Originally Posted by
wahoonc
Bunker fuel (#5 and #6) are the (as I understand it) the leftovers from the processing of crude oil to produce the other types of fuel, av gas, gasoline, heating oil, kerosene and diesel. The quite often will add recycled motor oil to the mix, thin it and to get rid of it. Bunker fuel is cheaper then JP-4, but also doesn't have as many BTU's per pound. It used to be used primarily to fuel power generation stations and central heating plants. From what I understand that usage has been pretty well done away with in favor of natural gas. Bunker fuel is high in sulfur and pollutes like crazy when burned. But a ship on the highs seas can get a way with it.
Aaron
actually it has more btu's per gallon than lighter fuels, which is normal.........as you go up the fuel scale the btu's drops while the volatility increases and flashpoint decreases
heating oil = 139,000 btu per gallon
gasoline = 124,000
diesel = 139,000
bunker oil = 149,600
propane = 91,000
source eia.doe.gov