ASTM-compliant thermal stability analysis of jet fuels

Conventionally, the quantity of deposit has been used to assess the thermal stability characteristics of jet fuels according to ASTM D3241, which was rated visually using a reference colour scale. This method, which relies on all humans having an identical colour perspective, is prone to errors, so more objective instrumental methods of deposit quantification were developed and manufactured.

The DR10 automated tube rater from AD Systems was the first commercial instrument to measure the thermal stability of jet fuels to be launched to the market since 2011. With proven performance the DR10 became part of ASTM D3241 ( Annex 2) and IP323 (Annex C) as the ITR technique (Interferometry Tube Rating). Since 2014 metrological methods were declared the referee technique by jet fuel specification bodies (ASTM D1655,  D7566, DEF STAN 91-91, JIG (AFQRJOS).

The DR10 – ITR is a compact, stand-alone device that can be installed in any location in a matter of a few minutes. Simple operational procedures enable use without any training, and the analyser’s rugged construction does not require adjustments or maintenance.  The device uses a powerful light source, a spectrometer with fibre optic probe and specifically designed application software. The heater tube scan is completed in under five minutes by displaying 3D mapping of the deposit thicknesses in nanometers around the surface of the tube, reporting maximum and average values, and calculating the total volume of the deposit.

The robust and user-friendly DR10 is ideal for operation in testing labs, research, refining, pipelines, terminals, and mobile laboratories—anywhere aviation fuel’s thermal oxidation stability needs to be analysed.