Are kerosene and fuel oil the same?

Answer 1

Fuel oil is a fraction obtained from petroleum distillation, either as a distillate or a residue. Broadly speaking, fuel oil is any liquid petroleum product that is burned in a furnace or boiler for the generation of heat or used in an engine for the generation of power, except oils having a flash point of approximately 40 °C (about 100 °F) and oils burned in cotton or wool-wick burners. In this sense, diesel is a type of fuel oil. Fuel oil is made of long hydrocarbon chains, particularly alkanes, cycloalkanes and aromatics. Factually and in a stricter sense, the term fuel oil is used to indicate the heaviest commercial fuel that can be obtained from crude oil, heavier than gasoline and naphtha.

Kerosene or paraffin oil is a colorless flammable hydrocarbon liquid.
Kerosene releases heat when burned, making it useful as a fuel. Its heating value, or heat of combustion, is around 18,500 Btu/lb, or 43.1 MJ/kg, making it similar to that of diesel.
Kerosene is obtained from the fractional distillation of petroleum at 150°C and 275°C (carbon chains from the C12 to C15 range).
Typically, kerosene directly distilled from crude oil requires some treatment, either in a Merox unit or a hydrotreater, to reduce its sulfur content and its corrosiveness. Kerosene can also be produced by a hydrocracker, which is used to upgrade the parts of crude oil that would otherwise only be good for fuel oil.
Uses
At one time it was widely used in kerosene lamps and lanterns. Its use as a cooking fuel is mostly restricted to some portable stoves for backpackers and to less developed countries, where it is usually less refined and contains impurities and even debris. It can also be used to remove lice from hair, but this practice is painful and potentially very dangerous.
As a heating fuel, it is used in often portable stoves and is sold in some filling stations. It is sometimes used as a heat source during power failures. The use of portable kerosene heaters is not recommended for closed indoor areas without a chimney due to the danger of buildup of carbon monoxide gas.
Kerosene is widely used in Japan as a home heating fuel for portable and installed kerosene heaters. In Japan, kerosene can be readily bought at any filling station or be delivered to homes.
The Amish, who limit use of electric appliances for religious reasons, rely on kerosene for lighting and often purchase kerosene-powered versions of appliances such as refrigerators.
It is used as an organic solvent.

Answer 2

I have never heard the term, but in shipping there is heavy fuel oil and intermediate fuel oil. Perhaps it's a catch-all term for lighter fuels, like marine diesel oil and marine gas oil?

Answer 3

No: Kerosene is also known as Paraffin oil. It is much more flammable than fuel oil............

Answer 4

Kerosene is more highly refined and will burn cleaner. Also it will not jell as easily in extreme cold.

Answer 5

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