ASTM D613-08

Standard Test Method for Cetane Number of Diesel Fuel Oil

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
The cetane number provides a measure of the ignition characteristics of diesel fuel oil in compression ignition engines.
This test method is used by engine manufacturers, petroleum refiners and marketers, and in commerce as a primary specification measurement related to matching of fuels and engines.
Cetane number is determined at constant speed in a precombustion chamber type compression ignition test engine. The relationship of test engine performance to full scale, variable speed, variable load engines is not completely understood.
This test method may be used for unconventional fuels such as synthetics, vegetable oils, and the like. However, the relationship to the performance of such materials in full scale engines is not completely understood.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the rating of diesel fuel oil in terms of an arbitrary scale of cetane numbers using a standard single cylinder, four-stroke cycle, variable compression ratio, indirect injected diesel engine.
1.2 The cetane number scale covers the range from zero (0) to 100, but typical testing is in the range of 30 to 65 cetane number.
1.3 The values for operating conditions are stated in SI units and are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are the historical inch-pound units for information only. In addition, the engine measurements continue to be in inch-pound units because of the extensive and expensive tooling that has been created for these units.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For more specific warning statements, see Annex A1.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Aug-2008
• ICS: 75.160.20 - Liquid fuels
• Technical Committee: D02 - Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants
• Drafting Committee: D02.01 - Combustion Characteristics

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: D613 – 08
Designation: 41/2000
Standard Test Method for
1
Cetane Number of Diesel Fuel Oil
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D613; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope* D4175 Terminology Relating to Petroleum, Petroleum
Products, and Lubricants
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the rating
D4177 Practice for Automatic Sampling of Petroleum and
of diesel fuel oil in terms of an arbitrary scale of cetane
Petroleum Products
numbers using a standard single cylinder, four-stroke cycle,
E456 Terminology Relating to Quality and Statistics
variable compression ratio, indirect injected diesel engine.
E542 Practice for Calibration of Laboratory Volumetric
1.2 The cetane number scale covers the range from zero (0)
Apparatus
to 100, but typical testing is in the range of 30 to 65 cetane
E832 Specification for Laboratory Filter Papers
number.
1.3 ThevaluesforoperatingconditionsarestatedinSIunits
3. Terminology
and are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in
3.1 Definitions:
parentheses are the historical inch-pound units for information
3.1.1 accepted reference value (ARV), n—a value that
only. In addition, the engine measurements continue to be in
serves as an agreed-upon reference for comparison, and which
inch-pound units because of the extensive and expensive
is derived as: (1) a theoretical or established value, based on
tooling that has been created for these units.
scientific principles, or (2) an assigned or certified value, based
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
on experimental work of some national or international orga-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
nization, or (3) a consensus or certified value, based on
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
collaborative experimental work under the auspices of a
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
scientific or engineering group. E456
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For more specific
3.1.1.1 Discussion—In the context of this test method,
warning statements, see Annex A1.
accepted reference value is understood to apply to the cetane
2. Referenced Documents number of specific reference materials determined empirically
2
under reproducibility conditions by the National Exchange
2.1 ASTM Standards:
Group or another recognized exchange testing organization.
D975 Specification for Diesel Fuel Oils
3.1.2 cetane number (CN), n—a measure of the ignition
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
performance of a diesel fuel oil obtained by comparing it to
D2500 Test Method for Cloud Point of Petroleum Products
reference fuels in a standardized engine test. D4175
D4057 Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and
3.1.2.1 Discussion—In the context of this test method,
Petroleum Products
ignition performance is understood to mean the ignition delay
of the fuel as determined in a standard test engine under
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on
controlled conditions of fuel flow rate, injection timing and
Petroleum Products and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
compression ratio.
D02.01 on Combustion Characteristics.
3.1.3 compression ratio (CR), n—the ratio of the volume of
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2008. Published October 2008. Originally
approved in 1941. Last previous edition approved in 2005 as D613–05. DOI:
the combustion chamber including the precombustion chamber
10.1520/D0613-08.
withthepistonatbottomdeadcentertothecomparablevolume
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
with the piston at top dead center.
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

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D613 – 08
3.1.4 ignition delay, n—that period of time, expressed in 3.2.7.2 Discussion—In the context of this test method, the
3
degrees of crank angle rotation, between the start of fuel Diesel National Exchange Group of Subcommittee D02.01 is
injection and the start of combustion. composed of petroleum industry, governmental, and indepen-
3.1.5 injection timing (injection advance), n—that time in d
...

This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
An American National Standard
Designation:D613–05 Designation: D 613 – 08
Designation: 41/2000
Standard Test Method for
1
Cetane Number of Diesel Fuel Oil
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D613; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope*
1.1 This test method determinescovers the determination of the rating of diesel fuel oil in terms of an arbitrary scale of cetane
numbers using a standard single cylinder, four-stroke cycle, variable compression ratio, indirect injected diesel engine.
1.2 Thecetanenumberscalecoverstherangefromzero(0)to100,buttypicaltestingisintherangeof30to65cetanenumber.
1.3 The values for operating conditions are stated in SI units and are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in
parentheses are the historical inch-pound units for information only. In addition, the engine measurements continue to be in
inch-pound units because of the extensive and expensive tooling that has been created for these units.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use. For more specific warning statements, see Annex A1.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D975 Specification for Diesel Fuel Oils
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
D2500 Test Method for Cloud Point of Petroleum Products
D4057 Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products
D4175 Terminology Relating to Petroleum, Petroleum Products, and Lubricants
D4177 Practice for Automatic Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products E1Specification for ASTM Liquid-in-Glass
Thermometers
E456 Terminology Relating to Quality and Statistics
E542 Practice for Calibration of Laboratory Volumetric Apparatus
E832 Specification for Laboratory Filter Papers
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 accepted reference value (ARV), n—avaluethatservesasanagreed-uponreferenceforcomparison,andwhichisderived
as:(1)atheoreticalorestablishedvalue,basedonscientificprinciples,or(2)anassignedorcertifiedvalue,basedonexperimental
workofsomenationalorinternationalorganization,or(3)aconsensusorcertifiedvalue,basedoncollaborativeexperimentalwork
under the auspices of a scientific or engineering group. E456
3.1.1.1 Discussion—In the context of this test method, accepted reference value is understood to apply to the cetane number
ofspecificreferencematerialsdeterminedempiricallyunderreproducibilityconditionsbytheNationalExchangeGrouporanother
recognized exchange testing organization.
3.1.2 cetane numbercetane number (CN), n—a measure of the ignition performance of a diesel fuel oil obtained by comparing
it to reference fuels in a standardized engine test. D4175
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D02 on Petroleum Products and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D02.01 on
Combustion Characteristics.
Current edition approved MaySept. 1, 2005.2008. Published May 2005.October 2008. Originally approved in 1941. Last previous edition approved in 20032005 as
D613–03b.D613–05.
2
ForreferencedASTMstandards,visittheASTMwebsite,www.astm.org,[e-mail] Annual Book ofASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D613–08
3.1.2.1 Discussion—Inthecontextofthistestmethod,ignitionperformanceisunderstoodtomeantheignitiondelayofthefuel
as determined in a standard test engine under controlled conditions of fuel flow rate, injection timing and compression ratio.
3.1.3 compression ratiocompression ratio (CR), n—the ratio of the volume of the combustion chamber including the
precombustion chamber with the piston at bottom dead center to the comparable volume with the piston at top dead center.
3.1.4 ignition delay, n—thatperiodoftime,expressedindegreesofcrankanglerotation,betw
...