The report gives results of a study of a thermal aerosol oil burner, aimed at counteracting the poor atomization and excess burner capacity that are known to reduce seasonal efficiency and contribute to excess emissions in residential oil burners. Generation of a thermal aerosol of the fuel was shown to improve combustion in terms of: (1) increased quantity and volume of fuel droplets 1 micrometer and smaller; (2) permitted firing rate reduction in standard nozzles of 50 to 70%; (3) when combined with swirl (swirl parameter = 4.5), gave increased combustion efficiency by permitting operation at 2% flue oxygen with nonluminous flame, zero Bacharach smoke No., no hydrocarbons, and no detectable CO; (4) reduced NOx formation in most cases; (5) reduced emissions during burner start-up; and (6) permitted modulation of firing rate without affecting combustion adversely.

Prepared by Honeywell, Inc., Bloomington, Minn., for Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, under contract no. 68-20-2194, program element no. EHE624. Issued Sept. 1977. Includes bibliographical references.