ASTM D7170-11

The ID and DCN values determined by this test method can provide a measure of the ignition characteristics of diesel fuel oil in compression ignition engines.

This test can be used by engine manufacturers, petroleum refiners and marketers, and in commerce as a specification aid to relate or match fuels and engines.

The relationship of diesel fuel oil DCN determinations to the performance of full-scale, variable-speed, variable-load diesel engines is not completely understood.

This test may be applied to non-conventional fuels. It is recognized that the performance of non-conventional fuels in full-scale engines is not completely understood. The user is therefore cautioned to investigate the suitability of ignition characteristic measurements for predicting performance in full-scale engines for these types of fuels.

This test determines ignition characteristics and requires a sample of approximately 220 mL and a test time of approximately 20 min on a fit-for-use instrument.

1.1 This test method covers the quantitative determination of the ignition characteristics of conventional diesel fuel oils, diesel fuel oils containing cetane number improver additives, and is applicable to products typical of Specification D975, Grades No. 1-D and 2-D regular and low-sulfur diesel fuel oils, European standard EN 590, and Canadian standards CAN/CGSB-3.517-2000 and CAN/CGSB 3.6-2000. The test method may also be applied to the quantitative determination of the ignition characteristics of blends of fuel oils containing biodiesel material, and diesel fuel oil blending components.

1.2 This test method measures the ignition delay and utilizes a constant volume combustion chamber with direct fuel injection into heated, compressed air. An equation converts an ignition delay determination to a derived cetane number (DCN).

1.3 This test method covers the ignition delay range from a minimum value of 35.0 DCN (ignition delay of 4.89 ms) to a maximum value of 59.6 DCN (ignition delay of 2.87 ms). The average DCN result for each sample in the ILS ranged from 37.29 (average ignition delay of 4.5894 ms) to 56.517 (average ignition delay of 3.0281 ms).

1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

1.5 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 appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.