Significance and Use
5.1 The ICN value determined by this test method provides a measure of the ignition characteristics of diesel fuel oil used in compression ignition engines.
5.2 This test can be used by engine manufacturers, petroleum refiners, fuel producers and in commerce as a specification aid to relate or match fuels and engines.
5.3 The relationship of diesel fuel ICN determinations to the full scale, variable speed, variable load diesel engine is not completely understood.
5.4 This test can be applied to non-conventional diesel fuels.
5.5 This test determines ICN; it requires a sample of approximately 40 mL and a test time of approximately 25 min.
5.6 This test method is based on the Energy Institute Test Method IP 617.
Scope
1.1 This test method covers the quantitative determination of the indicated cetane number (ICN) of conventional diesel fuel oils, and diesel fuel oils containing cetane number improver additives; it is applicable to products typical of Specification D975, Grades No.1-D and 2-D diesel fuel oils, European standard EN 590, and Canadian standards CAN/CGSB-3.517 and CAN/CGSB-3.520. The test method is also applicable to biodiesel, blends of diesel fuel oils containing biodiesel material (for example, materials as specified in Specifications D975, D6751, D7467 and European standards EN 14214, EN 16734, and EN 16709), diesel fuels from non-petroleum origin, hydrocarbon oils, diesel fuel oil blending components, aviation turbine fuels, and polyoxymethylene dimethyl ether (OME).
1.2 This test method utilizes a constant volume combustion chamber (CVCC) with direct fuel injection into heated compressed air. The apparatus is calibrated using blends of reference fuels. ICN is determined directly from ignition delay using an instrument specific reference fuel calibration curve.
1.3 This test method and its precision cover the calibrated range of 35 ICN to 85 ICN, inclusive. The analyzer can measure ICN outside the calibrated range, but the precision has not been determined.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Some specific hazards statements are given in Section 7 on Hazards.
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
