Rich: Great description of your test technique. BTW, I would think that the temperature of the oil in the ladle should be specified, as this seems to be a critical variable.
Regards, Ed > -----Original Message----- > From: Rich Nute [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Wednesday, September 06, 2000 1:13 PM > To: [email protected] > Cc: [email protected] > Subject: Re: Hot Flaming Oil Test > > > > > > > Hi Ken: > > > > The standards specify the oil as being: > > "distillate fuel oil which is a medium volitile > distillate having a mass per > > unit volume between 0.845 g/ml and 0.865 g/ml, a flash > point between 43.5C > > and 93.5C and an average calorific value of 38MJ/l." > > I've found that this is equivalent to ordinary > diesel fuel or #2 fuel (heating) oil. > > I've bought The tools for performing this test > in almost any kitchen goods store: > > all-metal ladle with side-lip (for pouring > the oil) > > large aluminum-foil roasting pan (to contain > the poured oil) > > I found that the standard kitchen ladle was not > configured for this test, so I chose an all-metal > ladle so I could bend the handle to better suit a > controlled pour. > > The height of the ladle above the holes under test > must be controlled to 100 mm. The height is critical > to pass/fail. I found that I could better control > this parameter by using a rest for the ladle handle > adjusted for 100 mm above the holes. > > The rate of pour is also critical to pass/fail. You > should practice the pour several times. I found a > big help if someone counted the seconds aloud for me > as I poured. (You can't watch a clock and watch the > pour at the same time!) > > The cheesecloth must be located 50 mm below the > openings under test. I found that it was best to > suspend or support the cheesecloth above the bottom > of the pan so as to prevent saturation with the oil > collecting in the bottom of the pan. > > I also used a dam of plumber's putty on the test > panel to prevent the oil from spilling over the edge > of the test panel. This helps control spilling the > oil outside the roasting pan. > > The test panel needs to be independently supported > and level so as to allow the oil to collect over > the holes. > > Note that you are dealing with 3 parameters: > > hole diameter > hole-to-hole spacing > metal thickness > > All of these are critical to pass/fail. > > As near as I can tell, the process of passing the test > is that of cooling the flaming oil by the heat-sinking > action of the metal, and by quenching the flame as the > oil passes through the hole (i.e., the oil fills the > hole such that no oxygen can pass through the hole with > the oil and sustain the burning as the oil emerges from > the bottom of the metal). > > Note that you get to repeat the test for a total of 3 > successes in succession. Due to the variablility of > the test, if you get some passes and some fails, keep > testing until you get 3 passes in succession! You'll > find that passing is a matter of controlling the test > parameters, especially the location above the holes, the > rate of pour, and the pour height. > > Be sure to perform the test in a suitable area such as > a fume hood. Also, be prepared to deal with spilled > oil, and with spilled burning oil. Have someone > standing by with a fire extinguisher at the ready. In > the event of a failure, you'll need it to extinguish > the oil in the pan (otherwise, it will burn for a long > time!). > > By the way, the hole patterns (Table 15) specified as > acceptable in the standard do not necessarily pass the > test! > > Good luck! Let us know how you do! > > > Best regards, > Rich > > > ps: Note that the oil will not ignite at room > temperature. You can dunk a match in the oil, > and the match will be extinguished. > > You do need to heat the oil slightly before it > will burn. Don't heat the oil too much -- just > enough to ignite it. Then, you let it burn for > 1 minute before the pour; this is all the heat > you want for the oil. Any more, and you'll tend > to fail the test. Be sure to extinguish the > flame you use to heat the oil BEFORE you proceed > with the test. > > Disclaimer: The hot-flaming-oil test is a dangerous > test. The preceding comments, observations, and > opinions are not complete, are not necessarily > accurate, may be ambiguous, and must not be > relied upon for the safety of persons conducting > such a test or for the accuracy of the test > results. > > :-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-) Ed Price [email protected] Electromagnetic Compatibility Lab Cubic Defense Systems San Diego, CA. USA 858-505-2780 (Voice) 858-505-1583 (Fax) Military & Avionics EMC Services Is Our Specialty Shake-Bake-Shock - Metrology - Reliability Analysis :-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-) ------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE EMC Society Product Safety Technical Committee emc-pstc discussion list. To cancel your subscription, send mail to: [email protected] with the single line: unsubscribe emc-pstc For help, send mail to the list administrators: Jim Bacher: [email protected] Michael Garretson: [email protected] For policy questions, send mail to: Richard Nute: [email protected]
