338 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION B. 



3.— THE FLASH POINT OF KEROSINE. 



By W. A. HARGREAVES and W. T. ROWE. 



In examining kerosine one of the principal tests is to ascertain the 

 temperature at which it gives off inflammable vapor. There are several 

 methods in use which indicate this temperature, but the method officially 

 adopted in most countries is to heat the oil in a closed vessel and apply 

 a light to the imprisoned vapor on top of the oil. 



An instrument devised by Sir Frederick Abel is described in the 

 British Petroleum Act, 1879, and a method of using it is prescribed. 

 This is, therefore, the legal method of testing kerosine in Great Britain. 

 This test was adopted in Australia, and was in force up to November, 

 1904, when a proclamation was issued by the Governor- General pre- 

 scribing the " Abel-Pensky " test, which is a modification of the British 

 one. A detailed specification of this test is set out in the schedule to 

 this proclamation. The important point of difference between this 

 and the British test consists in the fact that whereas, in the British test, 

 the ordinary hand slide is used, in the Australian test a clockwork 

 arrangement (known as the Pensky apparatus) replaces the slide, but 

 it is to be adjusted " so as to give the same results as the Abel standard." 



The directions for preparing and using the test apparatus prescribed 

 are carefully set out in both instances, but they apply only to kerosine 

 flashing at or about 73° F. For oils of a higher flash-point no in- 

 structions are given in the Australian proclamation ; but in the British 

 test it is provided that if it is desired to employ the test apparatus the 

 procedure is to be modified as follows : — 



The air chamber which surrounds the cup is filled with cold water 

 to a depth of IJin., and the heating vessel or water bath is filled as 

 usual, but also with cold water. The lamp is then placed under the 

 apparatus, and kept there during the entire operation. If a very 

 heavy oil is being dealt with, the operation may be commenced with 

 water previously heated to 120°, instead of with cold water. 



Where only one test is to be made, this method is simple enough ; 

 but when a number of tests are to be made at one time it is clumsy, 

 and, in order to devise a method which will facilitate the labor and 

 shorten the time without vitiating the results, experiments were made, 

 which are detailed in tables A, B, C, D, E, and F. 



All these tests were made with American kerosine, known as 

 " White Rose " oil, which is the ordinary kerosine used in household 

 lamps. 



In table A the British directions are followed, except that the 

 Pensky slide is used, the White Rose oil being regarded as an oil of low 

 volatility ; while in table B a similar set of tests are shown, with the 

 difference that no water is placed in the air chamber. It will be seen 

 that the flash-points obtained range from 105° to 109°, with the average 

 106°4 in table A, and from 104° to 108° with average 105°- 6 in table B, 

 so that so far as this oil is concerned practically no difference results 



