Determination of Flash

UNIT 6 DETERMINATION OF FLASH AND and Fire Point of a

Lubricating Oil by Open
FIRE POINT OF A LUBRICATING OIL Cup and Closed Cup
Methods
BY OPEN CUP AND CLOSED CUP
METHODS
Structure
6.1 Introduction
Objectives

6.2 Experiment No. 15 : Determination of Flash Point of a Lubricating Oil

Using Cleveland’s Open Cup Apparatus
6.2.1 Principle
6.2.2 Requirements
6.2.3 Procedure
6.2.4 Observations
6.2.5 Calculations
6.2.6 Result

6.3 Experiment No. 16 : Determination of Flash and Fire Points in Lubricating

Oil Using Pensky-Marten’s Closed Cup Apparatus
6.3.1 Principle
6.3.2 Requirements
6.3.3 Procedure
6.3.4 Observations
6.3.5 Calculations
6.3.6 Result

6.1 INTRODUCTION
A good lubricating oil reduces the loss of energy in the form of heat and it increases the
efficiency of a machine. It should also not volatilize under the working temperatures.
Even if the volatilisation takes place to some extent, the vapours formed should not form
inflammable mixtures with air under the conditions of lubrication. Therefore, the flash
and fire point of a lubricating oil have a great importance.
The flash point is defined as the minimum temperature at which the oil gives off
sufficient vapour that ignite for a moment, when a flame is brought near it. While the fire
point is the lowest temperature at which the vapours of the oil burn continuously for at
least five seconds, when a flame is brought near it.
Since a good lubricating oil should not volatilise under working conditions, so it should
have flash point above the operating temperature in most cases. Similarly, in most cases,
the fire points are 5 to 40o F higher than the flash points. But these fire and flash points
do not have any bearing with the lubricating property of the oil.
Objectives
After performing flash and fire point analysis, you should be able to
• define the flash and fire points,
• explain the importance of flash and fire points,
• discuss why flash point should be above the operating temperature,
• determine the flash point and fire points by closed and open cup methods,

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Chemistry Lab Manual • appreciate that flash and fire point is helpful in providing safeguards against
fire hazards during their storage, transportation, handling and use, and
• detect solvent contamination from the use of flash and fire points.

6.2 EXPERIMENT NO. 15 : DETERMINATION OF FLASH

POINT OF A LUBRICATING OIL USING CLEVELAND’S
OPEN CUP APPARATUS
6.2.1 Principle
The flash and fire points of a lubricating oil may be determined by either open cup or
closed cup apparatus. First, we will discuss about the open cup apparatus, in which the
oil is heated with its upper surface exposed to the atmosphere. Cleveland’s open cup
apparatus (Figure 6.1) is generally used for determination of flash point of fuel oils and
other oils having flash point below 175oF.

Figure 6.1 : Cleveland’s Flash Point Apparatus

6.2.2 Requirements
Apparatus Quantity Chemicals
Cleveland’s flash point 1 Testing oil
apparatus
Thermometer 1
Thermometer stand 1
Standard test flame device 1

6.2.3 Procedure
The experimental procedure involves the following steps :
(i) The oil cup has a marking inside to indicate the level up to which the cup is
filled. The oil cup is filled with the testing oil upto the mark under room
temperature.
(ii) Insert a thermometer inside the oil cup in such a way that the bottom of the
thermometer bulb is about 1 to 2 cm above the bottom of the cup. The
thermometer is clamped with thermometer stand.
(iii) Heat the apparatus electically slowly at the rate of 3 to 5oC rise in
50 temperature per minute.
 (iv) Watch the thermometer very carefully and in every 1oC rise in temperature, Determination of Flash
and Fire Point of a
the standard test flame is brought near the surface of the oil.
Lubricating Oil by Open
(v) Observe that whether a flash appears at any point on the surface of the oil. Cup and Closed Cup
Methods
(vi) Note the minimum temperature at which a distinct flash appears on the
surface of the oil in the cup as the flash point of the oil under test. Reapeat
this experiment to get a constant value (Table 6.1).
6.2.4 Observations
Table 6.1 : Flash Point of Lubricating Oil
Sl. No. Flash Point (in toC)
1
2
3

6.2.5 Calculations
The mean value of the above three experiments should be taken as :
1+ 2 + 3
= . . . . . . t oC
3
6.2.6 Result
The flash point of given oil sample = . . . . . . . oC.
SAQ 1
Define the flash and fire points.

6.3 EXPERIMENT NO. 16 : DETERMINATION OF FLASH

AND FIRE POINTS IN LUBRICATING OIL USING
PENSKY-MARTEN’S CLOSED-CUP APPARATUS
6.3.1 Principle
In this experiment, you will use Pensky-Marten’s apparatus as shown in Figure 6.2.

Piolet Burner
Test
Flame
Burner Shutter
Control
Openings
Oil Level
Pointer

Stirrer
Air Bath

Oil Cup

Figure 6.2 : Pensky-Marten’s Apparatus

This is the most commonly used apparatus for determination of flash and fire points of
oils having flash points between 50oC to 370oC. The closed cup apparatus gives more
reproducible results. The flash point obtained with closed cup apparatus in generally
about 10o to 30oF lower than that obtained with an open cup apparatus.
6.3.2 Requirements
Apparatus Quantity Chemicals
Pensky-Marten’s apparatus 1 Testing oil
Bunsen burner 1
Thermometer 1
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Chemistry Lab Manual
6.3.3 Procedure
The experimental procedure involves the following steps :
(i) Fill the oil cup with the oil to be tested upto the mark.
(ii) Fix the cover on the top. The cover itself comprises the stirring device, the
thermometer and the flame exposure device.
(iii) The test flame is lighted and adjust to about 4 mm in diameter.
(iv) Heat the apparatus by Bunsen burner slowly at the rate of 5o to 6oC per
minute while the stirrer is rotated approximately 60 revolutions per minute.
(v) At every 1oC rise in temperature, introduce the test flame for about
2 seconds into the oil vapour. This is done by operating the shutter. By
twisting the knob, the test flame is lowered and the shutter opens. The
moment knob is released, the test flame springs back to its original position
and the shutter is closed.
(vi) The flash point is noted down when the test flame causes a flash in the
interior of the cup (Table 6.1). Repeat it three times to get a constant value
or take a mean value.
(vii) Further heat the test oil at the rate of 1oC rise in temperature per minute and
continue applying the test flame as in point (v) above.
(viii) The temperature at which the vapours of the oil give a clear and distinct blue
flash for five seconds is recorded as the fire point of the oil,
(Table 6.2). Repeat it to get a constant value or take a mean value.
6.3.4 Observations
Table 6.1 : Flash Point of a Lubricating Oil

Sl. No. Flash Point in oC

Table 6.2 : Fire Point of a Lubricating Oil

Sl. No. Fire Point in oC

6.3.5 Calculations
The mean value of flash point is
1+ 2 + 3
= . . . . . . oC
3
The mean value of fire point is
1+ 2 + 3
= . . . . . . oC
3
6.3.6 Result
The flash point of given lubricating oil is = . . . . . . oC.
The fire point of given lubricating oil is = . . . . . . . oC.
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 Determination of Flash
CHEMISTRY LAB MANUAL and Fire Point of a
Lubricating Oil by Open
Cup and Closed Cup
Learning by doing is always enjoyable and longer lasting. With this focus in mind, this Methods
component of the chemistry lab has been designed.
There are in total 16 experiments which have been arranged in 6 units. Unit 1 contains
three experiments related to inorganic and organic analyses.
Unit 2 is devoted to the preparation of acetylene gas and testing its acidic nature.
Unit 3 contains four experiments which involve the determination of parameters related
to water quality of water and waste water. These include total hardness, permanent and
temporary hardness, BOD and chloride content.
Unit 4 describes three experiments related to the determination of dosage of bleaching
powder required for disinfection of water, desalination of water and determination of pH.
The study of these parameters help in the treatment of raw water which can be used for
drinking.
In Unit 5, there are three experiments related to the determination of viscosity, density
and carbon residue of a lubricating oil. These types of determination help in selecting a
proper lubricant for a specific purpose. There are two more experiments related to the
efficiency of a particular lubricating oil which involve the determination of flash and fire
points. These experiments form part of Unit 6.
The details of all these experiments have been included in this manual. Go through these
before actually performing the experiments.
We hope that you enjoy the working in the laboratory.

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