When comparing fuel oils to coal, what is true?

Fuel oils are relatively easy to handle and produce less ash to dispose of, making them a favorable choice in various heating applications compared to coal. The handling of fuel oils typically involves pumping from storage tanks and can be automated, reducing the manual labor associated with coal, which requires more physical handling and storage considerations.

Moreover, fuel oils combust more cleanly than coal, resulting in much less residual ash. Ash management is an important consideration in any combustion system, and the reduced ash from fuel oils leads to lower disposal costs and less frequent maintenance of ash removal systems. This contrasts sharply with coal, which can leave behind a significant amount of ash that requires regular removal and can contribute to more operational challenges.

In the context of maintenance, although fuel oils may require specific checks for aspects such as storage tanks and delivery systems, overall, they typically lead to less wear and tear on combustion equipment compared to coal. This simplified maintenance profile, paired with the ease of handling, underscores why fuel oils are often chosen over coal for various heating and energy production needs.