When fuel oil is broken up to form tiny droplets, what is this process called?

The correct term for the process of breaking fuel oil into tiny droplets is atomization. In the context of oil burners, atomization is essential for creating a fine mist of fuel that can mix effectively with air. This mixing is crucial for efficient combustion, as it allows for better ignition and more complete burning of the fuel.

Atomization typically occurs in the nozzle of the burner, where high pressure is applied to the fuel oil, causing it to break apart into numerous small droplets. This increases the surface area of the fuel, enabling faster evaporation and more efficient burning. By ensuring that the fuel is well-atomized, oil burners can achieve improved energy output and reduced emissions, leading to a more efficient heating process.

The other terms, such as emulsification and evaporation, describe different processes that do not accurately reflect the specific action of breaking liquid fuel into fine droplets. Emulsification refers to the mixing of two immiscible liquids, while evaporation involves the transition of liquid to gas. Spraying, while it may sound similar, does not specifically denote the process of creating fine droplets from a liquid fuel in the context of combustion technology. Thus, atomization is the precise term that describes this important function in oil burners.