Fuels Technology - Hands On Course

Early Bird Special

ASTM automatically applies a discount of 10% when participants register 90 days before the start of the class.
*After the early bird period expires, registrations are subject to standard pricing.

About the Course

This extensive 4-day hands-on training class provides broad coverage of the specifications, testing and technology related to gasoline (days 1 and 2) and diesel fuel oil (days 3 and 4). You'll learn about the different types and components of gasoline, ways to enhance octane, the various types of volatility, the purpose of sampling, and the stages of drivability. The course covers specifications related to gasoline, discusses gasoline additives, oxygenates, the refining process, the quality and distribution of fuels. On days 3 and 4, the training relates the test methods to specifications (ASTM D975), quality issues, distribution and diesel engine technology.

The class is taught in a participatory atmosphere, comprised of a Lecture section and a hands-on Laboratory Practical section where participants perform the prescribed test methods using the required instrumentation.

This training course will be most valuable to (new) technicians performing gasoline and/or diesel fuel tests, scientists and engineers whose job responsibilities include supervising, training or testing and usage of gasoline and/or diesel fuel. The instructors’ vast experience in this area will allow them to focus on key issues related to interpretation of test method results, fuel specifications, performance, additives, and fuel storage and distribution. Their deep involvement with ASTM and experience with global fuel issues enrich the course content.

With recent trends towards environmentally friendly ultra-clean fuels, fuel specification testing procedures have attained a reasonable level of sophistication. The significance of such testing will be fully covered in this course.

In addition to the digital course workbook, you will also receive a copy of ASTM's manual on Significance of Tests for Petroleum Products, as well as copies of various ASTM standards.

Learning Outcomes

Who Should Attend

Course Description

Laboratory Practical Description

Each day following the morning lecture section, participants will perform a selection of test methods discussed during the day using the required instrumentation. This hands-on approach will reinforce the topics and subject matter discussed during the lecture session to enhance learning and retaining knowledge.

Day One

• Gasoline Composition, Chemistry, Production, Blending, and Specs
• Octane Measurements and Enhancers
• Octane Requirement Increase Altitude and Climatic Adjustments
• Instrumental test methods for octane
• Vapor Pressure and Vapor Liquid Ratio
• Distillation
• ASTM Volatility Classes
• Impact of Volatility Regulations
• Instrumental test methods for volatility
• Cold and Hot Starting and Drivability
• Drivability Indices

Day Two

• D4814 Table 2 Requirements for all Spark-Ignition Fuels
• Additives and Their Chemistry
• Engine Deposit Control Additives
• Oxygenates
• Chemistry of Alcohols and Ethers
• Instrumental test methods for ethanol, aromatics, sulfur, olefins, etc.
• Effects of Ethanol and Other Oxygenates on Volatility and Emissions
• Phase Separation and Water Sensitivity
• Oxidation Stability and Testing
• Gum formation and Testing
• Copper, Silver and Iron Corrosion and testing
• Maintenance of Quality
• Gasoline Distribution

Days Three and Four

• ASTM D975, the diesel fuel specification used in the USA
• Differences among No 1 and No 2 Diesel
• Hydrocarbon chemistry, refinery processes, and fuel blending
• Biodiesel and Renewable Diesel
• Diesel engine, combustion principles, cetane number
• Detailed properties and the relevant test methods
• Types of properties and test methods
• Importance of proper sampling to good test results
• Manual test methods versus automated test methods
• Properties not controlled by specifications
• Relationships between various properties such as sulfur & lubricity / conductivity, gasoline contamination and flash point / viscosity; paraffin (wax) content and low temperature operability
• Additives used in diesel fuel and their impact on properties
• Fuel Cleanliness, filtration and microbial contamination

ASTM Standards Referenced

ASTM Standards Referenced

Test Methods

• D86 Distillation of Petroleum Products
• D93 Flash Point by Pensky-Martens Closed Cup Tester
• D130 Detection of Copper Corrosion from Petroleum Products by Copper Strip Test
• D323 Vapor Pressure of Petroleum Products (Reid Method)
• D381 Existent Gum in Fuels by Jet Evaporation
• D445 Kinematic Viscosity of Transparent and Opaque Liquids (and Calculation of Dynamic Viscosity)
• D524 Ramsbottom Carbon Residue of Petroleum Products
• D525 Oxidation Stability of Gasoline
• D1319 Hydrocarbon Types in Liquid Petroleum Products by Fluorescent Indicator Adsorption
• D2624 Electrical Conductivity of Aviation and Distillate Fuels
• D2709 Water and Sediment in Middle Distillate Fuels by Centrifuge
• D4294 Sulfur in Petroleum and Petroleum Products by Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry
• D5191 Vapor Pressure of Petroleum Products and Liquid Fuels (Mini Method)
• D5771 Cloud Point of Petroleum Products (Optical Detection Stepped Cooling Method)
• D5950 Pour Point of Petroleum Products (Automatic Tilt Method)
• D6079 Evaluating Lubricity of Diesel Fuels by the High-Frequency Reciprocating Rig (HFRR)
• D6378 Determination of Vapor Pressure (VPX) of Petroleum Products, Hydrocarbons, and Hydrocarbon-Oxygenate Mixtures (Triple Expansion Method)
• D6450 Flash Point by Continuously Closed Cup (CCCFP) Tester
• D7094 Flash Point by Modified Continuously Closed Cup (MCCCFP) Tester
• D7220 Sulfur in Automotive, Heating, and Jet Fuels by Monochromatic Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry
• D7667 Determination of Corrosiveness to Silver by Automotive Spark-Ignition Engine Fuel—Thin Silver Strip Method

Fuel Product Specifications

• D975 Standard Specification for Diesel Fuel
• D4814 Standard Specification for Automotive Spark-Ignition Engine Fuel
• D6751 Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock (B100) for Middle Distillate Fuels
• D7467 Standard Specification for Diesel Fuel Oil, Biodiesel Blend (B6 to B20)

Manuals

• Significance of Tests for Petroleum Products

Fee Includes

About the Instructors

Mr. David R. Forester recently retired after 44 years' experience in the fuel and refining additive business. He has over 35 US patents on development of diesel and jet fuel additives, refinery antifoulants, and other refinery and process related additives. He has designed, implemented and/or automated many fuel test methods, including many ASTM standards that have resulted in new additive products, reformulations, and improvements to diesel fuel additive products. He has been a member of ASTM Committee D02 for over 25 years and currently serves as Chairman of Subcommittee D02.14 Stability and Cleanliness of Liquid Fuels which has jurisdiction for 50 ASTM standards, test methods, practices and guides. Mr. Forester has authored or co-authored multiple SAE and IASH papers/presentations, and co-authored Chapter 11 "Methods for Assessing Stability and Cleanliness of Liquid Fuels" in "Significance of Tests for Petroleum Products" 8th Edition published 2010 by ASTM. He was the associate editor of fuels for the 2nd edition revision to "The Fuels and Lubricant Handbook" published by ASTM in 2019. Mr. Forester has previously been recognized with the Award of Appreciation (1989, 2002), Award of Excellence (2010), Lowrie B. Sargent, Jr. Award (2015), Sydney D. Andrews Scroll of Achievement (2016), Eagle Award (2017), Kurt Strauss Steady Hand Award (2020) and most recently the ASTM Award of Merit.

About ASTM and Sponsoring Committee

ASTM is one of the world's largest voluntary standards development organizations. ASTM standards have grown to be among the world's most widely used and accepted documents. The 82-volume Annual Book of ASTM Standards contain over 13,000 standards written by 34,000 members on our 140 technical committees. The standards referenced in this course were developed by Committee D02 on Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants. For information on Committee D02, contact Alyson Fick at (610) 832-9710 or go to our D02 technical committee page.

How Learning Will Be Assessed

Learning will be assessed through a series of question and answer sessions.

Questions About the Training Course

For information on this training course, please contact Training

Cancellation Policy

Note: Because of the potential for course changes or cancellations, it is not advisable to make non-refundable accommodation reservations, since ASTM cannot be responsible for any loss incurred.

If you need to cancel your attendance in this class, phone or email notification to me is required five (5) business days prior to the first day of the seminar. You may receive a full refund, minus a $100 administrative fee, up to and including the 5th business day before the seminar. You may transfer your registration to another session (within the same calendar year), or designate an alternate attendee free of charge up to five (5) days prior to the first day of class. If you find that you cannot attend, and it is less than five (5) business days before the start of the seminar, you may send a replacement, with phone notice to me. If you are unable to send a replacement, you forfeit 50% of your registration fee.

Related Proficiency Testing programs

ASTM offers the following Proficiency Testing Program(s) for this:

• #2 Diesel Fuel
• #6 Fuel Oil
• Aviation (Turbine) Jet Fuel
• Biodiesel
• Cetane
• Crude Oil
• Engine Oil Lubricants
• Fuel Ethanol
• Liquefied Petroleum Gas
• Motor Gasoline
• Reformulated Gasoline
• Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel