Can Plastic Pyrolysis Oil Be Used As A Substitute For Light Furnace Oil?

Are you searching for a more economical alternative to traditional light furnace oil? The increasing cost of conventional light furnace oil, coupled, presents significant challenges for industries alike. Plastic pyrolysis oil processed by pyrolysis plants can be used as a light fuel, or it can be further processed through distillation to expand its applications.

Plastic to diesel process

Why It's a Viable Alternative？

Plastic pyrolysis oil possesses inherent characteristics that make it a highly viable and practical substitute for light furnace oil. Its core properties align closely with conventional fuels, ensuring integration into various industrial and commercial applications.

1. Impressive Calorific Value:

Plastic pyrolysis oil typically boasts a calorific value of approximately 38–41 MJ/kg. This figure is remarkably close to that of conventional diesel, which hovers around 42 MJ/kg. This near-identical energy content means that plastic pyrolysis oil can deliver comparable energy output to traditional fuels, effectively meeting the demanding energy requirements of industrial combustion processes without a significant drop in performance. For businesses, this translates to consistent operational efficiency while exploring a more sustainable fuel source.

2. Lighter Components and Excellent Fluidity:

A significant portion of plastic pyrolysis oil, specifically 60% - 80%, consists of gasoline and diesel fractions. Its density typically ranges from 0.75 - 0.83 g/cm³, which is very similar to light furnace oil. This favorable composition results in excellent fluidity, making it easy to handle, store, and transport. Its good flow characteristics also ensure efficient atomization and complete combustion in burners, mirroring the performance expected from conventional light fuel oils.

Plastic pyrolysis oil

3. Low Sulfur Content:

One of the key advantages of plastic pyrolysis oil is its low sulfur content. When PVC, PET and other sulfur-containing plastics are excluded from the feedstock, the sulfur content in the resulting oil is typically low. This significantly reduces the emission of harmful sulfur oxides during combustion, helping industries comply with increasingly stringent environmental regulations. This low-sulfur characteristic positions it as a cleaner-burning alternative compared to some heavy fuel oils.

4. Abundant Raw Materials and High Yield Rate:

The raw material source for plastic pyrolysis oil is vast and readily available: common waste plastics such as Polyethylene (PE), Polypropylene (PP), and Polystyrene (PS). These plastics constitute a significant portion of global waste streams. Furthermore, the pyrolysis process is highly efficient, yielding an impressive oil production rate of 75% - 90% from these waste plastics. This abundant, low-cost feedstock coupled with a high conversion rate makes plastic pyrolysis oil a sustainable and economically attractive fuel solution.

Plastic pyrolysis raw materials and their oil yields

Versatile Applications of Plastic Pyrolysis Oil

The adaptability of plastic pyrolysis oil means it can be utilized in various ways, catering to diverse customer needs and operational requirements.

1. Direct Industrial Application: Plastic pyrolysis oil can be utilized in industrial settings such as boilers, kilns, brick factories, cement plants, and steel mills. In these applications, it can serve as a direct substitute for heavy oil.

This direct application offers immediate advantages, including significantly reduced fuel costs compared to traditional fossil fuels. It also simplifies fuel management by utilizing an accessible waste-derived resource, thereby helping to reduce reliance on conventional fossil fuels and promoting a circular economy.

Applications of plastic pyrolysis oil

2. Refined Upgrade:

For applications requiring higher fuel standards, the waste oil distillation plant offers a complete solution. Through processes such as distillation, decolorization, deodorization, and filtration, plastic pyrolysis oil components are broken down into lighter hydrocarbons. This allows the oil to be refined into diesel fuel that meets higher standard.

The resulting refined diesel can be used in generators, trucks, trailers, and other heavy machinery, such as agricultural machinery, mining machinery, etc. This upgrade path allows customers to access higher quality fuel, expand their application range, and achieve higher added value, opening up new revenue streams and greater market opportunities.

Applications of diesel from plastic pyrolysis oil distillation

3. Blended Applications

Another practical approach is to blend plastic pyrolysis oil with base oil similar to standard diesel. It can be mixed with ordinary diesel at a ratio of 1:1 to 1:4(This blending ratios are only provided for reference, the specific requirements depend on the intended application and the parameter values of the product oil), depending on the specific engine requirements and operational preferences.

This blend can be effectively used in:

Ordinary diesel engines: Providing a cost-effective alternative for various machinery.

This blending strategy offers remarkable flexibility and helps lower the overall cost of fuel for existing diesel engines. It enables businesses to achieve maximum economic efficiency by optimizing their fuel consumption and integrating a sustainable component into their energy mix.

Plastic pyrolysis oil stands out as a superior alternative to light furnace oil. While it can be directly used in industrial applications, further distillation is recommended for its use in the heavy vehicle and transportation sectors.

DOING waste plastic to pyrolysis oil plant manufacturer

If you are seeking an innovative, economical, and environmentally responsible alternative fuel solution for light furnace oil, we invite you to contact DOING Company today! We will provide you a complete DOING's waste plastic pyrolysis plant and waste oil distillation plant solution.