Work Item
ASTM WK88021
Revision of D7566-22a Standard Specification for Aviation Turbine Fuel Containing Synthesized Hydrocarbons
Rationale
A ballot is being proposed to add a footnote to Table 1, and the respective tables 1 in each of the annexes regarding the use of jet fuel thermal oxidation stability testing instrument model 230 Mk IV equipped with inline non-consumable fuel filter located internally upstream of the 0.45 µm pre-filter that has not been deemed equivalent by ASTM Committee D02.
ASTM Test Method D3241 Paragraph 6.3 states “Because jet fuel thermal oxidation stability is defined only in terms of this test method, which depends upon, and is inseparable from, the specific equipment used, the test method shall be conducted with the equipment used to develop the test method or equivalent equipment.” Instruments used to develop the test method or that Committee D02 have determined are equivalent to the equipment used to develop the method are listed in D3241 Table 1. A manufacturer wishing to list an instrument in D3241 Table 1 submits a research report for Committee evaluation of equivalence.
In 2013, instrument manufacturer Petroleum Analyzers Company (PAC) successfully balloted RR:D02-1757 demonstrating equivalence of their new instrument model 230 Mk IV with instrument model 230 Mk III. The 230 Mk IV instruments used to generate this research report establishing equivalence did not contain an inline non-consumable fuel filter located internally upstream of the 0.45 µm pre-filter. In December 2013, after publication of RR:D02-1757, PAC modified the design of model 230 Mk IV to add an inline non-consumable filter located internally upstream of the 0.45 µm pre-filter in the path of the fuel flow. Data supporting the equivalence of the new design model 230 Mk IV have not been balloted and accepted by ASTM Committee D02; a requirement to be listed on Table 1 of D3241.
There are no external markings or indicators that a specific model 230 Mk IV does or does not contain an inline non-consumable fuel filter. The instrument manufacturer, PAC, reports issuing a bulletin to all known users indicating the instruments that are not in compliance with D3241; however, there are known to be instruments sold through distributors and resellers in the marketplace, internal transfers from one laboratory to another, as well as facilities that have instruments retrofitted to insert the inline non-consumable fuel filter. At the June 2023 D02.J0.J03 meeting in Denver, Colorado, PAC indicated that approximately 18% of the 230 Mk IV instruments non-compliant with D3241 had been retrofitted to conform; however, the remaining 72% had not been retrofitted and/or could not be located.
The purpose of this ballot is to include a footnote on Table 1 alerting users of D7566 to the nonconformance and thus ineligibility to certify aviation turbine fuel to D7566 using that equipment.
Work Item Status
Date Initiated: 09-29-2023
Technical Contact: Gurhan Andac