Significance and Use
5.1 This test method provides an indication of the relative smoke producing properties of kerosines 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.
5.2 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.
Scope
1.1 This test method covers two procedures for determination of the smoke point of kerosine and aviation turbine fuel, a manual procedure and an automated procedure, which give results with different precision.
1.2 An interlaboratory study was conducted in 2012 (see ASTM RR:D02-1747 for supporting data) involving 11 manual laboratories and 13 automated laboratories, with 15 samples tested in blind duplicate. The automated procedure demonstrated objective rating and superior control and should be considered the preferred approach.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
