity, whereas in lime-free soil urease activity was inhibited. The activity of acid and alkaline phosphatase was lower in limed soil than in lime-free soil. The activity of dehydrogenases, urease and alkaline phosphatase in the soil with lupine cultivation was significantly higher than in the unsown soil.

Sustainable Development requires an increase in the use of renewable energy sources as opposed to nonrenewable ones. The paper presents a Life Cycle Analysis of chosen heat sources including information concerning environmental impact. The most popular sources to be considered include as follows: natural gas, coal, culm, heating oil, wood and geothermal heat. Prices are taken from the 2002/2003 heating season in Poland. From an economical standpoint the best choices are coal, culm or wood. The heating pump is a worse solution due to the high investment at the starting point of exploitation. From both an ecological and economical perspective the best heating source is wood. The heating pump is a very promising device but a large decrease in the acquisition cost is necessary for it to become a competitive option.