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Laboratory of Petroleum and Gas Properties

3. Smoke Point

The aim of this experiment

The smoke point of aviation turbine fuels and kerosene is the maximum height, in millimeters, of a smokeless flame of fuel burned in a wick-fed lamp of specified design.

The aim of this experiment is to learn how to measure smoke point of kerosene, aviation turbine fuels and similar products.

Theory

According the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), a test is designated for testing smoke point of kerosene and aviation fuels under the name ASTM D1322.

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Laboratory of Petroleum and Gas Properties

The higher the smoke point is, the less sooting the fuel would be.

Soot is composed of carbonaceous particles that visibly appear as smoke when produced from a flame.

Chemical formation and the growth of aromatic hydrocarbons will form into larger molecular components.

Generally the more aromatic the fuel the smokier the flame. A high smoke point of a fuel indicates low smoke producing tendency.

Physical changes, known as thickening processes, change molecules into particles and into larger aggregates.

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Laboratory of Petroleum and Gas Properties

Unluckily, soot is desired in some industrial processes; for example, it is processed into the toner used in most printers.

Different fuels have different tendencies to form soot when burned. In diffusion flames these tendencies are best characterized by a flame’s laminar smoke point.

Environmental soot kills more people than any other pollutant due to its association with breathing illness and cancer. It also contributes to global warming.

Soot in unwanted fires increases pollution, fire spread rates, and carbon monoxide emissions.

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Laboratory of Petroleum and Gas Properties

Smoke point apparatus consists of• Brass lamp body with chimney;• 0 - 50mm scale markings;• Brass plated door with glass

window; • Candle socket; • Brass candle with wick tube and

air vent. • Iron base

The fuel sample is burned in the Smoke Point Lamp, and the maximum flame height obtainable without smoking is measured.

Description of apparatus

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Laboratory of Petroleum and Gas Properties

The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

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Laboratory of Petroleum and Gas Properties

Materials and apparatus1. Smoke point apparatus2. Kerosene

The procedure:

1. Soak a piece of dried wick not less than 125 mm long in the sample (kerosene)2. Place the wick in the tube of the candle.3. Put 20 ml of the sample in to the clean and dry candle.4. Place the wick tube in the candle and screw it.5. Insert the candle in the lamp.6. Light the candle and adjust the flame and allow the lamp burn until there is no smoke. 7. Note the correct flame in millimeter scale.8. Repeat the steps 6 and 7.

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Laboratory of Petroleum and Gas Properties

Data

Note smoke point two time at least.

Discussion and Conclusion1. Why we have to take

more than one reading.2. Do you think that aviation

fuels have a higher or lower smoke point than your results.

Note: Write the references you use in your report.

3. Is there any other kind of smoke point? If yes, what is it? What is the measuring unit of it?