A study on using fish oil as an alternative fuel for conventional combustors

Combustion tests for fish oil and its blends with fuel oils were performed in a pilot tunnel furnace and two residential boilers to evaluate fish oil as an alternative fuel for conventional boilers and furnaces. Droplet evaporation tests were also conducted as a complementary study of the combustion properties. Fish oil and the blends burned readily in the facilities. The emissions were generally lower than burning the pure fuel oil except that of NO, which was higher for blends with No. 6 residual fuel oil. With better quality No. 2 fuel oil the NO emission of the blends was at the same level as that of the pure oil. Overall fish oil showed good combustion properties and significant economic and environmental benefits are expected.