COURSE UNIT

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL

ENGINEERING: MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
LABORATORY 1

COURSE MODULE COURSE UNIT WEEK

4 4
Carbon Residue Test

CHECKLIST
 Read course and unit objectives
 Read study guide prior to class attendance
 Read required learning resources; refer to unit
terminologies for jargons
 Proactively participate in classroom discussions
 Participate in weekly discussion board (MS Teams)
 Answer and submit course unit tasks

UNIT EXPECTED OUTCOMES (UEOs)

At the end of this unit, the students are expected to:

Cognitive:
1. Use measuring instruments in the performance of laboratory exercises.
2. Analyze the significance of the quantities determined using engineering measuring devices.
3. Analyze the properties of fuels and lubricants using different methods.
4. Design an experiment involving measurement of properties.

Prepared by: Engr. Sandra E. Abancio, RMEE

Affective:
1. Listen attentively during class discussions
2. Demonstrate tact and respect when challenging other people’s opinions and ideas
3. Accept comments and reactions of classmates on one’s opinions openly and graciously.

Psychomotor:
1. Participate actively during class discussions and group activities.
2. Express opinion and thoughts in front of the class.

STUDY GUIDE
Carbon Residue Test

What is a Carbon Residue Test?

 Ramsbottom carbon residue, which abbreviation is RCR, is well known in the industry as a
method to calculate the carbon residue of a fuel
 The carbon residue value is considered by some to give an approximate indication of the
combustibility and deposit forming tendencies of a fuel

What is the Carbon Residue of a Fuel?

 The Ramsbottom test is used to measure carbon residues of an oil.

 The carbon residue of a fuel is the tendency to form carbon deposits under high
temperature conditions an inert atmosphere.
 This is an important value for the crude oil refinery.
 One of the measurements in a crude oil assay.
 An important measurement for the feed to the refinery process fluid catalytic cracking and
delayed coking.

Calculation Methods of Carbon Residue

 Ramsbottom carbon residue (RCR)

 Conradson Carbon Residue (CCR)
 Micro Carbon Residue (MCR)

Ramsbottom Carbon Residue

 Used to measure carbon residues of an oil

Prepared by: Engr. Sandra E. Abancio, RMEE

Conradson Carbon Residue

 A test used to provide an indication of the coke-forming tendencies of an oil

 The test measures the amount of carbonaceous residue remaining after the oil’s
evaporation and pyrolysis.
 The test is applicable to petroleum products which are relatively, non-volatile and which
decompose on distillation at atmospheric pressure
 Its common names refer to either the test or the numerical value obtained from it

Test Method

 A quantity of sample is weighed, placed in a crucible, and subjected to destructive

distillation
 The residue undergoes cracking and coking reactions
 The crucible containing the carbonaceous residue is cooled in a dessicator and weighed
 The residue remaining is calculated as a percentage of the original sample, and reported as
Conradson carbon residue

Micro Carbon Residue

 A test used to determine the amount of carbonaceous residue formed after evaporation and
pyrolysis of petroleum materials under the certain conditions.
 The test is used to provide some indication of a material’s coke-forming tendencies.
 The test results are equivalent to the test results obtained from the Conradson Carbon
Residue Test.

Test Method

 A quantity of sample is weighed, placed in a glass vial, and heated to 500 oC.
 Heating is performed in a controller manner, for a specific period of time, and under the inert
atmosphere
 The sample experiences coking reactions, with volatiles formed being swept away by the
nitrogen
 The carbonaceous residue remaining is reported as mass percent of the original sample,
noted as “carbon-residue”.

Prepared by: Engr. Sandra E. Abancio, RMEE

REFERENCES

1. Power Plant Testing By Moyer

2. Figliola, R.S. & Beasley, D.E., Theory & Design for Mechanical Measurements, 5th edition,
2011, J. Wiley & Sons, Inc.
3. Halman, J.P., Experimental Methods for Engineers, McGraw-Hill, Inc.
4. Doebelin, E.O., Measurement System: Application & Design, McGraw-Hill, Inc.
5. Beckwith, T.G., Marangoni, R.D. & Lienhard, J.H., Mechanical Measurements, Addison
Wesley, Inc.
6. Robert B. Northrop, Introduction to Instrumentation and Measurements, Second Edition,
Jun 28, 2005.
7. Alan S. Morris, Reza Langari, Measurement and Instrumentation Theory and Application
8. Alan S. Morris, Measurement and Instrumentation Principles, 3rd edition.

UNIT TASK
To determine the carbon residue of given sample.

Apparatus:

1. Porcelain crucible
2. Skidmore crucible
3. Chimney wire support
4. Sand bath
5. Kerosene oil(sample)

Theory: Carbon residue is what the leftover particles of a fuel product are transformed into. The
carbon residue of a fuel is the tendency to form carbon deposits under high temperature conditions
in an inert atmosphere. This is an important value for the crude oil refinery, and usually one of the
measurements in a crude oil assay. Carbon residue is an important measurement for the feed to
the refinery process fluid catalytic cracking and delayed coking. High amounts of carbon residue
can be damaging to the environment.

Procedure:  Weight approximately one gram of sample oil free of moisture and suspended
material in the crucible.  Place this crucible in the center of skidmore level the sand in the sand
bath and set skidmore crucible on triangle right in center of sand bath.  Apply covers to both
skidmore and porcelain air crucible. The covers must have arrangement of free exist of vapors as
they formed.  Heat from strong flame from gas burner so that free ignition occurs in 10 minutes
and a blue flame appear on the alimony immediately.  Moves or tie the gas burner so that gas
flame plays on the side of the chimney for the purpose of ignition of vapors. When vapors cease to

Prepared by: Engr. Sandra E. Abancio, RMEE

burn and no more blue flame appear. Read just the burner and increase the heat so that sand bath
sheet is cherry red and maintain exactly for 7 minutes. The total time for this is approximately 28 to
32 minutes.  Remove the burner and allow the apparatus to cool until no smoke appear and then
removed the cover of skidmore crucible.  Take out crucible with tongs and placed it in
desiccators. Cool and weight the crucible.

Prepared by: Engr. Sandra E. Abancio, RMEE

Prepared by: Engr. Sandra E. Abancio, RMEE