ISO 3014:1993

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.