A novel device for automated determination of the smoke point with non-invasive adaptation of ASTM D1322 normalized lamps

Abstract

Particulate matter emission from the combustion of fossil fuels is a major concern due to its harmful effects on human health and impact on engine performance. Measurement of the smoke point of these fuels is a key issue in order to assess the tendency of fuels to generate particulate matter. Although certain commercial devices for measuring the smoke point are available, they are very expensive and their precision can still be improved. This paper proposes a novel low-cost device to achieve precise and repetitive smoke point measurements. It is based in an improved image processing algorithm that reduces the measurement error compared to previously developed methods. The device design allows easy adaptation to the smoke point lamp normalized in the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D1322, without any modification to the lamp.

Fundamental Insights into the Effect of Blending Hydrogen Flames with Sooting Biofuels

“…The flame length was controlled by adjusting the extended wick length above the exit plane. To measure the flame length at SP, the flame appearance was captured with a Canon 6D digital camera and a 50 mm f/1.8 lens [32,33].…”

“…The colour photos were first converted to grayscale for image post-processing. The flame contour was defined as the region in which the pixel intensity is above 75% of the peak intensity of each image [32]. The images were then binarised to determine the SP based on the flame contour.…”

“…The smoke point (SP) has been widely employed to investigate and compare the sooting propensity of oxygenated and non-oxygenated hydrocarbons [31][32][33]. The smoke point is determined by the maximum luminous length of a flame without emitting soot [34].…”