Flash and Fire Points of Liquid

Fuels
 objective
• To determine the flash point of an oil/fuel
product using open cup method (cleveland
open cup apparatus)
• Flash point- flash point of an fuel is the lowest
temperature at which the fuel gives sufficient
amount vapour and gives a momentary flash
when a test flame brought near it.
• Fire point- fire point is the lowest temperature
at which the oil gives sufficient amount of
vapour and burns continously when a test
flame brought near it.
• Cleveland Flash and Fire Point Testing
• The test method describes the determination of the flash
point and fire point of petroleum products by a manual
Cleveland open cup apparatus or an automated apparatus
to assess the potential hazards of liquid spillage. It is
applicable to all petroleum products with flash points
above 79°C and below 400°C except fuel oils.
• Typical products still tested by Cleveland open cup flash
point methods include Asphalts, bitumens and some
lubricants. The Cleveland Open Cup test method is still
widely used due to a continuing requirement for the fire
point by many regulatory organizations and for historical
reasons.
Example of Cleveland open cup tester
 How the apparatus work
• Procedure
• -thermometer should be pendent or held in
vertical position by any suitable device. The
buttom of bulb should be ¼ in from the bottom
of the cup. The cup should be filled with the
material to be tested in such a manner that the
top of miniscus is exactly at the filling line at
room temperature. The should be no oil above
the filling lineor outside the apparatus.
• The test flames should be approximately 5/32
in diameter. the flame should pass through
the center of cup and time passing should be
1 sec. . When oil reaches a temperature 50f
probable flash point in heating should be
decreased. The flash point should be taken as
the temperature read on the thermometer
when flash occur at any point on the surface
• Of the oil. After determining the flash point
the heating should be continued at low rates.
The application of test flames should beat
specified intervals . Until the oil burn and
continue up to 5 secs. .
 Calculations or result of the
expirements at room Temp. 29 degree
celcius

Test sample Flash point, Celsius Fire point , Celsius

Kerosene 62 64
Diesel 66 68
Conclusion