ME2033: Thermodynamics of Heat and Work

Transfer Devices:
Semester: 4

Flash Point Apparatus

By

Index No. Name Marks

210168H Fernando W.A.A.L

Date of commencement 8/3/2024

Date of submission 8/3/2024

Instructors’ name and affiliation

Instructors' names Signature

Mr. Limal De Dias

Department of Mechanical Engineering

University of Moratuwa
Sri Lanka
Summary
The objective of the practical "Flash Point apparatus" experiment was to figure out the gaseous
fuel's flash point. The Flash point Apparatus is the tool that use for determining the lowest
temperature at where the liquid or semi-solid material can generate enough vapor to ignite
itself. This measurement is important for determining the substance's fire danger during
handling, storage, and transportation. To find the temperature at where the ignition occurs, the
device heats a small sample of the material in a sealed container and exposes it to an fire source.
This test is frequently used in the oil and gas industry to verify that safety rules are followed
and analyze the flammability of various substances. Likewise it help in evaluating how well
additives reduce flammability. As a summery, the flash point apparatus is an essential safety
tool for evaluating fire risks and ensuring safe material handling.

Table of Contents
Table of Contents 1

1 2

2 3

3 Error! Bookmark not defined.

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5 Error! Bookmark not defined.

Appendices ................................................................................................................................. 2

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1 Introduction
Heat transfer fluids serve a significant purpose in thermodynamic systems as they help keep
proper working temperatures. However, it is highly necessary to handle, store, and move these
fluids with special caution because of their potentially hazardous nature. This is especially
important when dealing with substances which has low flash points, fire points, or auto-ignition
temperatures. These features suggest the range of temperatures at which the fluid, if it becomes
flammable, could ignite fire or explosion. To ensure safety, when we use a heat transfer fluid,
it is essential to have a full knowledge of these qualities and the ability to exactly figure out
them. The flash point is the minimum temperature where the material produces enough fumes
to spark when it is exposed to an external source of fire. The flash point is measured by
heating a small amount of the material in an enclosed vessel and gradually increasing the
temperature until a flame shows visible above the liquid. The temperature at where the flame
becomes visible can be identified as the flash point. Knowing the flash point of a heat transfer
fluid allows for the evaluation of fire risks and introduction of necessary safety steps.

Flash Point Apparatus

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2 Theory
The flash point is the lowest temperature where a liquid can generate enough gas within a
container to form a mixture that can ignite with touch with fire or oxygen near the liquid's
surface. A lower flash point says that a liquid is more likely to catch fire. On the other side, the
fire point is the temperature where the material or fuel makes enough gases to support
continued burning, even without an ignition source. It shows the temperature where the fuel
will continue burning after ignited even if the fire source is removed.

Generally, the flash point, which is the lowest temperature where the material starts and burns
quickly when exposed to an ignition source, is greater than the fire point. The fire point is an
important safety measure to evaluate the possible fire danger associated with a material or fuel.
Furthermore, the auto-ignition temperature describes the lowest temperature where a fuel can
fire on its own in normal conditions, without an external ignition source like a flame or spark.
It shows the fuel's ability for ignition without depending on an external burning source.

If a material has a low auto-ignition point, it may quickly flames even without a spark or flame
when exposed to high temperatures or kept in environments where the temperature can rise
fast. This characteristic provides possible risks of fire that require careful assessment and
control. When comparing these temperatures, it is found that the fire point is greater than the
flash point. This is because the start and propagation of fire inside the fuel need additional heat
to break the secondary bonds between fuel particles, resulting in an additional fire point. In
whatever experiment is done, the flash point of the material is found using the ‘Pensky Martin
flash point tester’.

There are some other tests that can be carried out to determine the flash point of a fuel, such
as,

 Pensky-Martens Closed Cup Tester: This is a widely used method where a small
sample of the fuel is put in a closed cup apparatus. The sample is then gently heated,
and a small flame is passed over the surface from time to time. The flash point is the
lowest temperature at which the gas burns briefly.

 Cleveland Open Cup Tester: Similar to the Pensky-Martens method, but the container
is open, allowing gases to leave. The temperature is gradually raised, and a small
flame is passed over the surface until fire happens.

 Tag Open Cup Tester: Another open container method where the sample is put in an
open cup and heated. A small spark is passed over the surface to find the flash point.
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  Abel Closed Tester: This method is less widely used now but includes heating a
sample in a closed container and using a small flame to find the flash point.

 Computerized Pensky-Martens Closed Cup Tester: Modern computerized versions of

the Pensky-Martens tester provide exact control over the test settings and data
collection.

 In this experiment, the "Rapid Equilibrium Method" is performed. The flash point is
created by analyzing the temperatures recorded throughout both the heating and
cooling stages, giving a full study of this important metric.

In this practical the “ Rapid Equilibrium Method ” is used to determine the flash point, And the
flash point is discovered by looking at the temperatures recorded during both the heating and
cooling periods.

Let's define the flashing temperatures at both the heating and cooling processes as follows,

𝐹𝑙𝑎𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 = 𝑇𝐻

𝐹𝑙𝑎𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 = 𝑇𝐿

𝑇𝐻 + 𝑇𝐿
𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒, 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝒇𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒉 𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒇𝒍𝒖𝒊𝒅 =
2

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3 Material and Methods
Tools and Apparatus

 Pensky Marting Flash Point tester

 Thermocouple
 Sample of diesel
 Sample of Coconut oil
 Bunsen Burner
 Tripod with a net to dissipate the heat evenly

Procedure

 The apparatus had been well-cleaned, and the experimental setup had been
established.
 The diesel sample had been placed inside the gas point apparatus, and the Bunsen
burner had been positioned under the apparatus between the flame and the
apparatus, with the tripod and net to dissipate heat more evenly and achieve a
slow heating rate.
 At every 5-degree increment in temperature, the vapor had been brought into
contact with the fire source to check for ignition.
 The theoretical flash point had been obtained by referring to data sheets, and as
the temperature approached it, the checking process was carried out with each
Celsius degree increase.
 Once the flash point had been determined, the same process had been performed
while the sample had been cooling, stopping at the point where flashing had
ceased and recording it as the flash point at cooling.
 The flash point had been determined using the average of the recorded values.

The same procedure had then been conducted for the coconut oil sample.

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4 Observations

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5 Analysis & Results
For Diesel,

𝑇𝐻 = 125 0C
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 𝑇𝐿 = 115 0C

125+115 0
𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑙𝑎𝑠ℎ 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡 = C
2

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒉 𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕 = 𝟏𝟐𝟎 0C

For Coconut oil,

𝑇𝐻 = 230 0C

𝑇𝐿 = 225 0C

130+125 0
𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑙𝑎𝑠ℎ 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡 = C
2

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒉 𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕 = 𝟐𝟐𝟕. 𝟓 0C

6 Discussion and Conclusions

Define flash point and fire point. By how many degrees would you expect those two
temperatures to differ in the case of typical lubrication oil?

The Flash Point

The flash point is the lowest temperature where a material may produce enough vapour to ignite
when exposed to an ignition source, such as an open flame or spark. This property is critical in
determining flammability and fire hazards associated with liquids and volatile substances.
Having a comprehension of the flash point aids in determining suitable safety protocols for the
manipulation, storage, and transportation of these compounds, hence reducing the chance of
fires and assuring comprehensive safety.

The Fire Point

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The Fire Point refers to the temperature where a substance produces enough vapour to allow
for flame when exposed to an open flame or ignition source.

On the other hand, the fire point defines the temperature at which a material may have fire and
continue burning alone throughout an extended duration. Unlike the flash point, which implies
quick ignition, the fire point represents the temperature at which a fire may self-sustain without
depending on an external igniting source. Typically greater than the flash point, the fire point
gives useful insights into the fire dangers and concerns associated to a chemical. Having a
complete understanding of the fire point aids in designing adequate safety practices to prevent
and control fires, particularly in industrial settings and when working with combustible
materials. In common lubricating oils, the difference between the flash point and fire point
temperatures is usually minor. Typically, lubricating oils have a fire point that is just a few
degrees higher than the flash point. This implies that after the oil reaches its flash point and
ignites, it may maintain combustion and keep the flame burning at a slightly higher
temperature.

It is crucial to note that the particular flash point and fire point temperatures may vary
depending on the composition and additives contained in a lubricating oil. For detailed
information on the flash point and fire point values of a particular lubricating oil, refer to the
product's safety data sheet or contact the manufacturer.

Describe why Flash point and fire point temperatures are important

The Flashpoint and the Fire point are important parameters to understand about the
flammability and the combustibility of a substance, volatile materials, and particularly liquids
such as fuels, solvents, heat transfer fluids, and some other chemicals. Because of those
reasons,

1. Safety: Flashpoint and fire point temperatures are provide crucial information
regarding the ability for fire hazards associated with a substance. Understanding these
temperatures helps in taking suitable safety measures to prevent accidents.

2. Risk Assessment: When handling, transporting, or storing flammable substances,

these temperatures help to determine the probability of fire or explosion.
Organizations can evaluate such hazards and take appropriate actions to reduce them
by being understand of the flash and fire points.

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 3. Regulatory Compliance: Measuring and reporting the flash and fire points of
different substances, especially the ones that are used in transportation or industrial
operations, is required by several standards and regulations. Understanding these rules
helps to avoid legal issues and guarantees adherence to safety requirements.
4. Storage and Handling: Knowledge of flash point and fireplace factor temperatures
publications selections related to the garage and managing of flammable materials. It helps
determine appropriate storage situations consisting of temperature manage, air flow, and
segregation from different incompatible materials to limit the chance of hearth incidents.

5. Emergency Response: In the event of a hearth or spill, emergency responders depend

upon facts approximately the homes of the concerned substances to mount an powerful
reaction. Understanding the flash factor and hearth factor assists responders in selecting
suitable firefighting strategies and system, in addition to in organising evacuation
approaches.

6. Process Safety: Industries worried in production, refining, or coping with flammable

substances use flash point and fireplace point facts in designing and running processes
competently. This statistics aids in designing device with proper safeguards and imposing
techniques to save you ignition resources and control fire dangers.

7. Product Development: For industries developing new products or formulations,

information of flash factor and hearth factor is vital for ensuring product protection and
regulatory compliance. It helps in formulating substances with decrease flammability
dangers and in accomplishing protection exams at some stage in product improvement
ranges.

Describe the importance of flash point for engine lubrication oil

The flash point of a material is the lowest temperature at which it can create enough vapor to
form an ignitable vapor/air mixture. So when we select a substance as engine oil we have to
consider its flash point because if it is lower than the maximum temperature that the engine
could get, It will also ensure that the fire does not happened inside the engine if the flash point
is lower than the maximum temperature that engine could gain, then there is a problem. The
generated vapor will ignite and it will make some other materials such as H2O and CO2. This
will repeatedly happen and after some time there not be enough lubricant remaining, which

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could lead to an increase in the wearing of the engine as well since it deposits some H2O and
carbon those will be reasons to decrease the durability of the engine and kill so many parts.

Suitability of Coconut Oil as an Engine Lubricant:

Coconut oil has a relatively high flash point compared to

traditional petroleum-based lubricants. However, its
suitability as an engine lubricant depends on various factors
such as viscosity, thermal stability, and compatibility with
engine components. The voscocity of the coconut oil is
cirically decreased with the temperature as shown as follows,

But, coconut oil may offer some advantages such as

biodegradability and renewability, So extensive testing and evaluation are necessary to
determine its effectiveness and compatibility in different engine systems. So it may can be
suitable for some engine and as well as not suitable for some other engines.

Suggest methods to minimize the errors of the experiment

 Ensure proper calibration of equipment such as the Pensky Martin Flash Point Tester
to improve measurement accuracy.
 Follow standardized testing procedures and safety guidelines meticulously to
minimize procedural errors.
 Conduct experiments under controlled environmental conditions to reduce external
influences on test results.
 Repeat experiments multiple times and average the results to mitigate random errors
and improve data reliability.

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7 Conclusion
To sum up, determining the temperatures at which a liquid may flash and fire is important for
determining whether or not a liquid is safe to use in engineering applications. We can
optimize operations, reduce the danger of fire accidents, and maintain compliance with
regulations by understanding these temperatures. Furthermore, extensive testing and
assessment are emphasized in the conversation on coconut oil as an engine lubricant. All
things taken into account, the practical offers insightful information on the real-world
applications of fire and flash point temperatures in engineering procedures.

8 References

[1] Fire point (no date) Fire Point - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. Available at:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/fire-point
(Accessed: 06 March 2024).

[2] Holman, J.P. (2010) Heat transfer. Boston Mass.: McGraw Hill Higher Education.

[3] MORAN, MICHAEL, J. (2020) Fundamentals of Engineering Thermodynamics. S.l.:

WILEY.

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