Fuels in Common Use

Abstract

Fuel is any substance which can be burned to produce heat and all the common fuels are composed mainly of carbon and hydrogen. Wood, one of the earliest fuels, is still used today, mainly in the form of waste products from the timber trades. In this country, coal is the principal indigenous fuel source but large quantities of fuel oil are used for industrial, commercial, and domestic use. Nuclear energy is being used increasingly in the production of electricity and the discovery of reserves of natural gas has meant this fuel too is being used to fire boilers of all types.