ASTM D6728-16

5.1.1 Pre-conditioning of the fuel before it reaches the gas turbine or diesel engine has become a prerequisite for installations that use heavy petroleum fuel, and also for sites that use light distillate fuel oils. On-site fuel analysis to determine the extent of contamination is an integral part of a fuel quality management program. It is used first to determine the extent of the required treatment, and later, the effectiveness of the treatment. It starts with the delivery of the fuel, continues throughout fuel handling and ends only as the fuel is injected into the turbine or engine.

5.1.2 Fuel contamination specifications vary among the different gas turbine manufacturers. However, without exception, each requires that contaminants must be as low as possible. In most power generation installations, it is the owner who has the responsibility of verifying fuel cleanliness in compliance with the turbine manufacturer's warranty specifications. This leads to an on-site analytical instrument performance requirement of below 1.0 mg/kg for several elements.

1.1.1 The test method is applicable to ASTM Grades 0-GT, 1-GT, 2-GT, 3-GT, and 4-GT gas turbine fuels and Grades Low Sulfur No. 1-D, Low Sulfur No. 2-D, No. 1-D, No. 2-D, and No. 4-D diesel fuel oils.

1.1.2 This test method provides a rapid at-site determination of contamination and corrosive elements ranging from fractions of mg/kg to hundreds of mg/kg in gas turbine and diesel engine fuels so the fuel quality and level of required treatment can be determined.

1.1.3 This test method uses oil-soluble metals for calibration and does not purport to quantitatively determine or detect insoluble particles.