Fuel oil property prioritisation Which of the following is generally NOT considered a primary/critical property specification for fuel oil (furnace oil) in combustion service?

Introduction / Context:
Fuel (furnace) oils are specified for safe handling and clean combustion in industrial burners and boilers. Certain properties dominate design and compliance: viscosity (for atomisation), flash point (safety), sulphur (emissions/corrosion), pour point (low-temp flow), and calorific value.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Service: fuel oil for heaters/boilers/furnaces.
• We compare four listed properties.
• We ask which is not a major/primary specification.

Concept / Approach:
Aniline point is a solvency/aromaticity indicator widely used for kerosene/diesel/lube behaviour inference. For furnace oils, procurement and operation focus far more on viscosity, flash point, sulphur, pour point, water/sediment, and ash/vanadium—aniline point is rarely a controlling spec.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Fuel oil standards (e.g., IS/ASTM grades) emphasise viscosity class, flash point, sulphur, sediment, water—rarely aniline point.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Viscosity: Critical for atomisation design and heating curves.
• Flash point: Safety-critical for storage/handling.
• Sulphur: Emissions/corrosion driver; regulatory limits apply.

Common Pitfalls:
Assuming properties important for middle distillates (diesel/kerosene) automatically apply to heavy fuel oils.

Final Answer:
Aniline point