Department of Chemical Engineering

CHE 4403 Gas Processing

Laboratory Exercise

Laboratory Exercise Number 04

ASTM D1322 Test Method for Smoke Point of Kerosene and Aviation
Experiment Title
Turbine Fuel

Course Code CHE 4403 Course Description Gas Processing

Term Date
Instructor

Group Members

Name Student ID

Note: Students are expected to refrain from all forms of academic dishonesty as defined in the college
policies and as explained and defined by college policies and procedures and directions from teachers or
other college personnel. By signing this cover page you are stating that the work presented is yours and
yours alone. The work includes all figures, tables, calculations, data and text.

Processing
Possible Marks Obtained Marks Remark
Questions
6 10
7 10
8 10
9 10
10 10
Total Marks

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1. Objectives:

1. To determine the Smoke Point of Kerosene and Aviation Turbine fuel.

2. To determine the ability of fuel sample to burn at complete combustion without smoking.
3. To assess the quality of fuel sample by finding out the maximum height of the fuel sample flame
before it starts making soot.

2. Apparatus and Materials

1. Smoke point lamp with woven wick

2. Wick tube
3. Ignition Source
4. Fuel samples

3. Introduction

The smoke point is the maximum flame height in millimeters at which kerosene will burn without smoking,
tested under standard conditions, this test method provides an indication of the relative smoke producing
properties of kerosene and aviation turbine fuels in a diffusion flame. The smoke point is related to the
hydrocarbon type composition of such fuels. Generally the more aromatic the fuel the smokier the flame. A
high smoke point indicates a fuel of low smoke producing tendency.

A typical smoke point apparatus has been shown in Figure 1. As the wick of a yellow-flame type lamp is
turned up, a point is reached where smoking occurs. Therefore, the degree of illumination possible depends
mainly on the height of the nonsmoking flame obtainable. This height varies according to the hydrocarbon
type composition of the kerosene. The maximum height of flame obtainable without smoking, termed the
"smoke point." is greatest with paraffins. Considerably lower with naphthenic and much lower still with
aromatics.

Figure 1: (A) Smoking Point Apparatus. (B) Wicks. (C) Wicks Tube.

As the smoke point is high like the paraffinic compounds it will have low smoking tendency (less able to
produce smoke). Inversely, the low smoke point like in aromatic compounds has high smoking tendency to
produce smoke.

This test method provides an indication of the relative smoke producing properties of kerosenes and
aviation turbine fuels in a diffusion flame. The smoke point is related to the hydrocarbon type composition

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

Figure 2: Examples of Typical Flame Appearances.

The smoke point is quantitatively related to the potential radiant heat transfer from the combustion products
of the fuel. Because radiant heat transfer exerts a strong influence on the metal temperature of combustor
liners and other hot section parts of gas turbines, the smoke point provides a basis for correlation of fuel
characteristics with the life of these components.

Smoking tendency can be calculated by the simple formula below:

320
Smoking tendcey=
Smoking point ∈mm

4. Background

In this experiment we will use two different samples, they are (kerosene) and (Diesel) they are both
produced from refinery which has 26–27-degree API gravity oil. For kerosene an average smoke point is
higher thus low smoking tendency, this values due to the low aromatic contents of kerosene compared with
lower distillation fractions (Gas oil , Diesel , light gas oil and heavy gas oil)(shown in figure 3) , the higher
the paraffinic contents the higher the smoke point and lower smoking tendency, and the inversely is correct.

And for diesel average smoke point is lower than the smoke point of kerosene, this different due to the
higher aromatic contents of the (Diesel) which effect on the smoke point, as (Diesel) has low smoke point it
will have higher smoking tendency than (kerosene).

It is established that the smoking tendency is increase with the increase of carbon atoms of petroleum
fraction (increasing of aromaticity), so the first product of distillation tower will have the lowest smoking
tendency, and the last product of distillation tower will have the highest smoking tendency.

Also for products that are similar with carbon atoms number and vary in number of hydrogen atoms like
pure benzene (C6H6) and cyclohexyen (C6H12) , the ratio of carbons atoms to hydrogen atoms C/H define the
smoking tendency of them, if the ratio C/H increased smoking tendency will increase and smoke point will
decrease, and the inversely is correct.

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 Figure 3. Distillated fractions of crude oil and its carbon atoms, boiling point range, and its uses.

5. Procedure

1. A 126 mm long dried wick is soaked in the sample and placed in the wick tube of the candle.
2. A 10-20 ml of prepared sample is introduced at room temperature into the dry candle.
3. The wick tube is placed in the candle firmly with taking care of the candle air vent is free from fuel. A new
clean, sharp razor is used to cut the wick at the face of the holder and remove wisps and frayedends.
4. The candle is lighted and the wick adjusted so that the flame is approximately 10 mm high with 5 min.
5. After burning, the candle raised until a smoky tail appears, then the candle is lowered slowly through
several stages of flame appear once.
6. The maximum height of flame that can be achieved without smoking is determined to the nearest 0.5 mm.
7. The candle is removed from the lamp arise with heptane and purged with air to make ready for re-use.

6. Experimental Results and Observations

Sample Description Flame Height (mm) Smoke Tendency

1. Diesel 9

2. Kerosene 44.5

7. Which hydrocarbons burns with more smoke? And why?

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8. Why do we measure the smoke point of kerosene and other petroleum products?

9. How we can improve the smoke point of kerosene?

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10. Conclusion

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