Liquid fuels are combustible or energy-generating molecules that can be harnessed to generate mechanical energy, generating usually kinetic energy, they also have to take their container shape. Instead of the fluid, the fumes of liquid fuels are inflammable. Let us have a deep insight into the pros and cons of liquid fuels in this article.
Advantages of liquid fuels :
- They possess higher calorific value per unit mass than solid fuels.
- They burn without forming dust, ash, clinkers etc.
- Their firing is easier and also fire can be extinguished easily by stopping the liquid fuel supply.
- They are easy to transport through pipes.
- They can be stored indefinitely without any loss.
- The flame produced by burning liquid fuels can easily be controlled by adjusting the liquid fuel supply.
- Liquid fuels are generally handled by pipes and one man can easily regulate a large number of furnaces simultaneously.
- They are clean in use and economic in labour.
- Loss of heat to the chimney is very low due to greater cleanliness.
- They require less excess of air for complete combustion.
- They require less furnace space for combustion.
- There is no wear and tear of grate bars and cleaning of fires, unlike solid fuels.
- They can be used as internal combustion fuels.
Disadvantages of liquid fuels :
- The cost of liquid fuel is relatively much higher as compared to solid fuels.
- Costly special storage tanks are required for storing liquid fuels.
- There is a greater risk of fire hazards, particularly in the case of highly inflammable and volatile liquid fuels.
- Liquid fuels give bad odour.
- For efficient burning of liquid fuels, specially constructed burners and spraying apparatus are required.
- Choking for sprayers is a drawback of oil firing.