Development of a Fuel Lubricity Haze Test (FLHT) for Naval Applications

摘要

Highly processed diesel fuels are now monitored for lubricity by specially developed mechanical tests. Because these mechanical tests are imprecise, difficult to run, expensive, and difficult to relate to actual field conditions, a chemical test for lubricity has been developed. This Fuel Lubricity Haze Test (FLHT) has been miniaturized, and can be run in the laboratory or field. It has been found to be an objective, precise test that is capable of determining the complete range of fuel lubricities. It can also detect small changes in lubricity, and is very responsive to fuel lubricity additives. The FLHT involves the addition of a small volume of aqueous base to a small volume of fuel, followed by mechanical shaking for a short time, and after a specific setting time the fuel haze is determined by a hand held turbidimeter. The FLHT has been related to current mechanical lubricity testers and by extension to components such as diesel fuel pumps and injectors. No interferences to the FLHT method were found, including fuel color, most fuel dyes, the presence of water and seawater, the addition of biofuel or synthetic fuels, or typical fuel additives.