Breaking News from Standardization Committees (July 2014)
INTRODUCTION
It is crucial for instrument manufacturers that each marketed instrument is described in an official test method. This is the reason why AD Systems is very active in standardization organizations such as ASTM and EI (Energy Institute in charge of IP test methods). As of today, all AD Systems instruments are part of one or several international test methods.
Hereafter is the list of our products with their corresponding test methods:
DT100 DL — ASTM D7899
DR10 — ASTM D3241, IP 323, IP 597, ISO 6249
AutoREID — ASTM D323, D4953, IP 69, ISO 3007
SP10 — ASTM D1322, IP 598, ISO 3014
CT10 — ASTM D665, D7548, IP 135, ISO 7120, NACE TM0172-2001
Several of the above methods are part of product specifications and in particular, part of jet fuel specifications.
Two committees are mainly specifying worldwide jet fuel specifications, the American Society for Testing and Materials International (ASTM) and the British Ministry of Defence (Def Stan).
Two weeks ago, the ASTM D02 meeting took place in Indianapolis, IN. Several important decisions related to three AD Systems instruments were made.
DR10 – JFTOT TUBE DEPOSIT RATER
In May 2014, an ASTM D02 ballot was submitted to authorize new JFTOT tube rating techniques. The ballot received zero negative votes and the new D3241 was approved.
The DR10 JFTOT Tube Deposit Rater is now part of ASTM D3241, Annex 2. The ASTM D3241 method now includes three annexes:
• Annex 1 for the VTR (Visual Tube Rating)
• Annex 2 for the ITR technique (Interferometry Tube Rating) which is the technique used by the DR10. The DR10 is a unique instrument.
• Annex 3 for the ETR (Ellipsometry Tube Rating).
During the same meeting, Sub Committee D02.0J, which is in charge of jet fuel specifications (ASTM D1655 and D7566), proposed a ballot to modify the fail limits for the thermal stability testing. As it is today, only the visual rating is allowed to evaluate the oxidation deposit.
Note: Tube deposit ratings shall always be reported by the Visual Method.
The ballot proposes to modify the fail limit for the thermal stability test. It will be as follows:
In addition to the “3 color code and the no peacock or abnormal deposit”, an 85 nm maximum deposit thickness will be noted with a new note K. Note K will be as follow: “The ITR and the ETR techniques are the preferred techniques to evaluate the Jet Fuel Thermal Oxidation deposit.”
This phrasing implicitly means that the visual tube rating (VTR) becomes a secondary technique. This ballot will be submitted for approval in the next few weeks. When this ballot is approved, to certify a jet fuel, it will be almost mandatory to use either the DR10 or the ETR. This is a significant improvement in terms of safety because it will totally remove the subjectivity of the existing test.
More information on the DR10, including Video Demonstration.
SP10 – SMOKE POINT OF KEROSENES AND AVIATION TURBINE FUELS
Subcommittee D02.0J made additional changes related to smoke point measurement in terms of the test method and jet fuel specifications.
Regarding the test method, ASTM D1322, a ballot will be proposed to report the smoke point with a resolution of 0.1 mm. There will be no difference between the manual/visual procedure and the automated procedure, the SP10.
Currently in the manual/visual procedure, the operator has to calculate the mean value of the three readings. The new method will not allow any rounding and the operator will report the smoke point with 0.1 mm resolution. This decision was made because, according to ASTM practices, a result cannot be rounded twice. This was the case with the current method. The result was rounded to the nearest 0.5 mm before reporting and then, when it was compared to the 18 mm specification, it was rounded to the nearest 1 mm. For example, with three visual readings of 17.0, 17.5 and 17.5, the 17.3 mm mean value was rounded up to 17.5 mm and reported in D1655 as an 18 mm Smoke Point!
With the proposed ballot, this will no longer be permitted. Test Method D1322 will be updated. The Standard Specification for Aviation Turbine Fuels D1655 will also be modified and a ballot will be issued at the same time for the thermal stability. The smoke point limits of 18 and 25 mm will be changed to 18.0 mm and 25.0 mm limits respectively. Consequently a 17.9 mm smoke point will be a “fail” value. In addition to this modification, a note will be added mentioning that the automated procedure (SP10) will be the referee procedure.
For more detailed information, please refer to the presentation given by AD Systems – Didier Pigeon regarding the negative vote cast by the US Air Force.
The representatives of EI (Energy Institute) and MOD (Ministry of Defence – Def Stan) who attended the ASTM D02.0J meeting mentioned during the debates that they will make exactly the same changes for the jet fuel thermal stability testing and the smoke point testing. Additionally, like the ASTM D1655 and D7566 specifications, the Def Stan 91-91 will be updated and published in the coming months. Consequently, the two main jet fuel specifications used worldwide, will implicitly recommend the use of the DR10 and the SP10.
More information on the SP10, including Video Demonstration.
CT10 – DIGITAL CORROSION RATER
AD Systems provided an update on the progress of the field test of the CT10 Digital Corrosion Rater. This presentation was very well received. Sub Committee D02.14 decided that the CT10 could be used in parallel to the visual rating during the ASTM Official ILS (Inter-Laboratory Study) to establish the correlation between the NACE TM0172 and the D7548 test methods. The technicians who will visually rate the specimens will not have access to the CT10 ratings to avoid bias.
The Chairman of the D02.14 Committee and the entire audience seemed excited to see the CT10 ILS results and finally produce a method where subjectivity is completely removed and a Precision Statement is established. Many of the members proclaimed this technique would be the technique of the future for D7548 as well as D665 and NACE TM0172. The results of the ILS study should be detailed at the next ASTM D02 meeting in December in San Diego, CA – USA.