Page 634 - The City and Guilds Textbook: Plumbing Book 1 for the Level 3 Apprenticeship (9189), Level 2 Technical Certificate (8202) and Level 2 Diploma (6035)

CHAPTER 10 DOMESTIC FUEL SYSTEMS

INTRODUCTION

For hundreds of years humans relied on solid fuel in the form of wood and coal to heat their homes. Then, in
the 1850s, gas in the form of coal gas was used to heat and light dwellings and factories. This was followed soon
after by oil.
These fuels – coal, gas and oil – are known as hydrocarbons and, because of the way they were formed millions
of years ago, they are very carbon rich. When they are combusted, they produce copious amounts of carbon
dioxide (CO ), which has systematically altered the Earth’s climate and this has led to the phenomenon known as
2
global warming.
Now, less than 300 years later, fossil fuels are all but depleted and the damage to the climate they have caused
is practically irreparable. With gas and oil reserves set to last only 50 years, and much of the coal left below the
Earth’s surface unreachable, we have to look for alternative forms of energy for our heat and light.
This chapter will investigate the types of fuels used in the appliances we install and identify the reasons that
certain fuels are chosen. We will also take a look at how these fuels are supplied and stored.
By the end of this chapter, you will have knowledge and understanding of the following:
l types of fuels used in appliances
l factors that affect the selection of fuels
l sources of information for fuel supply installation
l the regulatory bodies that govern the installation of fuel systems
l storage requirements for fuels
l considerations that could affect the storage requirements of fuels.

KEY POINT 1 IDENTIFY THE TYPES OF FUELS
The information in this USED IN APPLIANCES
chapter relates to the
Plumbing and Domestic The heating appliances that we install are fuelled by a selection of energy
Heating Technician sources, some of which have been around for many years and some that are
Apprenticeship only. It relatively new technology. In this first section, we will investigate these fuels,
covers LO1 of Unit 11,
Domestic fuel systems. both old and new. We will learn where they come from and the consequences of
using them.

There are five categories of fuels:
1 natural gas
2 liquid petroleum gas (LPG)
3 oil
4 solid fuel
5 biomass fuel.

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