Kerosine

Not all Kerosenes are the same Heating oil for one
Kerosene is a thin, clear liquid formed from hydrocarbons obtained from the fractional distillation of petroleum between 150 °C and 275 °C, resulting in a mixture with a density of 0.78–0.81 g/cm3 composed of carbon chains that typically contain between 6 and 16 carbon atoms per molecule.[ It is miscible in petroleum solvents but immiscible in water.

Regardless of crude oil source or processing history, kerosene's major components are branched and straight chain alkanes and naphthenes (cycloalkanes), which normally account for at least 70% by volume. Aromatic hydrocarbons in this boiling range, such as alkylbenzenes (single ring) and alkylnaphthalenes (double ring), do not normally exceed 25% by volume of kerosene streams. Olefins are usually not present at more than 5% by volume.[9]

The flash point of kerosene is between 37 and 65 °C (100 and 150 °F), and its autoignition temperature is 220 °C (428 °F).[10] The pour point of kerosene depends on grade, with commercial aviation fuel standardized at −47 °C (−53 °F).

Heat of combustion of kerosene is similar to that of diesel; its lower heating value is 43.1 MJ/kg (around 18,500 Btu/lb), and its higher heating value is 46.2 MJ/kg.[11]

In the United Kingdom, two grades of heating oil are defined. BS2869 Class C1 is the lightest grade used for lanterns, camping stoves, wick heaters, and mixed with gasoline in some vintage combustion engines as a substitute for tractor vaporising oil. BS2869 Class C2 is a heavier distillate, which is used as domestic heating oil. Premium kerosene is usually sold in 5 or 20 liter containers from hardware, camping and garden stores and is often dyed purple. Standard kerosene is usually dispensed in bulk by a tanker and is undyed.

National and international standards define the properties of several grades of kerosene used for jet fuel. Flash point and freezing point properties are of particular interest for operation and safety; the standards also define additives for control of static electricity and other purposes.
Bob .

 

I don't know why but when I read that I wondered what the human bodies autoignition point was. I'm just ghoulish I suppose.

For those that did or didn't wonder the same, the answer is 350°C or 630°F.

 

Hi

Thanks for the information.

Regards, Jeremy

 

Sorry Lamp Doctor, but Wikipedia is wrong. There are two types of heating oil in the UK:

A. 28 sec kerosene (C2).
B. 35 sec gas oil/diesel.

99% of domestic systems in the UK use A. A very small number of suppliers offer a 'premium' 28 sec kerosene (supposed to burn cleaner) but it is still classed as C2. They usually describe it as "exceeds C2". No-one in my area offers it, as it requires a separate tanker. Most suppliers offer an additive that is poured into the tank as it is being filled. Supposed to improve performance, but I've never bought any so can't say.

By law, ALL bulk delivered 28 sec heating oil is dyed yellow and also has a chemical 'fiscal marker'. The yellow dye is an EU requirement, but as it can be removed/neutralised, the UK also adds the marker.

C1 kerosene is the stuff sold in garden centres for extortionate prices. It has had most of it's aroma removed. It can be clear or coloured, but still carries the fiscal marker.

I have never seen any kerosene dyed purple. Methylated Spirit/Denatured Alcohol is dyed purple (using methyl violet, hence 'methylated spirit').

Terry

 

Nor me.

Um, I taught kids for over twenty years that methylated spirit was so named due to the addition of methanol i.e. methyl alcohol as a denaturant. Now you've got me wondering...

 

Wikipedia is also incorrect about the selling volume.
Paraffin (C1) is sold in 4 litre containers, not 5.

Years ago the two biggest selling paraffin brands were Aladdin Pink Paraffin and Esso Blue, but those are long gone.
I have never seen any paraffin with a purple colour, it is all clear or has a slightly yellow tinge.

 

On the 1st July 2005, in the UK, Mineralised Methylated Spirits formally became known as Completely Denatured Alcohol (CDA), but only in the bureaucratic world of HM Revenue & Customs it would appear. It seems to have passed unnoticed in the real world.

Regarding the dye:

HMRC 'Changes to Denatured Alcohol from 1 July 2013' -

"The traditional UK formula for CDA (formerly known as methylated spirits or meths for short) contained a purple dye, provided by the chemical methyl violet. After much deliberation, it was decided that the European formula need not contain a dye. UK trade bodies were keen that this was reflected in UK law. HMRC was persuaded that there is no longer a pressing need to include a dye, so it will no longer be mandatory. However as some users of CDA may still expect the purple dye to be included, the same proportion of methyl violet that was present in the old formula will be permitted
if required."

Terry

 

Well I can sleep easy in my bed tonight, having not mistaught thousands of kids over the years - phew...

 

I presume that 'Methyl Violet' got its name from the colour that was added to methylated spirits.

 

The other way round, Trevor. They would want to dye the ethanol a colour that would discourage drinking it and methyl violet happened to fit the bill.

The 'methyl' part will refer to the functional group (i.e. -CH3) which gives the dye its properties. It's a similar situation to the 'azo' dyes which contain the -N=N- functional group...

 

So what's happening with 'Meths' when it changes colour from purple to clear ????

 

Depends on the circumstances but being bleached by the UV in sunlight is a possibility. Maybe also just age if the dye naturally denatures over time...

 

I think this is a warning to anyone that uses Wikipedia as a sole source of information.

Isn't it that any Tom, Dick or Harry can ad information to Wikipedia whether it's correct or not?

 

Yes, but then any other Tom, Dick or Harry can come along and correct it. That's peer-review in action.

In areas which are non-controversial e.g. vast tracts of science where the facts are beyond dispute, I find Wiki to be a useful resource. In fact, I've read many scientific research papers which are far less reliable...

 

And if you read the incorrect facts presented before any Tom, Dick or Harry comes along and corrects it, you could be in trouble.

I think, as this topic proves, it's unwise to use Wikipedia as a SOLE source of information.

As with newspapers, don't believe everything you read in Wikipedia. Double check.

 

To be fair, it does say "usually" sold in 5 litre containers, which it was until certain sellers reduced the container volume to four litres. This was, in fact, nothing more than a 'stealth' price increase. Sadly, this kind of thing is very common within the retail world, particularly food and drink - bah!

 

That is certainly the case, David.
The changeover from 5 litre containers to 4 litre containers happened at least ten years ago and it may have been 15.

I had a look on the Internet at definitions and explanations of kerosene and just about everyone quotes all the claptrap from Wikipedia.

 

A lamp of mine that recently arrived had the smell of putrid kerosene in the fount.

I've had other lamps that had arrived with the same putrid smell emitting from a whitish fuel.

Until a recent discussion with Anthony from CPL I hadn't realised that distinctive smell was from rancid kero that had changed colour over the course of time.

I'm wondering if the vessel that the kero is stored in has differing affects on kero and if the kero's shelf life is determined by what container it is kept in.

I suppose the only containers that I have seen long stored kero kept in are brass founts of lamps.

I'm yet to see rancid kero in a plastic container. I know you can buy 200 litre steel drums of kero.

Is it the brass of the founts that is affecting the kero more than plastic or steel would?

Or is it, the kero has not been affected by the brass, it's just more likely to be very old kero?

 

Three or four years ago I was in in a B&Q Superstore (DIY) and there was free standing shelving holding at least 1000 0.5 litre bottles of methylated spirits.
The display was directly under a skylight.
The top few layers were clear methylated spirits and as the bottles got lower on the display they gradually turned from light purple to deep purple.

So I presume that daylight had something to do with changing the colour.