ASTM D6824-23 PDF

Overview

ASTM D6824-23: Standard Test Method for Determining Filterability of Aviation Turbine Fuel provides procedures to evaluate the filterability of aviation turbine fuels. Filterability measures a fuel’s ability to pass through a specific filter medium without plugging, which is essential for ensuring fuel cleanliness and operational reliability in both laboratory and field settings. This standard addresses the identification of changes in filtration performance due to fuel degradation, contamination, or commingling, which can directly affect aircraft engine safety and performance.

Maintaining aviation turbine fuel filterability is critical to avoid blockages, reduce maintenance risks, and support safe fuel handling from storage to consumption. ASTM D6824-23 applies to aviation turbine fuels covered by ASTM Specifications D1655 and D6615 and various military specifications, but it is not suitable for fuels containing visible undissolved water.

Key Topics

• Test Method Scope:
  • Designed for laboratory and field use to determine aviation turbine fuel filterability.
  • Not applicable where undissolved water is present in the fuel.
  • Results stated in SI units; values in parentheses are for informational purposes only.
• Significance and Use:
  • Highlights fuel cleanliness, with poor filterability often indicating contamination, degradation, or incompatibility.
  • Used to track filter performance changes after storage, fuel treatment, or commingling.
  • Relative filterability can depend on filter characteristics and may not always match real-world filtration outcomes.
• Causes of Poor Filterability:
  • Introduction of particulates during storage or transfer, fuel degradation, incompatibility when blending different fuels, or interactions between fuel and filter media.
  • These issues can result in system orifice or filter blockages.
• Testing Apparatus and Procedure:
  • Utilization of a micro-filter analyzer and disposable filter units.
  • Measurement of metrics such as filterability-quality factor (F-QF), final pressure, and final filtered volume.
  • Physical cleanliness is assessed by monitoring pressure drop as fuel is passed through a controlled porosity filter.
• Precision & Reporting:
  • Well-defined repeatability and reproducibility requirements facilitate reliable comparisons.
  • Mandatory reporting of sample source, storage conditions, F-QF values, and any signs of undissolved water.

Applications

• Quality Control for Jet Fuel Producers and Suppliers: Use ASTM D6824-23 to verify that turbine fuel meets regulatory and operational cleanliness standards before distribution.
• Routine Maintenance in Aviation Operations: Field and laboratory personnel monitor filterability as part of ongoing fuel quality assurance programs, ensuring engine protection.
• Fuel Specifiers and Compliance Auditing: Regulatory bodies and stakeholders reference ASTM D6824-23 in audits and certifications for aviation turbine fuel supplies.
• Detection of Contamination Events: The test method serves as an early warning for contamination introduced during transportation, bulk storage, or due to incompatibilities in blended fuels.

Related Standards

• ASTM D1655 - Specification for Aviation Turbine Fuels
• ASTM D6615 - Specification for Jet B Wide-Cut Aviation Turbine Fuel
• ASTM D4057 - Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products
• ASTM D4175 - Terminology Relating to Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants
• ASTM D4176 - Test Method for Free Water and Particulate Contamination in Distillate Fuels
• ASTM D4860 - Test Method for Free Water and Particulate Contamination in Middle Distillate Fuels
• ASTM D5452 - Test Method for Particulate Contamination in Aviation Fuels by Laboratory Filtration
• ASTM D6426 - Test Method for Determining Filterability of Middle Distillate Fuel Oils

Keywords: aviation turbine fuel, filterability test, jet fuel cleanliness, fuel contamination, fuel quality control, ASTM D6824-23, aviation fuel filtration standards, fuel specification compliance, jet engine reliability.