Expert Answers on: The Nozzle, Burner, and Boiler

1. What is the purpose of an oil nozzle?

It sprays the oil before it is burned to heat your interior.

2. What is an oil nozzle made of?

Inside the nozzle body, there is a conical valve, a screw, and a filter.

3. How does a nozzle for an oil burner work?

The oil passes through the filter, the bottom screw, and through side holes.
As it passes through the cone, the pressure it experiences transforms into energy that expels it from the nozzle in the form of fine droplets (approximately 5µ in diameter).

4. How does the oil burn?

Once dispersed as fine droplets, it evaporates. By mixing it with air, it burns and releases heat.
The principle is simple, but the practice is technical. Air and oil must be mixed with a certain balance for combustion to be clean, economical, and stable.
Achieving the right oil/oxygen proportion is fundamental to selecting the correct nozzle.

5. What impact does soot have on my boiler or burner?

Soot prevents heat from dispersing from your heating system and pollutes our environment.

6. What problem does excess air create in my burner?

The more air, the faster the amount of oil will be consumed. It is impossible to maintain a stable temperature over time. In simple terms, at 6 PM it feels like summer, while at 8 PM it feels like winter.
Therefore, it is essential to establish a balance between air and fuel.

7. What is spray pressure?

It is the pressure of the oil as it passes through the nozzle.

8. Are all oils usable with my oil boiler?

Nozzles are tested using oil with a standard viscosity at 20°C. The technical documentation for an oil nozzle specifies under which viscosity it is verified.
If the oil is too viscous, crystals form and increase the size of the oil droplets. This causes a higher flow rate and soot production due to insufficient air supply.
The flame may appear strong, but its heat is not necessarily intense.

9. Can an oil boiler be installed in a room?

Of course, but it is essential to ensure there is enough air for the burner to draw in oxygen. As mentioned, without air, there is no heat, or worse: soot formation!
Moreover, dust in the room can be sucked in, causing an unstable flame or generating smoke.

10. In what position should I install an oil nozzle?

The technical documentation for your burner specifies how to install the oil nozzle. Changing its position could alter the flame formation.

11. How do I install a new nozzle holder?

As stated, the nozzle must be in a certain position. Therefore, it is necessary to install the nozzle holder in a way that does not disturb the orientation of the nozzle and flame.

12. What does Usgal/h mean?

It is a marking to measure the flow rate under a certain pressure with standard oil. To determine the correct nozzle, you need to know this information and the spray angle of your initial nozzle.

13. What is the spray angle?

It is the angle at which the oil will spread as it exits the nozzle head.

14. How can I find the type of nozzle for my burner?

On the nozzle you are using, there are inscriptions (letters and numbers). This determines the type of oil nozzle.

15. My nozzle is unreadable, what should I do?

The technical documentation for your boiler contains the necessary information to replace the part with the same one.

16. I no longer have the technical documentation for my boiler, help me!

Don't panic! Do you still have the boiler? Yes? Well, there is a nameplate on it that a technician can use to make calculations and determine the correct nozzle.

17. How do I install a nozzle from another brand?

The instruction manual for your oil boiler lists different brands to replace the current nozzle.

18. What replacement models are available for my nozzle?

Here is a table to help you choose the equivalent model of a nozzle in another brand:

19. What is coking?

It occurs when the oil forms a hard, blackened surface from carbon, on the nozzle or electrodes. Coke causes irregularities in the oil and disrupts the spray. Combustion is affected, making your boiler less efficient.

20. What is crystallized soot?

When the burner operates with too much excess air, the ignited oil vapors cool and deposit as greasy residues that smell bad.