Product Overview

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USA: R.W. Beckett Corporation • ph: [phone] • fax: [phone] | Canada: R.W. Beckett Canada Ltd. • ph: [phone] • fax: [phone]
Form No. 62167 R0, Printed in the USA 10/17
Fuels used for heating oil applications have been changing. As a leading burner manufacturer, RW Beckett wants our
burners to be compatible with these fuels, meaning fewer problems and concerns for our valued customers.
In June 2008 the ASTM¹ specication D396, which contains the specication for No.1 and No.2 heating oils, was
changed from requiring 100% mineral oil to allow up to 5% biodiesel blended into the fuel (95% mineral oil + 5%
Biodiesel = B5). This is the fuel that UL (Underwriters Laboratories) approves for use as heating oil². The 5% level
has not caused any problems or concerns that we are aware of to date.
Recently, fuel suppliers have been promoting use of biodiesel blends up to 20% (B20) and ASTM has added a new
fuel grade to D396 for biodiesel blends of 6% to 20%. However, this grade has not been accepted nor approved by
UL for use in fuel oil burners. Beckett, as well as other manufacturers are experiencing an increase in component
issues, particularly in fuel handling components of oil heat systems. This kit addresses the burner’s performance
with this new fuel: Materials compatibility, fuel pump performance, and fuel cut-o󰀨. These and other concerns are
discussed briey below.
B20 (20% Biodiesel)
Retrot KitAFG
Storage
Storage time or ‘shelf life’ of any fuel
must be taken into consideration. While
pure mineral oil has a shelf life of 18 – 24
months, the addition of biodiesel blends
can see this storage time dramatically
decreased, to as little as 6 months³.
Appropriate fuel stabilization additives may
extend this time, although re-additizing
fuel already in a consumers tank may be
di󰀩cult.
Water
Water in fuel storage tanks is being
identied as a more serious problem with
newer fuels like ULSHO (Ultra Low Sulphur
Heating Oil)⁴. Again, proper additives and
re-additizing consumers storage tanks may
be required if the fuel will be in storage
more than six months.
Pumps
Suntec Industries has developed pumps
specically for these fuels. This kit contains
a pump that is rated by the manufacturer
for fuel oil with up to 20% biodiesel blends
(B20). This kit contains the Suntec A2VA-
7116 B pump rated to B20.
Material Compatibility
Elastomers such as pump seals, gaskets, valve seats, etc. can be
adversely a󰀨ected by biodiesel blends. Materials testing are still being
conducted, but traditional materials such as natural rubber, some Viton
materials, 4 types of Nitrile compounds, cork and others have shown
compatibility issues with biodiesel. More complete reports on these
and other materials can be found at resources such as NREL – the
National Renewable Energy Lab and NBB – the National Biodiesel
Board.
Yellow metals have shown compatibility issues with biodiesel and
blends of biodiesel and home heating oils. This kit removes yellow
metals - copper, brass, bronze and zinc - that are ‘wetted’ (in constant
contact with the fuel) and replaces them with components made from
materials that will not interact with these fuels.
Stainless Steel Valve
Stainless Steel Tubing
Suntec Fuel Unit
¹ASTM – American Society for Testing and Materials.
²Underwriters Laboratories UL296 listed.
³U.S. Dept of Energy - Biodiesel Handling and Use Guide (Fifth Edition).
⁴Nora Study - 2016.
Technical Information