With the increasing need for fuel conservation, the incentive for developing efficient residential oil-heating equipment is greater than ever before. Most of the past development effort on oil-fired space-heating equipment was directed to burners having good reliability and low cost. Fuel economy was a general goal, but not focused to the extent that it is now. Efforts over the past 20 years that were directed toward developing low-capacity burners had not been rewarded with a substantial market. However, the market-place now is ready for low-capacity burners, to minimize the detrimental effects on seasonal efficiency that burner oversizing can bring about.

This paper describes a review of technology that should be considered in the design of efficient residential oil-burning equipment having capability for reliable, low-capacity operation. It is concluded that the following concepts should be further pursued:
-- Modified high-pressure atomizing systems (anti-clogging nozzles, nozzle-line preheaters, return-flow nozzles)
-- Alternative methods of atomization (air, ultrasonic, thermal aerosol generators)
-- Blue-flame burners
-- Pulse-combustion systems
-- Condensing-type heat exchangers

R&D focus is recommended on aspects of sensitivity to fuel quality, pollutant emissions, and long-term reliability.