Oil Lifters

An oil lifter, also commonly referred to as an oil lift pump, plays a crucial role in oil-fired heating systems, particularly in situations where the fuel storage tank is located below the level of the burner or boiler.

The pump is connected to a suction line, which is submerged in the heating oil within the storage tank. The pump’s inlet is designed to draw oil from the tank. The pump creates a low-pressure zone that allows the oil to be lifted into the pump.

The primary reasons for needing an oil lifter in your oil-fired heating system include:

  1. Gravity Feed Limitations: If the heating oil storage tank is situated at a lower elevation than the burner or boiler, a gravity feed system alone may not provide sufficient pressure to deliver the oil to the combustion chamber. An oil lifter helps overcome this limitation by actively lifting and pressurizing the oil, ensuring a consistent and reliable fuel supply.
  2. Improved Efficiency: Heating oil lift pumps enhance the efficiency of the fuel delivery process. They can maintain a steady flow of oil, preventing interruptions or fluctuations in the supply that might occur with a gravity feed system alone.
  3. Longer Pipe Runs: In installations where the distance between the oil tank and the burner is considerable, a pump becomes necessary to push the oil through longer pipe runs. Gravity alone might not generate enough force to move the oil over extended distances.
  4. Increased Flexibility in Tank Placement: An oil lifter provides flexibility in choosing the location of the oil storage tank. Without a pump, the tank would need to be placed above the burner to rely on gravity feed, limiting options for tank placement and potentially increasing installation costs.
  5. Prevention of Air Ingress: In systems with low oil levels or during times of high demand, there is a risk of air being drawn into the fuel line. An oil lift pump helps mitigate this issue by maintaining positive pressure in the system, reducing the likelihood of air ingress.
  6. Consistent Combustion: A reliable and consistent oil supply is crucial for proper combustion in oil-fired heating systems. An oil lifter ensures a steady flow of fuel, promoting efficient and reliable operation of the burner or boiler.
  7. Support for Multiple Burners: In some cases, where there are multiple burners or heating appliances connected to a single oil tank, an oil lifter can help ensure that each burner receives an adequate and consistent oil supply.

It’s important to note that not all oil-fired heating systems require an oil lifter. If your tank is located at a higher elevation than the burner, a gravity feed system may be sufficient. However, when a lift is needed, an oil lifter becomes a crucial component to ensure the reliable and efficient operation of the heating system.

At Fuel Dump, we understand the critical role that reliable oil lifters play in your operations. Our curated selection offers quality, durability and performance to meet your specific needs. Explore our large collection of oil heating equipment and best sellers including the Inpro OUF 88 Oil Lifter.

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FAQ's

What does an Oil Lifter do ?

An Oil Lift pump does exactly that it is a pump unit with an internal reservoir to hold fuel. The pump is activated by a level switch similar to that in a toilet cistern whereby as the fuel level drops the level switch activates and turns the pump on to refill the reservoir. The fuel is then gravity fed to the boiler.

Why would I need an Oil Lifter ?

An oil lifter would be used in an oil heating system where the fuel tank is lower than the boiler. In situations where the boilers internal pump would not be able to pull the fuel through from the tank an oil lifter would  be employed to lift fuel to a position above the boiler into a fuel reservoir and then allowed to flow to the boiler under gravity.

 

What if it developed a leak would the level switch just keep activating and filling up with fuel ?

The unit comes with a leak detection tray, this tray has a sensor that will detect any oil dripping from the main unit and it would then go into alarm status and shut off the pump to prevent it from refilling and then leaking in a continuous loop.

What size pipework do i need to fit this oil lifter ?

You would need to pipe the oil lifter up with 8mm ID (internal diameter) pipe.

How high and how far can an oil lifter pull fuel ?

Using 8mm ID pipe the oil lifter can lift fuel to a max of 8mtrs (from tank to oil lifter) it is also capable of lifting fuel from 100mtrs away (horizontal)