What is Industrial Heating Oil (IHO) Used For?

Countless industries and applications rely on industrial heating oil to keep their processes and operations running smoothly.

But first, what is industrial heating oil? 

Industrial heating oil (IHO) is a fuel used in various commercial and industrial applications. It is a cost-effective alternative to other fuels like natural gas and diesel and provides reliable heat and energy for industries that require high temperatures. It burns efficiently and cleanly, making it ideal for large-scale heating processes and popular in many industries. You can learn more about the fuel and its benefits in our guide to IHO.

In this post, we’ll discuss some of industrial heating oil’s main applications and what it’s used for across the UK and beyond. 

What are the uses of industrial heating oil?

This popular fuel is efficient in its burn and cost efficiency, and it is one of the most versatile fuels out there. Here are the main applications of IHO:

Boilers for steam and hot water 

IHO is used to fuel industrial boilers that generate steam for many different applications, such as sterilisation and mechanical processes. Several industries, including chemical production, food processing and textile manufacturing, often use IHO-fueled boilers to produce the steam needed for their operations.

Boilers that produce hot water for industrial processes are also typically powered by IHO. These processes cover a wide variety, like commercial cleaning, heating systems and production lines, where hot water is essential.

Industrial heating for buildings

Large buildings such as warehouses, hotels, workshops and agricultural structures require large heating systems to warm up and stay warm. This is an excellent fuel for powering these systems, which need constant heating, especially in cooler climates.

Industrial furnaces and ovens

IHO-powered industrial furnaces and ovens are used for various metal heating treatments such as tempering, hardening and annealing in the automotive and aerospace industries, amongst others. These processes require incredibly high temperatures, as they alter the metals’ physical and sometimes chemical properties.

In industries such as composite manufacturing and rubber production, ovens are used to cure materials via applied heat. IHO can fuel these industrial-scale ovens and help them reach the required temperatures.

Agriculture

Growing plants requires specific temperatures provided by special heating systems in the agricultural industry powered by industrial heating oil. This is especially important in colder months to help maintain healthy year-round crop production.

Animals and birds also need to stay warm and comfortable. IHO-powered heaters keep poultry houses, barns, stables and other livestock structures at the right temperature to ensure animals experience a healthy temperature.

Chemical and petrochemical processes

In chemical and petrochemical plants, heaters are essential for distillation, refining and chemical reaction processes to separate and refine raw materials. This fuel is sometimes used to power these specialist industrial heaters.

Waste management and incineration

Incinerators used to burn hazardous or industrial waste are often fueled by IHO. This is an incredibly important process, as it reduces waste volumes and prevents harmful substances from affecting our environment.

Industrial heating oil is also used in processes that thermally treat or destroy contaminants such as soils or contaminated materials in industrial waste.

Industrial kilns

Products such as bricks, ceramics and tiles are formed by applying constant high temperatures to materials to harden them. The kilns used for this are sometimes fueled by IHO, helping the bricks and ceramics to reach their necessary strength. It is also often used to power furnaces to melt down materials such as silica to create glass products.

Industrial cooking and food processing

Large food production facilities typically use IHO to power their cookers and baking ovens because of the fuel’s cost-effectiveness. In the food and animal byproduct industries, IHO is used in rendering plants to heat materials like animal fats, helping to process them into tallow and other products.

Get your supply of IHO industrial heating oil with Fuelsource

Industrial heating oil (IHO) plays a vital role in a wide range of industries, from powering furnaces to supporting waste management. Its cost-effectiveness, versatility and efficiency are why it continues to be one of the most popular industrial fuels, and why we offer it to our customers.

If you need IHO to fuel your operations, don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our expert team is on hand to source and supply your industrial heating oil and help keep your business running smoothly. We have strong, established relationships with refineries to get you the best price for your fuel needs.
Call us on 0207 846 0255, fill in our simple enquiry form, or talk to a real member of our team through our live chat feature today.