Overview
ISO 3014:1993 - Petroleum products: Determination of the smoke point of kerosine defines a laboratory test method to assess the smoke‑producing tendency of kerosine (kerosene) by measuring the maximum height of a smokeless flame in a controlled, wick‑fed lamp. The measured smoke point is an indicator of hydrocarbon type composition and relative smoke production in diffusion flames - important for lighting, heating and aviation turbine fuels.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Test principle: Burn the sample in an enclosed, wick‑fed smoke‑point lamp and determine the maximum smokeless flame height.
- Apparatus: A specified smoke‑point lamp with critical dimensional tolerances (candle, wick guide, gallery, air inlets, chimney) and a scale graduated in 1 mm intervals.
- Calibration: Use two traceable reference hydrocarbon blends (toluene/isooctane mixes) to calibrate the lamp. Recalibrate regularly - the standard requires recalibration at intervals not exceeding seven days or after equipment/operator changes or a barometric pressure change > 0.7 kPa.
- Reagents & materials: Specified solvents and blends (toluene, 2,2,4‑trimethylpentane, methanol, heptane) and reference fuel blends prepared by calibrated pipettes/burettes.
- Sample & wick preparation: Sample taken per ISO 3170/3171; ambient temperature (≈20 °C), sample volumes ~20 ml (min 10 ml). Wicks are extracted and dried (30 min at 100–110 °C) and prepared to specified dimensions.
- Measurement & calculation: Make three independent flame‑height observations (read to the nearest 0.5 mm), average and calculate smoke point using a correction factor f (Smoke Point = L × f). Report the result to the nearest 0.5 mm.
- Precision: Repeatability r = 2 mm; reproducibility R = 3 mm (statistically derived).
Applications and users
ISO 3014:1993 is used for:
- Quality control of kerosine/aviation fuels in refinery and fuel distribution laboratories
- Specification compliance and product acceptance testing
- Research into fuel combustion and soot formation
- Regulatory and certification testing for aviation and heating fuel standards
Typical users include petroleum laboratories, fuel producers, aircraft fuel quality teams, inspection bodies, and standards organizations.
Related standards
- ISO 3170, ISO 3171 - sampling of petroleum liquids
- ISO 5272 - toluene specifications referenced for reagents
- ISO 4259 - statistical procedures referenced for precision assessment
Safety note: The standard warns of hazardous materials and operations; users must apply appropriate safety and regulatory controls when performing the test.
Keywords: ISO 3014:1993, smoke point, kerosine, kerosene, petroleum products, wick‑fed lamp, smoke point determination, fuel testing, aviation fuel quality.
