The laboratory conducts work related to the determination of the physicochemical and quality properties of liquid and gaseous fuels used in internal combustion drives in means of transport. Most of the work carried out is focused on alternative fuels and mixtures of alternative and conventional fuels. In studies, apart from conventional fuels, such as motor gasoline and diesel oil, fuels of vegetable origin, especially vegetable oils and FAME, are used. A number of works also concern the possibility of using ethanol as an additive to conventional fuels, especially diesel oil. The results obtained in the laboratory are used during research works on the functioning of fuel injection systems and the course of working processes of internal combustion piston engines.
Specification of the main research equipment in the laboratory:
Laboratory for testing physicochemical and quality parameters of liquid and gaseous fuels:
- automatic apparatus for determining the fractional composition in liquid fuels - OPTIDIST, Walter Herzog, enabling the testing of the fractional composition of fuels under atmospheric distillation conditions up to 400 °C,
- automatic apparatus for determining the kinematic viscosity in liquid fuels using the Ubbelohde method - HVU 482 Walter Herzog, enabling automatic viscosity measurement in the range from -40 to +100 degrees C) and in the kinematic viscosity range from 1.9 to 29 mm2 / s,
- precise oscillating densimeter - DMA 4500, Anton Paar GmbH, enabling accurate measurement of the density of liquids in the range up to 3 g/cm3 in the temperature range from 0 to 90 ° C,
- portable diesel oil and aviation fuel analyzer - TD PPA, PetroSpec, enabling quick measurement of diesel oil and aviation fuel parameters based on mid-infrared spectral analysis,
- automatic apparatus for determining the flash point in liquid fuels using the Pensky-Martens method - HFP 339, Walter Herzog, enabling tests of the ignition temperature of fuels in the range up to 400 °C,
- automatic apparatus for determining the vapor pressure in liquid fuels (Reid's method) - HVP 972, Walter Herzog,
- automatic device for determining the cold filter blocking temperature in liquid fuels - FPP 5Gs, ISL. Possibility to cool the sample to a temperature of about -90 degrees C.
- an automatic calorimetric bomb to determine the calorific value of fuels - IKA C 5000,
- an automatic calorimetric bomb to determine the calorific value of fuels - IKA C 200,
- an automatic apparatus for determining the derivative of the cetane index- CID 510, enabling the study of the self-ignition properties of fuels based on the assessment of the pressure increase in the combustion chamber with a constant volume and the normative determination of the derivative of the cetane index (equivalent to the cetane index),
- Agilent 6850 gas chromatograph - with a defined method for determining the content of propane and butane in LPG fuel,
- analytical balances placed on a special anti-vibration weighing table,
- Memmert climatic chamber - temperature range from -44 to 190 degrees C with internal humidity control.
Laboratory of testing tribological properties of corrosive lubricants and fuels:
- automatic apparatus for assessing the lubricity of diesel fuel in high-frequency reciprocating motion - HFRR, PCS,
- kit for testing the corrosive effect of fuels on copper (for liquid and gaseous fuels) - ANKO,
- universal four-ball apparatus for testing lubricity of lubricants,
- T-02U, also enabling comparative tests of fuel lubricity by comparing the value of the load force seizing the friction junction,
- automatic apparatus for determining the sulfur content in liquid and gaseous fuels - MultiTek Antek,
- automatic apparatus for determining the water content in fuels by coulometric method - Karl Fischer Titrator, AquaMAX KF, GR Scientific Ltd. View with the titration cell disassembled.