What is a defining characteristic of suction strainers in a fuel oil system?

Suction strainers play a critical role in fuel oil systems by ensuring that impurities and debris do not enter the fuel supply, which could damage pumps and burners. A defining characteristic of suction strainers is their ability to allow for flow switching without system shutdown. This is particularly advantageous in industrial settings where operational uptime is crucial.

When suction strainers are designed with features such as dual piping arrangements or bypass capability, they can facilitate maintenance and cleaning without interrupting the normal flow of fuel. This capability is key to maintaining system efficiency and reliability, as it ensures that the equipment can continue to operate without the need to halt fuel supply, which could lead to process downtime.

In contrast to this characteristic, other options do not accurately describe the function or design of suction strainers. For instance, they are typically installed before the burner rather than after, they can be designed as multiple units rather than being limited to single-unit designs, and they do not generally feature a very coarse mesh size; instead, they usually have a finer mesh to effectively filter out smaller particles. Understanding the role of suction strainers in a fuel oil system highlights their importance in ensuring consistent and reliable operation.