Diesel Fuel
Ignition Quality Tester (IQT™)

Fuel Specification Test Methods: ASTM D6890/EN 15195(IP 498)

Direct measurement alternative to the cetane engine, as per ASTM fuel specification test methods D 6890 and IP 498 Test method specified in Diesel Fuel Specifications: ASTM D975, EN590, ASTM D6751, ASTM D7467, CAN/CGSB-3.517-2000, CAN/CGSB-3.6-2000 Accurately determines the ignition quality of diesel and alternative diesel fuels Sensitive to cetane improver additives; sensitive to small fuel quality variations Improved repeatability and reproducibility over the full DCN scale Automated test procedure,  quiet operation and easy to operate Short test time (less than 20 minutes) Small sample size (less than 100 mL) High level of reliability, rugged system, low operating and maintenance costs Easy access for maintenance Safety track record established over 12 years Has no problem testing any B100 diesel fuel Based on technology initially developed by the Southwest Research Institute, Texas

“One of the top - 100 best inventions of 2001” R&D Magazine Annual Awards

Click the images below to see the IQT™ from different points of view

The automated Ignition Quality Tester (IQT™), with patented air assisted fuel injection system, is a combustion-based analytical instrument, which enables the determination of the ignition quality of diesel fuels in a rapid, quiet and cost-effective manner. The ignition delay and derived cetane number of diesel and alternative fuels (including cetane improved diesel fuels) can be efficiently and accurately measured, in a matter of minutes. Based on the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) constant volume combustion apparatus (CVCA) technology, the IQT™ also has the potential for use in refinery on-line operations. The IQT™ is CE and Canadian Standards Association (CSA) approved (CSA Special Acceptance Program, electrical equipment).

The IQT™ is in use in more than 126 petroleum and additive companies around the world, including several heavy usage refinery applications. The heavy usage refinery application of the IQT™, where 24/7 operation is the norm, has shown that it is an effective, durable and cost saving instrument for rapid and reliable cetane measurement. Three heavy usage refineries have reported no significant down time for durations of 19, 16, and 14 months. Customer experience, as well as our own experience, has also indicated that the improved precision of the IQT™ relative to the ASTM D613/IP41 cetane engine test makes it a very useful tool for additive/blending applications. A considerable amount of in-house IQT™ testing of bio-fuels and a range of other fuels has also been performed for various clients.

On-going research programs are focussed on investigations associated with the laboratory model IQT™ and the development of a refinery on-line model (ROLM). To learn more about these programs/participate in this research, click here.

Additional information including precision and specifications is available in a downloadable IQT™ information brochure:

IQTBrochure-June 18, 2009.pdf