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MET 211-L : APPLIED THERMODYNAMICS LABORATORY
Lab Ex. No. : 1
Title : Fuel properties, Flash Point Determination
Practical questions involving the use of Pensky Martens Closed Cup Apparatus:
Question 1 What is the use of the thermometer in the Pensky Martens Closed Cup Tester?
Answer: To measure the temperature of the liquid and vapor sample.
Question 2 What is the function of the stirrer paddles inside the Pensky Martens Closed Cup
Tester?
Answer: a. To heat the sample uniformly.
b. To keep the temperature of the vapor and liquid sample equal at all times during heating.
Question 3 What is the function of the stirrer shaft in the Pensky Martens Closed Cup Tester?
Answer: To drive or rotate the stirrer paddles.
Question 4 Up to what level do you have to fill the test cup?
Answer: Fill the test cup up to the line or groove.
Question 5 How do you heat the test sample?
Answer: Heat the test sample at a slow constant rate.
Question 6 What is the function of the test flame (or the flame exposure device)?
Answer: To ignite the vapor of the heated liquid test sample.
Question 7 How do you define flash point?
Answer: Flash point is the lowest temperature at which application of the test flame causes the vapors
above the sample to ignite.
Question 8 Why do you need to heat the sample at slow constant rate?
Answer: a. To have accurate and precise results.
b. To maintain safety and to prevent any fire incident.
Question 9 Why do you need to clean the test cup before filling it up?
Answer: a. To remove any dirt, dust, moisture, and other substance from it.
b. To have a pure substance to be used for the test.
Question 10 Why do you have to fill the test cup up to the line (or groove) only?
Answer: To have a space for the vapors before the test flame is applied.

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Question 11 Why do you need to close the test cup?
Answer: a. To keep the vapor above the sample.
b. To prevent the vapor from escaping and mixing with the air outside.
Question 12 What is the objective of this laboratory exercise?
Answer: To determine the flash point of a certain petroleum sample.
Question 13 What is the usefulness of flash point determination in the petrochemical industry?
Answer: To determine the transportation and storage temperature requirements for lubricants.
Question 14 What is the objective of the laboratory exercise?
Answer: To determine the flash point of a certain petroleum product sample.
Table of Components:
No. Name of Item No. Name of Item
1 Flame exposure device (Test flame) 4 Stirrer paddle for vapor
2 Thermometer 5 Stirrer paddle for liquid
3 Stirrer shaft 6 Test Cup
1 2
4
3
5
6