Massachusetts Oil Burner License Practice Test

How can viscosity problems in oil be corrected?

1. Increasing the tank temperature

2. Decreasing the nozzle size and increasing pump pressure

3. Using a different type of oil

4. Adding a viscosity reducer

The correct answer is: Decreasing the nozzle size and increasing pump pressure

Viscosity problems in oil can significantly impact the efficiency and effectiveness of an oil burner. When oil becomes too viscous, it can lead to poor atomization, inadequate combustion, and ultimately result in operational issues. When addressing viscosity problems, decreasing the nozzle size and increasing pump pressure is an effective corrective measure. By decreasing the nozzle size, the velocity of the oil as it exits the nozzle increases. This increased velocity helps to create a finer atomization of the oil, which is essential for complete combustion. Moreover, increasing the pump pressure compensates for the changes made by the nozzle size adjustment and ensures that the oil is delivered at an appropriate flow rate despite its increased viscosity. In contrast, the other methods, while they may influence oil behavior to some extent, do not target the underlying issue of viscosity as directly or effectively. For example, increasing the tank temperature could help with flow but may not resolve the fundamental challenges associated with high viscosity in terms of atomization and combustion efficiency. Using a different type of oil might help if the alternate oil has inherently better characteristics, but it does not rectify existing viscosity problems in the current oil. Lastly, while adding a viscosity reducer could potentially alleviate viscosity issues, it does not directly change the operational parameters of the burner