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We recently received a batch of jet fuel, which test within the refinery indicated was within specification (40 ° Celsius). However,when sent through a pipeline of 45 kilometres to the company's warehouse, and after being allowed an appropriate period of stability, we took homogeneous samples of the tank and found the flash point was was 37.8 Celsius. How has this change occurred?
 
Answers
14/10/2017 A: RAUL FLORES, PDVSA INTEVEP, fraulf@hotmail.com
Minimum for a Jet A-1 is 38.0 ºC. Due to the high sensibility of this type of fuel, dedicate pipeline is mandatory. Contamination with volatile fuel is suspected: please recheck a complete Volatility and Fluidity set analysis. Specific Energy and Lubricity properties could be also affected.
14/10/2017 A: RAUL FLORES, PDVSA INTEVEP, fraulf@hotmail.com
Minimum for a Jet A-1 is 38.0 ºC. Due to the high sensibility of this type of fuel, dedicate pipeline is mandatory. Contamination with volatile fuel is suspected: please check a complete Volatility and Fluidity analysis
15/08/2017 A: Ganesh Maturu, Self, maturu.ganesh@gmail.com
There are 2-3 possible reasons for different flash points in unit ISBL and near warehouse
1. We always don't see same product quality i.e flash point of 40 deg C. It takes some time to reach the jet fuel which has shown 40 deg C flash point material inside unit ISBL to warehouse and we may not expect same result as it is actually little different flash point at that time.
2. Laboratory methods inside unit ISBL and warehouse may be different
3. Typically, we don't collect samples in bomb and exposure of atmosphere moisture in jet fuel sample collected in flask will give some deviation in results.
27/07/2017 A: Sridhar Balakrishnan, Bharat Oman Refineries Limited , laksrid@yahoo.com
It may be mixed or contaminated with lighter distillates. Also check the Initial Boiling Point of jet fuel. If it has changed it would also indicate inference for support. Depends upon type of product pipeline. If it is multi-product pipeline chance of contamination could be higher, if it is a dedicated product pipeline sampling procedure needs to be checked.
26/07/2017 A: Dave Collings, Jacobs, dave.collings@jacobs.com
A few comments:
1. It's not unusual for independent tests on the same mixture to yield different results.
2. If the tank or batch is large enough, it's certainly possible for different parts of the tank or batch to have a different flash point, regardless of efforts to obtain a representative sample.
2.2 degC does seem unusually large, but if I were you I would not be surprised. Consider asking for additional samples by different lab personnel as a double-check until you can establish what variation is normal.
25/07/2017 A: Eric Hennings, Technip Stone & Webster, EHennings@technip.com
I agree that there may be cross-contamination if the pipeline carries more volatile products. Some pipelines use a small amount of "interface" material which is compatible with both products (flash, octane, etc.). Others divert the interface to separate storage.
25/07/2017 A: Eric Vetters, ProCorr Consulting Services, ewvetters@yahoo.com
If the pipeline can carry multiple products then, it sounds like there might have been some co-mingling with gasoline and/or some of the interface made it into the jet fuel tank. If it is a dedicated pipeline, then it sounds like one of the flash point measurements was off.