Atomized Lube Oil Flash Point

This is all I could find:

This evaluation study was done.

This document gives the test results

This document designates the standard tests for the 2190 tep

It would help to know the brand and the type of lube oil. You should have a MSDS sheet for what ever it is and the LEL and Flashpoint information should be on the MSDS. If not, the contact information for the manufacturer will be on the MSDS sheet and you can call them for the exact information.

If it is a Shell lube oil, I have contacts in Shell and should be able to get it for you.

2190 TEP is typical Military Lube oil. I checked the MSDS and it shows the flashpoint, however the flashpoint will vary if the oil is atomized (mist)

He's talking about atomized.

In the diesel engines on Navy ships they atomize the fuel. The flash point is much lower for atomized then it is for a barrel of oil because of the ratio of oxygen available to the fuel.

if you know the viscocity and the type of base oil, you can conjecture the flash point.

if base oil is mineral oil , viscocity is 3cst @ 38 c, the flash point maybe at 110~130 C.

if viscocity is 22cst at 38c, flash point maybe at 160~180C.

if viscocity is 68cst at 38c,flash point maybe at 200~250C.

if base oil is synthetic just like ester, flash point is different.

Sounds like you are in an argument regarding fire safety of spaying lube oil on a hot engine. Correct?

Go to your ships Oil & water Lab and start pouring over the books I know the flash point of atomized 2190 is a lot higher than you might think. I remember when (Sea story time) we used to scare the ESWS dweebs when they came down the boiler flats by putting our smokes out in a can of Jp5 (you can do the same with gasoline if your quick enough)

I would think that information would be available in an EN 3 @ 2's.

You're Chief Engineer or DCO should have that information available for you to reference.

Are you studying for ESWS?

Thank you guys for all the help.

In reply to post:

I couldn't ask my upper chain of command because they are the ones asking us (our shop) but we were unable to find the exact answer.

No I already have my ESWS.

here

You must know the Atomise level. The presure you are using and the base oil used. You take the base oil viscosity and the math of the pressure being used and test it with a torch or have a burner to test this :)

your welsome via rainmanp7

When oil is atomized the flash point is dependent on the amount of oxygen/oil ratio and temperature of either. I have a waste oil burner in my garage stove and I take compressed air (Shop air ~100 psi) and atomize the motor oil through a filter gravity feed. Very low volume of air (1/4 turn on a 1/8 npt needle valve) and steady low flow of oil is best to ignite with propane torch (3600 degrees F). The oil flows through a 1/8"copper tubing mixing at the end of a copper male flare fitting. As the air passes over the copper tubing it draws the oil through the copper male fitting into a combustion chamber (S/S tube narrowed at the discharge, small hole at inlet (large enough for mixing nozzle to fit and allow air ~1/2 inch).

Now to answer your question: Oil on its own has a flash point of 420 to 485 degrees F. Defined as the temperature of oil to make a vapor above the oil ignite. So if you heat oil to 450 degrees F. and put a match on top of the oil it will ignite and continue to burn if oxygen is present such as in air (20% oxygen) room temperature standard relative humidity and normal atmospheric pressure. However, if you blow a stream of oil at a match (~1112 degrees F.) it most times will put out the match. If I preheat the oil (heater around oil filter) to 150 degrees F. the atomized mixture (compressed air and used motor oil) I can ignite the atomized oil with a match. If I do not heat the oil it will not ignite when under 50 degrees F with a match but will, with a propane torch held long enough to preheat oil. However, given every thing standard as in a fuel oil furnace (ship's boiler) the flash point of atomized oil is 122 degrees F.

If you take a spray bottle filled with oil at room temperature and spray (fine mist) it at a burning flame it will ignite and continue to burn (not advised to try). It also will ignite sprayed at hot plate of metal at much lower temperature than 420 degrees F or over 122 degrees F. That's the real answer to your question I believe.

If I have a wood fire going in my stove and start the oil burner (atomized waste motor oil) I have very little problem igniting the atomized oil. As a matter of fact the fire intensifies and I can burn unseasoned wet wood.