INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY OF CAMBODIA

FACULTY OF CHEMICAL AND FOOD ENGINEERING

OPTION CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

LECTURE: DR. CHANRATH BOREY (COURSE)

MR. NEAK KIMHAK (TP)

REPORT OF LABORATORY WORK

SUBJECT: PETROLEUM CHEMISTRY

TP3: SMOKE POINT

GROUP: I4-GCA-ChE-B3

STUDENT NAME: ID

THA Panhajem e20191156

THENG Koemlang e20191167

THOEURN Chhenglorng e20191173

UM Chailydalen e20191224

YAT Vicheka e20191286

YIV Sreyya e20191301

Academic Year: 2022-2023

Date to submit:

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF TABLES ..................................................................................................................... 3

LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................... 4
1. INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................. 5
1.1. Background .................................................................................................................... 5
1.2. Objectives....................................................................................................................... 6
2. MATERIAL AND METHODS ............................................................................................ 6
2.1. Materials for the study ................................................................................................... 7
2.1.1. Reactants and samples ............................................................................................ 7
2.1.2. Materials and Equipment ........................................................................................ 7
2.2. Methodology for study ................................................................................................... 8
3. RESULT AND DISCUSSION ............................................................................................. 8
3.1. Result ............................................................................................................................. 9
3.2. Discussion .................................................................................................................... 10
4. CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................... 10
REFERENCE........................................................................................................................... 12
APPENDICE ........................................................................................................................... 13

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 LIST OF TABLES

Table 2.1. Petroleum product sample diesel brand for Smoke point experiment ..................... 7
Table 2.2. Materials for smoke point experiment ..................................................................... 7
Table 3.1. Result of Smoke point experiment ........................................................................... 9

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 LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 2.1. flowchart of the whole process of Smoke point experiment. ................................. 8

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1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. Background

Smoke point is defined as of height of millimeter of the highest flam produced without
smoking when the fuel is burned in a specified lamp. It is a measure of the tendency of a liquid
fuel to produce carbon particles known as soot and generally, it is measured by burning fuel in
a special wick lamp in which the flame height is increased slowly till it starts producing smoke.
The maximum height in term of millimeters of smokeless flame at which flame starts smoking
is termed as smoke point. This test method is used to determine the relative smoke generating
properties of diesel. The hydrocarbon type composition of such fuels affects the smoke point
or flame height. This novel approach is illustrated by smoke point measurements for various
diesel-range hydrocarbon-oxygenate blends with various molecular structures (Hunt R. A.,
Relation of smoke point to molecular structure, 1953). In general, the smokier the flame, the
more aromatic the fuel. Smoke is produced as a result of the heavy hydrocarbon and carbon
particles present in the fuel gas. Burning aromatic hydrocarbons releases carbon atoms into the
air. The risk of smoke production is low for fuels with high smoke points. Aromatic
hydrocarbons help to produce carbon atoms during combustion. Refineries take the necessary
amount of aromatic hydrocarbons and eliminate them, raising or approaching the smoke point
of 20 mm (Tran, 2012).
Since 1927, smoke point parameters have been used to describe how fuels tend to shoot.
The smoke point is measured as the height in millimeters of the highest diffusion-controlled
flame produced without smoke when the fuel is burned in a designated test lamp. A liquid fuel
pool fire was used for the early smoke point testing, and more subsequently, the present wick-
fed method (Tran, 2012). It is commonly known that a fuel's propensity to soot is inversely
related to its smoke point. There is a wealth of studies indicating strong relationships between
smoke point and fuel molecule structure.
Smoke point is related with the aromatic content of the liquid and it is inversely
proportional to the aromatic content. Smoke point is used to determination of smoking
tendency. Smoking tendency is proportional to the aromatic content.

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1.2. Objectives

The purpose of this experiment is to learn how to measure the smoke point of petroleum
product samples of diesel in different brands and, Kerosene. To evaluate the ability or tendency
of diesel (fuels) to burn or sooting and, to know how to calculate the average flam height of
light with include the standard deviation. Moreover, to know the ability of kerosene sample to
burn at complete combustion and without smoking.

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2. MATERIAL AND METHODS

2.1. Materials for the study

2.1.1. Reactants and samples

All the petroleum product sample diesel brand for the smoke point experiment is listed
down in Table 2.1.

Table 2.1. Petroleum product sample diesel brand for Smoke point experiment

Ingredients
TOTAL diesel
SOKIMEX diesel
LIMLONG diesel
PTT diesel
TELA diesel
LHR diesel
LY HEANG diesel
CALTEX diesel
KEROSENE

2.1.2. Materials and Equipment

The material and equipment for proceed the smoke point experiment was prepared and
indicated in the Table 2.2. below.

Table 2.2. Materials for smoke point experiment

Ingredients
Alcohol lamp
Stainless steel ruler
Lighter flame fire

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2.2. Methodology for study

The flow chart below is demonstrated the whole procedure of smoke point experiment.

Prepared the samples

Pour the sample into the

Alcohol lamp

Burning or Heating

Measure the flame height

Figure 2.1. flowchart of the whole process of Smoke point experiment.

In this experiment, the process of measuring the pour point in different brand of diesel
has following the several step.
Firstly, each petroleum product samples brand of diesel were prepared by pouring about
3ml of each sample brand into the alcohols lamp. Soak the lame ignition cable in the lamp with
the sample which shown in Figure 5 of Appendix 3. To be accurate measuring of the flame
light, the lamp ignition cable must be long enough to the height of the lamp, its cause the soaked
well of the cable by the diesels sample.
When the lamp ignition cable soaked well, burning up the soaked cable by light flame
fire which shown in Figure 6 of Appendix 3.
When the flame light remained stable of light combustion, measuring the light height
by stainless steel ruler which shown in Figure 7 of Appendix 3.
The all-diesel sample brand and Kerosene have done for 3 times by following the same
step, respectively.

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3. RESULT AND DISCUSSION

3.1. Result

The Table 3.1. was demonstrated the result obtained after the smoke point experiment.
The all result obtained is reflected to the reaction time at the end of each burning at various
light height of combustion. To be accurate, the experiment was occurred and proceeded for 3
times for one brand of petroleum product sample of diesels and kerosene that take place in the
laboratory cabinet to prevent the smoke spready combustion.

Table 3.1. Result of Smoke point experiment

Diesels sample brand Smoke point

o
N
Flame Height

1st 22 mm

TOTAL 2nd 24 mm

3rd 21 mm

1st 15 mm

LIMLONG 2nd 16 mm

3rd 18 mm

1st 13 mm

LY HEANG 2nd 15 mm

3rd 14 mm

1st 7 mm

SOKIMEX 2nd 11 mm

3rd 16 mm

1st 9 mm

TELA 2nd 10 mm

3rd 13 mm

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 1st 9 mm

PTT 2nd 10 mm

3rd 11 mm

1st 9 mm

CALTEX 2nd 11 mm

3rd 12 mm

1st 8 mm

LHR 2nd 10 mm

3rd 12 mm

1st 15 mm

KEROSENE (ATF) 2nd 16 mm

3rd 17 mm

3.2. Discussion

In this experiment, diesel has used in smoke point is determined as the flame height of
the flame point by product LIMLONG, LHR, SOKIMEX, PTT, TELA, TOTAL, CELTEX,
LY HEANG AND KEROSEN. After finished the processing, the experiment has recorded an
average of all the diesels are in standard that the result between 10 mm to 22 mm. For the
average smoke point of PTT diesel is 10 mm, which is similar to the average smoke point of
LHR. For the average smoke point of CALTEX diesel is 10.66 mm, which also similar to Tela
diesel smoke point. For diesel of SOKIMIX, the smoke point is average in 10.53 mm. For the
average smoke point of LY HEANG diesel is 14 mm. For diesel of LIMLONG, the average is
16.36 mm for smoke point. Diesel of TOTAL for the average is 22 mm smoke point and last
but not least, KEROSENE smoke point is average in 16 mm. By Compare the brand of diesel
between each other, diesel of SOKIMEX has the lowest smoke point, due to the higher aromatic
contents. Thus, it will produce more smoking tendency than other brand. According to the
result that we got; we can evaluate that diesel of TOTAL has the highest smoke point due to
its aromatic contents is lower than another brand. As know that, the maximum smoke point of
diesel is about 18 mm, which is lower than the smoke point of KEROSENE, due to the higher
aromatic contents of the diesel. For KEROSENE burns relatively cleanly and has a low carbon

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monoxide risk – and due to its lack of fuel vapor, it cannot explode or cause a fire. However,
the oil gives off fumes and inhaling a subsequent amount of kerosene fumes can cause dizziness
and long-term could cause neurological or kidney damage. (Kerosene guide , 2014). The higher
the paraffinic contents the higher the smoke point and lower smoking tendency, and the
inversely is correct. In addition, amount of diesel that are tested, the flame height of TOTAL
is better than another diesel because it has short flame height, which is safe to use for
combustion engine.
By smoke point test indicates relative smoke producing property of petroleum products
and the quality of the product. Due to many factors that affect measurement, the result that we
have is not fully accurate. It can be the conditions of the experiment, first of all the apparatus
of smoke point lamp, the wick type also effect on the accuracy of this test, this experiment has
done in a place with presence of air currents, the watching angel also affect the measurement
of this experiment.

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4. CONCLUSION

After the experiment had done completely on smoke point, it provides the known of the
flame of each brand of diesel and, kerosene. This experiment had shown about the TOTAL
diesel brand had a high ability to burn more than other brand and kerosene has completely
combustion with no smoking. The ability of burn of this TOTAL brand related to the amount
of hydrocarbon which present in this diesel brands.

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REFERENCE

Hunt, R. A. (1953). Relation of smoke point to molecular structure. Industrial & Engineering
Chemistry.
Tran, M. K.-R. (2012). Characterizing sooting propensity in biofuel–diesel flames.
Combustion and flame.
Kerosene guide . (2014). kerosene. Retrieved from crownoil:
https://www.crownoil.co.uk/guides/kerosene-
guide/#:~:text=Kerosene%20burns%20relatively%20cleanly%20and,cause%20neurol
ogical%20or%20kidney%20damage

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APPENDICE

Appendix 1: Reactants and Petroleum products sample brand

Figure 1 Diesel petroleum products sample brand

Appendix 2: Material and Equipment

Figure 2 Alcohol lamp Figure 3 Stainless steel ruler

Figure 4 Lighter flame fire

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Appendix 3: Methodology

Figure 5 Soak the cable Figure 6 Burning Figure 7 Measuring

Appendix 4: Calculation

Calculate the average of flame height of eight diesel and kerosene:

TOTAL
Calculate the average of flame height
!"#!$#!"
The average of flame height = %
= 22mm

Calculate the standard deviation

" & (X !
The standard deviation: s = %&#" Σ'(" ' − X)

%
1
s=+ .(X' − 22)! = 1.73205
3−1
'("

Therefore, the average flame height = 22 ± 1.73205

LIM LONG
Calculate the average of flame height
")."#"+#",
The average of flame height = %
=16.36667mm
Calculate the standard deviation
" & (X !
The standard deviation: s = %&#" Σ'(" ' − X)

%
1
s=+ .(X' − 16.36667)! = 1.48436
3−1
'("

Therefore, the average flame height = 16.36667 ± 1.48436

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 LY HEANG
Calculate the average of flame height
"%#")#"$
The average of flame height = %
= 14mm

Calculate the standard deviation

" & (X !
The standard deviation: s = %&#" Σ'(" ' − X)

%
1
s=+ .(X' − 14)! = 1
3−1
'("

Therefore, the average flame height = 14 ± 1

SOKIMEX
Calculate the average of flame height
-#""#"%.+
The average of flame height = %
=10.53333mm

Calculate the standard deviation

" & (X !
The standard deviation: s = %&#" Σ'(" ' − X)

%
1
s=+ .(X' − 10.53333)! = 3.324655
3−1
'("

Therefore, the average flame height = 10.53333 ± 3.324655

TELA
Calculate the average of flame height
.#"/("%
The average of flame height = %
= 10.66667mm

Calculate the standard deviation

" & (X !
The standard deviation: s = %&#" Σ'(" ' − X)

%
1
s=+ .(X' − 10.33333)! = 2.081666
3−1
'("

Therefore, the average flame height = 10.33333 ± 2.081666

CALTEX
Calculate the average of flame height
.#"/#"!
The average of flame height = %
= 10.66667mm

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Calculate the standard deviation
" & (X !
The standard deviation: s = %&#" Σ'(" ' − X)

%
1
s=+ .(X' − 10.66667)! = 1.527525
3−1
'("

Therefore, the average flame height = 10.66667 ± 1.52752

LHR
Calculate the average of flame height
,#"/#"!
The average of flame height = = 10mm
%

Calculate the standard deviation

" & (X !
The standard deviation: s = %&#" Σ'(" ' − X)

%
1
s=+ .(X' − 10)! = 2
3−1
'("

Therefore, the average flame height = 10 ± 2

PTT
Calculate the average of flame height
.#"/#""
The average of flame height = %
= 10mm

Calculate the standard deviation

" & (X !
The standard deviation: s = %&#" Σ'(" ' − X)

%
1
s=+ .(X' − 10)! = 1
3−1
'("

Therefore, the average flame height = 10 ± 1

KEROSENE
Calculate the average of flame height
")#"+#"-
The average of flame height = %
= 16mm
Calculate the standard deviation
" & (X !
The standard deviation: s = %&#" Σ'(" ' − X)

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 %
1
s=+ .(X' − 16)! = 1
3−1
'("

Therefore, the average flame height = 16 ± 1

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