ASME PTC 3.1-1958 (1979) PDF

Full title and description

St ASME PTC 3.1-1958 (1979) — "Test Code for Diesel and Burner Fuels". This ASME Performance Test Code defines standard methods for sampling, testing and reporting ascertainable chemical and physical properties of liquid fuels used in burners and internal combustion equipment for heat and power generation.

Abstract

PTC 3.1 provides procedures and test-method definitions intended to determine indicators of fuel quality (for example heating value, gravity, viscosity, ignition characteristics and foreign-matter content) so that producers, purchasers and users can evaluate and compare diesel and burner fuels. The document was originally published in 1958 and carried later editorial/reaffirmation dates (noted in some records as 1979).

General information

• Status: Withdrawn / inactive (designation shows R(1992) and listed as withdrawn in ASME/standards withdrawal records).
• Publication date: 1958 (original publication). Reaffirmation/revision references appear in later bibliographies (e.g., 1979 listings).
• Publisher: American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).
• ICS / categories: Energy and heat-transfer related classifications (examples: ICS 27.060 — Burners and boilers; ICS 27 — Energy and heat transfer engineering; related petroleum/fuel ICS areas).
• Edition / version: PTC 3.1 — original 1958 edition (often cited in library and catalogue records with a 1979 notation).
• Number of pages: Approximately 81 pages (library/catalog records list ~81 pages; some commercial listings show small variations such as 83 pages).

Scope

The Test Code covers standard procedures for the determination of measurable chemical and physical properties of diesel and burner fuels that serve as indicators of fuel value and suitability for combustion equipment. Typical determinations described include heating value (calorific content), specific gravity (or API gravity), viscosity, ignition/flash characteristics, and the presence of contaminants or foreign matter; it also addresses sampling practice, test conditions and reporting formats intended to make results comparable between laboratories and suppliers.

Key topics and requirements

• Defined sampling procedures to obtain representative fuel samples for testing.
• Standard test methods for gross/net heating value (calorimetry) and heat-content reporting.
• Measurement and reporting of physical properties: specific gravity/API gravity, kinematic viscosity, and density.
• Procedures for determination of ignition-related properties (e.g., flash/ignition characteristics) relevant to burner and engine performance.
• Guidance on acceptance criteria, data reporting, and test-condition notation so test results are reproducible and comparable.

Typical use and users

Used historically by fuel producers, fuel-testing laboratories, power-plant and boiler/burner operators, equipment manufacturers, and purchasers who required standardized test procedures to specify, certify or compare diesel and burner fuel quality. Today, users consult PTC 3.1 records for historical test-code practice; current fuel testing in many jurisdictions is governed primarily by fuel-specific ASTM/ISO test methods and by more recent ASME/industry documents.

Related standards

Closely related ASME PTC documents include PTC 3.2 (Solid Fuels) and PTC 3.3 (Gaseous Fuels) as part of the fuel-focused PTC series. More current and widely used test methods for liquid fuels are available from ASTM and ISO (for example ASTM diesel fuel specifications and associated test methods), which often supersede or complement older PTC fuel-testing guidance.

Keywords

ASME PTC 3.1; Diesel fuels; Burner fuels; Fuel testing; Calorimetry; Viscosity; Specific gravity; Fuel sampling; Performance Test Code.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ASME PTC 3.1 is the Performance Test Code titled "Diesel and Burner Fuels", originally published in 1958 to specify standard tests and reporting for liquid fuels used in burners and internal-combustion equipment.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers sampling, measurement procedures and reporting formats for key fuel properties — heating value, gravity/density, viscosity, ignition/flash characteristics and contaminant presence — so that producers, buyers and users can compare fuel quality reliably.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Historically: fuel producers, independent test laboratories, power-plant and burner operators, equipment manufacturers and specification writers. Today those users more commonly rely on contemporary ASTM/ISO methods and current ASME PTCs, but PTC 3.1 is still referenced for historical practice.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: PTC 3.1 is listed in standards catalogs as inactive/withdrawn (records show R(1992) and withdrawal actions in ASME/standards listings). Many of its testing topics are now handled by up-to-date ASTM and ISO fuel test methods or by later ASME documents. Users needing current mandatory test methods should consult the latest ASTM/ISO standards or the current ASME PTC catalogue.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — PTC 3.1 is part of the ASME Performance Test Codes (PTC) series; PTC 3.x covers fuels (with companion documents addressing solid and gaseous fuels and other combustion-related test codes).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Diesel, burner fuels, fuel testing, calorific value, viscosity, specific gravity, sampling, ASME PTC 3.1.