Relevance. Used petroleum products formed in various technological systems represent a material flow, which is characterized by a multiplicity of heterogeneous components (used oils, oil sludge, substandard liquid petroleum products, etc.) and the distribution of sources of these components. Utilization of this stream can be implemented in compliance with environmental regulations and obtaining an energysaving effect by applying used petroleum products as fuel. The implementation of this perspective should be based on an appropriate regulatory framework. Objective: systematic and complete presentation of the information necessary for the effective spend of used petroleum products as fuel, development of a classification of fuel from used petroleum products based on the analysis of literature data and the results of experimental studies. Object: used petroleum products, which include used oils, flushing oil liquids, as well as mixtures of oil and petroleum products formed during the cleaning of storage and transportation facilities, extracted from oil-containing waters. Methods: analysis of the thermal properties of used petroleum products to assess the prospects for their energy-efficient use as fuel; study of the conditions for environmentally efficient combustion of used petroleum products in industrial installations; development of fuel classification from used petroleum products. Results. The authors carried out the analysis of the requirements for used petroleum products as fuel, which are established by regulatory documents of a number of countries. The results of the study of the thermal characteristics of used petroleum products as fuel are presented. The analytical dependence of the lower heating value of used petroleum products on the kinematic viscosity is obtained. The classification of fuel from used petroleum products is proposed, which can be used to create an appropriate regulatory framework.
