APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING THE THERMAL STABILITY OF FLUIDS

• Main Author: ALF HUNDERE
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 20.06.1972
• Subjects: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIRCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; MEASURING; PHYSICS; TESTING

An apparatus for determining the thermal stability of fluids, particularly for testing the deposition characteristics of jet fuels, comprising a single reservoir for containing fresh and tested fuel on opposite sides of a movable piston therein, a supply line connecting the fresh fuel chamber of the reservoir with a housing in which is mounted a heated tubular member, a return line connecting the outlet of the housing with the tested fuel chamber of the reservoir, a constant speed metering pump located in the return line between the housing and the tested fuel chamber of the reservoir to pump the fuel through the apparatus, a filter, designed to trap deposits which remain suspended in the fuel due to heating, located at the outlet of the housing, and a differential pressure measuring device connected across the filter to measure the pressure drop therethrough, and a valved bypass around the filter. The apparatus also contains a source whereby the entire system may be pressurized to a constant pressure, preferably with an inert gas.