ASTM D2156-09(2024)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D2156 − 09 (Reapproved 2024)
Standard Test Method for
Smoke Density in Flue Gases from Burning Distillate Fuels
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D2156; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope 3.1.1 smoke spot number, n—the number of the spot on the
standard scale most closely matching the color (or shade) of the
1.1 This test method covers the evaluation of smoke density
test spot.
in the flue gases from burning distillate fuels. It is intended
primarily for use with home heating equipment burning kero-
4. Summary of Test Method
sine or heating oils. It can be used in the laboratory or in the
4.1 A test smoke spot is obtained by pulling a fixed volume
field to compare fuels for clean burning or to compare heating
of flue gas through a fixed area of standard filter paper. The
equipment.
color (or shade) of the spot thus produced is visually matched
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
with a standard scale, and the smoke density is expressed as a
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
“smoke spot number.”
standard.
1.2.1 Arbitrary and relative units are also used.
5. Significance and Use
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
5.1 This test method provides a means of controlling smoke
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
production in home heating equipment to an acceptable level.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
Excessive smoke density adversely affects efficiency by heat-
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
exchanger fouling.
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
5.2 The range of smoke densities covered by this test
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
method is that which has been found particularly pertinent to
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
home-heating application. It is more sensitive to small amounts
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
of smoke than several other smoke tests as indicated in the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
following comparison:
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Smoke Spot Icham, percent Ringelman
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Number Transmission Smoke Number
0 100 0
2. Referenced Documents
2 95 0
4 80 0
2.1 ASTM Standards:
6 54 0
E97 Method of Test for Directional Reflectance Factor,
8 18 0
9 0 0
45-Deg 0-Deg, of Opaque Specimens by Broad-Band
9 0 0 to 5
Filter Reflectometry (Withdrawn 1991)
6. Apparatus
3. Terminology
6.1 Sampling Device—A suitable device providing a total
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
flue gas sample volume of 36.9 L 6 1.65 L at 16 °C, 101 kPa
for each 645 mm effective surface area of filter paper shall be
This method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on Petroleum
employed. The sampling device and connections shall be of
Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcom-
such construction that the total travel of flue gas sample from
mittee D02.E0 on Burner, Diesel and Non-Aviation Gas Turbine Fuels.
flue to filter paper shall not exceed 410 mm. The device shall
Current edition approved March 1, 2024. Published April 2024. Originally
approved in 1963. Last previous edition approved in 2018 as D2156 – 09 (2018).
provide for cooling the sample below the charring temperature
DOI: 10.1520/D2156-09R24.
for the filter paper but not below the dew point of the sample.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Suitable laboratory and portable field service equipment is
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on illustrated in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2.
the ASTM website.
6.2 Smoke Scale—The smoke scale required consists of ten
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
www.astm.org. spots numbered consecutively from 0 to 9, ranging in equal
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D2156 − 09 (2024)
FIG. 1 Laboratory Type Smoke Meter
FIG. 2 Field Service Type Smoke Tester
photometric steps from white through neutral shades of gray to 7. Materials
black, imprinted or otherwise processed on white paper or
7.1 Test Filter Paper, made from white filter paper stock
plastic stock having a surface reflectance of between 82.5 %
having a surface reflectance of 82.5 % to 87.5 % 45°, 0°
and 87.5 % 45°, 0° daylight luminous directional reflectance in
daylight luminous directional reflectance, in accordance with
accordance with Test Method E97. The smoke scale spot
the Test Method E97. When clean air at standard conditions is
number is defined as the reduction (due to smoke) in reflected
drawn through clean filter paper at a rate of 476 L ⁄s·m
incident light divided by 10. Thus, the first spot, which is the
effective surface area of filter paper, the pressure drop across
color of the unimprinted scale, will be No. 0, since in the case
the filter paper falls between limits of 1.7 kPa and 8.4 kPa.
of this spot there will be no reduction in reflected incident light
directed thereon. The last spot, however, is very dark, reflecting
8. Procedure
only 10 % of the incident light directed thereon; thus in this
case the reduction in reflected incident light is 90 %, which
8.1 The sampling procedure used is critical. Therefore, the
gives to this darkest spot the No. 9. Intermediate spot numbers
procedure recommended by the equipment manufacturer shall
are similarly established. Limits of permissible reflectance
be rigidly followed.
variation of any smoke scale spot shall not exceed 63 %
relative reflectance (Note 1 and Note 2).
8.2 Use a clean, dry, sampling device. If a hand sampler is
used, warm it above room temperature to prevent condensation
NOTE 1—Such smoke scales are sufficiently accurate for field use and
on the filter paper. (This can usually be done conveniently by
for many laboratory smoke testing applications. However, specially
calibrated scales (known as certified smoke scales) will sometimes be
placing the sampler on the boiler or furnace to be tested.)
required. A certified smoke scale is obtained by individually calibrating
each smoke spot of a normal smoke scale. 8.3 Insert filter paper in the sampler and tighten the filter
NOTE 2—Where the smoke scale is protected with a plastic or
paper holder. Connect the sampling device to the flue gas
transparent cover the construction employed shall be such that when the
probe. When taking smoke measurements in the flue pipe,
smoke spot on the filter paper is viewed for matching with the number
position the end of the sampling probe at the center line of the
spots on the smoke scale, both shall be visible through the same thickness
and number of sheets of transparent protective cover. flue pipe.
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