Overview

The purpose of all production laboratories is to ensure the proper quality of the final products in a
cost efficient manner. The main functions of the analytical service are to control the quality of
feedstock and final products, support the production process, perform environmental monitoring,
research and examinations for the purpose of smooth production, product quality improvement,
development of new production processes and products and improvement of the existing ones.
        Guwahati refinery follows the very best of methods to ensure that their products are of the
superlative degree by performing various types of tests on their products. Their major focus is to
perform a chemical examination of the petroleum products so as to gain insight about their
density, distillation, total sulfur amount, smoke point, kinematic viscosity, Abel flash point,
lubrication, total flash point, etc., which helps in having a clear view about their usefulness and
suitability.

1) DENSITY

 Method  Specified :: IS 1448 ( Part - 16) : 2014

PURPOSE
To check the density of different petroleum products
EQUIPMENTS
Hydrometer , Thermometer and Hydrometric Cylinder .
SIGNIFICANCE
1. Accurate determination of density, of petroleum and its products is necessary for the conversion
of measured volumes to volumes at standard temperature of 15 degree C
2 Density, is a factor governing the quality of crude petroleum . However, this property of a
petroleum product is an uncertain indication of its quality unless correlated with other properties.
  Density test is done for almost all petroleum products.

2) DISTILLATION TEST
Method Specified :: IS 1448 (Part-18)
 This method of test covers the distillation of motor gasolines, aviation gasolines, aviation turbine
fuels, special boiling point spirits, napthas, white spirit, kerosenes, gas oils, distillate fuel oils and
similar petroleum
OUTLINES OF THE METHOD
  A 100 ml sample is distilled under prescribed conditions which are appropriate to its nature .
Systematic observations of thermometer readings and volumes of condensate are made, and from
the standard data, the results of the test are calculated and reported.
 SIGNIFICANCE
Distillation ( volatility ) characteristics of petroleum products are indicative of performance in their
intended applications. Petroleum product specifications generally include distillation limits to
ensure products of suitable volatility performance.
 
3) Flash Point Test
Method  Specified :: IS 1448 (Part 20)
FLASH POINT
The lowest temperature of the sample, corrected to a barometric pressure of 1 1 .3 kPa, at which
application of a test fl ame causes the vapour of the sample to ignite under the specified
conditions of test.
APPARATUS
 The apparatus to be employed shall be the Abel petroleum testing apparatus or Abel apparatus
modified by having an oil cup provided with a stirrer .
OUTLINE OF THE METHODS
The sample, suitably cooled, is placed in the cup of the Abel apparatus and heated at a prescribed
rate. A small test flame is directed into the cup at regular intervals, and the flash point is taken as
the lowest temperature at which application of the test flame causes the vapour above the sample
to ignite with a distinct flash inside the cup.
    For the products such as HSD , SKO and ATF  Abel's Flash point test is done .