What is laboratory?

A laboratory (informally, lab) is a facility that provides controlled conditions in which scientific research, experiments, and measurement may be performed.

What is quality control?

Quality control is a process by which entities review the quality of all factors involved in production. Quality control and control engineering are used in developing systems to make sure that the prodcuts produced meet the customer requirements or not.Quality means a property of something.Quality is controlled in the industry to make their products marketable. Laboratory is basically the main department of the refinery where quality is controlled of our products.In laboratory our samples are checked that our products are meeting the specifications suggested by ASTM. Standards are set for each and every sample.The samples are checked and tested time to time and if any changes are needed it is reported to engineers to meet the standards.Regular tests are also taken for waste water plant and utilities.

CRUDE TESTS:Tests Conducted in laboratory for each product:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Residue:Specific Gravity Flash point Pour point Viscosity Vacuum Distillation

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Kerosene:Specific Gravity Flash point CFPP Viscosity Distillation Doctor Test

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Naphtha:Specific Gravity Doctor test R.V.P Color Distillation


1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Gasoline:Specific Gravity Doctor test R.V.P Color Octane Number

L.P.G:-

1. Cu test 2. Weathering

Tests and their Significance:Density , Relative density ,API gravity is a factor governing the quality and pricing of crude petroleum. However, this property of petroleum is an uncertain indication of its quality unless correlated with other properties.Density is an important quality indicator for automotive and marine fuel which effects storage handling and combustion. Accurate determination of the density ,relative density, or API gravity of petroleum and its products is necessary for the conversion of the measured volumes to volumes or masses or both, at standard refrence temperatures during custody transfer.Specific gravity can be measured in a number of ways.Hydostatic weighing,Hydrometer,Pycnometer and various digital density meters are used to measure specific gravity and relative density.

SPECIFIC GRAVAITY (D-1298):-

Vacuum distillation is a method of distillation whereby the pressure above the liquid mixture to be distilled is reduced to less than its vapor pressure causing evaporation of the most volatile liquid(s) .This distillation method works on the principle that boiling occurs when the vapor pressure of a liquid exceeds the ambient pressure. Vacuum distillation is used with or without heating the solution. Laboratory-scale vacuum distillation is used when liquids to be distilled have high atmospheric boiling points or chemically change at temperatures near their atmospheric boiling points. The boiling range gives information on the composition,the properties,and the behavior of fuel during storage and use.The distillation characteristics are critically important for both automotive fuels and aviation gasoline,affect starting ,warm up,and tendency to vapor lock at high operating temperature or at high altitude ,or both.

VACUUM DISTILLATION (D-86):-

The flash point of a volatile liquid is the lowest temperature at which it can vaporize to form an ignitable mixture in air. Measuring a liquid's flash point requires an ignition source. At the flash point, the vapor may cease to burn when the source of ignition is removed. The flash point is often used as a descriptive characteristic of liquid fuel, and it is

FLASH POINT(D-93):-

also used to help characterize the fire hazards of liquids. Flash point refers to both flammable liquids and combustible liquids.There are two basic types of flash point measurement,open cup and closed cup. The flash point is an empirical measurement rather than a fundamental physical parameter. The measured value will vary with equipment and temperature. Methods for determining the flash point of a liquid are specified in many standards. For example, testing by the Pensky-Martens closed cup method is detailed in ASTM D93, IP34, ISO 2719, DIN 51758, JIS K2265 and AFNOR M07-019. Determination of flash point by the Small Scale closed cup method is detailed in ASTM D3828 and D3278, EN ISO 3679 and 3680, and IP 523 and 524.

The pour point of a liquid is the lowest temperature at which it will pour or flow under prescribed conditions. It is a rough indication of the lowest temperature at which oil is readily pumpable. The specimen is cooled inside a cooling bath to allow the formation of paraffin wax crystals. At about 9C above the expected pour point, and for every subsequent 3C, the test jar is removed and tilted to check for surface movement. When the specimen does not flow when tilted, the jar is held horizontally for 5 secs. If it does not flow, 3C is added to the corresponding temperature and the result is the pour point temperature.

POUR POINT (D-97):-

Distillation is a method of separating mixtures based on differences in their volatilities in a boiling liquid mixture. Distillation is a unit operation, or a physical separation process, and not a chemical reaction. It is used to separate crude oil into more fractions for specific uses such as transport, power generation and heating.

DISTILLATION:-

This test method is intended to induce color changes in sealants, as well as their constituent pigments, associated with end-use conditions, including the effects of sunlight, moisture, and heat. The exposures used in this test method are not intended to simulate the color change of a sealant caused by localized weathering phenomena, such as atmospheric pollution, biological attack, and saltwater exposure.

COLOUR:-

Crude petroleum contains sulfur compounds,most of which are removed during refining.However,the sulfur which is left,has corroding effect on various metals .The cu strip corrosion test is designed to assess the relative degree of corrosivity of a petroleum product.

COPPER TEST (D-130)

Cold filter plugging point (CFPP) is the highest temperature, expressed in multiples of 1 C, at which a given volume of diesel type of fuel fails to pass through a standardized filtration device in a specified time when cooled under certain conditions. This test gives an estimate for the lowest temperature that a fuel will give trouble free flow in certain fuel systems. This is important as in cold temperate

COLD FILTER PLUGGING POINT (D-6371):-

countries, a low cold filter plugging point will clog up vehicle engines more easily.

Sulphur poison the catalyst of platformer and the amount of sulphur shoud be less than 0.05% to protect from environmental hazards.Sulphur present as mercaptans or as hydrogen sulphide in distillate fuels and solvents can attack metallic or non metallic materials in fuels and other distribution system.A negative result in doctor test ensure that the concentration of these compounds is insufficient to cause problems in normal use.

DOCTOR TEST (D-4952):-

Viscosity is a measure of the resistance of a fluid which is being deformed by either shear stress or tensile stress. Viscosity describes a fluid's internal resistance to flow and may be thought of as a measure of fluid friction. Many petroleum products,and some non petroleum products ,are used as lubricants ,and the correct operations of the equipment depends upon the appropriate viscosity of the liquid being used.In addition,the viscosity of many petroleum fuel is important for the estimation of optimum storage,handling,and operational condition.Thus,the accurate determination of viscosity is essential to many product specification.

KINEMATIC VISCOSITY (D-445):-

The labs use CFR (Cooperative Fuel Research) engines and test to ASTM and other national and regulatory protocols. Octane tests measure gasoline characteristics related to engine knocking. Labs measure gasoline samples from refineries, storage facilities, storage tanks and pipelines for octane ratings and many other gasoline fuel properties. Gasoline Octane Tests: Octane Number MON (Motor) Octane Number plus Additives Octane Number RON (Research) Octane Rating of Aviation Gasoline (Supercharge Method)

OCTANE NUMBER TEST (D-2268):-

Reid vapor pressure (RVP) is a common measure of the volatility of gasoline. It is defined as the absolute vapor pressure exerted by a liquid at 100 F (37.8 C) as determined by the test method ASTM-D-323. The test method applies to volatile crude oil and volatile nonviscous petroleum liquids, except liquified petroleum gases. The Reid vapor pressure (RVP) differs slightly from the true vapor pressure (TVP) of a liquid due to small sample vaporization and the presence of water vapor and air in the confined space of the test equipment. That is, the RVP is the absolute vapor pressure and the TVP is the partial vapor pressure. We maintain the temperature of the sample at 37oC to calculate the amount of lighter components lost at that temperature.The test give us reid bapour pressure at which our components should be stored in the tanks to minimize the loss.

REID VAPOUR PRESSURE (D-323):-

Volatility is a measure of amount of least volatile fuel components present in

VOLATILITY TEST (D-1837)

product.Coupled with a vapor pressure limit it serves to ensure essentially single component product in the cases of commercial propane and commercial butane.

The cloud point of a fluid is the temperature at which dissolved solids are no longer completely soluble, precipitating as a second phase giving the fluid a cloudy appearance. The test oil is required to be transparent in layers 40mm in thickness (in accordance with ASTM D2500). The wax crystals typically first form at the lower circumferential wall with the appearance of a whitish or milky cloud. The cloud point is the temperature at which these crystals first appear. The test sample is first poured into a test jar to a level approximately half full. A cork carrying the test thermometer is used to close the jar. The thermometer bulb is positioned to rest at the bottom of the jar. The entire test subject is then placed in a constant temperature cooling bath on top of a gasket to prevent excessive cooling. At every 1C, the sample is taken out and inspected for cloud then quickly replaced. Successively lower temperature cooling baths may be used depending on the cloud point. Lower temperature cooling bath must have temperature stability not less than 1.5 K for this test.

CLOUD POINT:-

Weathering is the adverse response of a material or product to climate, often causing unwanted and premature product failures. Oil Weathering Studies are used to predict the effect of crude oil spills and the likely behavior and persistence of the oils in the marine environment. Oil begins weathering as soon it is exposed to the environment. The Mackay Weathering Test is designed to evaporatively weather an oil floating on seawater. Samples of the weathered floating oil are collected at various times and analysed to determine changes in the physical and chemical characteristics of the oil.

WEATHERING TEST:-

WATER TESTS:The following water tests are conducted in lab:1. pH 2. Conductivity 3. Total hardness test 4. Calcium test 5. Sulphide test 6. Total alkalinity 7. Sludge volume 8. Mixed liquor 9. Suspended solids 10.Phospahte 11.Total dissolved solids 12.NaCl in ppm 13.M-value 14.Zinc test 15.Halogen test

In chemistry, pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of a solution. pH

pH:-

measurements are important in medicine, biology, chemistry, food science, environmental science, oceanography, civil engineering and many other applications.pH is used to determine the corrosive action of water and helping in reducing pollution in precipitation and assesing water treatment practices for industrial processes.pH strips and pH balance are used to measure pH. HARDNESS TEST:Hard water is nothing more than water with a high mineral content. It may contain such minerals as magnesium, calcium and other dissolved compounds like sulfates or bicarbonates. Because of the high mineral content, hard water leaves behind deposits that form after the water has evaporated, leaving a less-than-clean feeling on the skin, clogging drains and possibly damaging water heaters. There are two ways to help control water hardness: use a packaged water softener or use a mechanical water softening unit. Packaged water softeners are chemicals that help control water hardness. They fall into two categories: precipitating and non-precipitating.

Sulfide ion is found in ground waters and wastewater, causing odor and corrosion problems. If acidified, these waters can release hydrogen sulfide, which is extremely toxic even at low levels. This test method provides a means for interference-free measurement of free sulfide ion. This test method uses an ion-selective electrode to determine sulfide ion in water. The test method is applicable in the range from 0.04 to 4000 mg/L of sulfide.

SULPHIDE IONS TEST:-

Zinc is an essential and beneficial element in body growth. Concentrations above 5 mg/L can cause a bitter astringent taste and opalescence in alkaline waters. Zinc most commonly enters the domestic water supply from deterioration of galvanized iron and dezincification of brass. Zinc in water also may result from industrial water pollution.

ZINC TEST:-

Sodium chloride occurs in nature in almost unlimited quantities. Chloride ion is under regulation in water and must be measured accurately. It is highly detrimental to high pressure boiler system and to stainless steel so monitoring is used as a tool for estimating the cycles of concentration like cooling water application.

NaCl TEST:-

Solids, both as filterable matter (TDS) and no filterable matter (TSS), are important in the treating of raw water and wastewater, and in monitoring of streams. Waste solids impose a suspended and settle able residue in receiving waters. Suspended and soluble materials provide a matrix for some biological slime and, in sufficient quantity, impair respiration of organisms. These solids may create nuisance slime beds and odors while imposing a long-term biological oxidation load over limited receiving water areas.

TDS N TSS TEST:-