Designation: D 1740 – 01
An American National Standard
Standard Test Method for
Luminometer Numbers of Aviation Turbine Fuels
1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 1740; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This test method has been adopted for use by government agencies to replace Method 2108 of Federal Test Method Standard No. 791b.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method
2
covers the measurement of the flame
radiation characteristics of aviation turbine fuels and other
similar distillate fuels expressed in terms of luminometer
numbers. There is good correlation between smoke point (Test
Method D 1322) and luminometer number which is presented
in Appendix X1.
2
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific
precautionary statements, see 7.1, 7.2, 8.1, 8.2 and Annex A1.1.
NOTE 1—It is the intent of Subcommittee J to ballot to withdraw this
test method when due for reapproval in 2006, because of very limited and
declining use to determine compliance with aviation turbine fuel specifi-
cations.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D 1322 Test Method for Smoke Point of Aviation Turbine
Fuels
3
D 1655 Specification for Aviation Turbine Fuels
3
D 2880 Specification for Gas Turbine Fuel Oils
3
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.1.1 luminometer number—a measure of flame tempera-
ture at a fixed flame radiation in the green-yellow band of the
visible spectrum.
3.1.1.1 Discussion—It can be correlated with combustion
characteristics of fuels for use in current commercial aviation
turbine engines.
4. Summary of Test Method
4.1 The luminometer number of a fuel is determined by
burning the fuel in the ASTM-CRC Luminometer lamp and
obtaining a curve of flame radiation, as measured by an optical
filter and photo cell unit against the temperature rise across the
burner measured by a thermocouple placed just above the
flame. This temperature rise is compared with that obtained on
a pair of reference fuels at a constant radiation level. To ensure
that the constant rating level is the same in all units, it is
defined as the smoke point of tetralin. Luminometer number is
calculated from the difference in temperature rise between the
test fuel and the temperature rise for tetralin divided by the
difference in temperature rise for isooctane and tetralin.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 This test method provides an indication of the relative
radiation emitted by the combustion products of gas turbine
fuels from a diffusion flame. The radiation level, expressed as
luminometer number, is related to the hydrocarbon type com-
position of such fuels. A high luminometer number indicates a
fuel of low radiation characteristics.
5.2 The luminometer number (and the smoke point with
which it can be correlated) is qualitatively related to the
potential radiant heat transfer from the combustion products of
the fuel. Because radiant heat transfer exerts a strong influence
on the metal temperature of combustor liners and other hot
section parts of gas turbines, the luminometer number provides
a basis for correlation of fuel characteristics with the life of
these components.
6. Apparatus
6.1 ASTM-CRC Luminometer,
4
shown schematically in
Fig. 1, consisting of three main parts:
6.1.1 A small wick-type lamp in which the sample is
burned,
6.1.2 An optical filter and photocell circuit which indicates
the intensity of flame radiation in the range from 4800 to 7000
A
˚
and
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on
Petroleum Products and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
D02.J0 on Aviation Fuels.
Current edition approved June 10, 2001. Published July 2001. Originally
published as D 1740 – 60 T. Last previous edition D 1740 – 96.
2
This test method was developed on the basis of cooperative work carried out by
the Coordinating Research Council and published in CRC Report “Evaluation of
CRC Luminometer” (CRC Project No. CA-16-58). June 1959.
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 05.01.
4
The ASTM-CRC Luminometer, made by ERDCO Engineering Corp., 721
Custer Ave., P. O. Box 1310, Evanston, IL 60204 has been used to develop the
precision of Test Method D 1740.
1
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(12 pages)
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