Sustainable Aviation Fuels - Innovation Centre: Additional Aviation Characterisation Laboratory Equipment (6 Lots)

Tender description

The University of Sheffield (UoS) with funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is establishing a Sustainable Aviation Fuels Innovation Centre (SAF-IC) to support and promote the production and characterisation of decarbonised and sustainable aviation fuel. Further to our previous tenders (3073/JN and 3325/JN) we are looking to complement our research capability and procure a range of test equipment approved to various ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) standards as well as other internationally recognised standards where appropriate. Lot 1: Surface Tension in conformity with ASTM D1331 Surface tension is a measurement of the cohesive energy present at an interface. Values for surface tension are usually given when the surface of the liquid is in contact with air. This understanding is important in two key fuel areas, including (i) the movement of gas (air) into and out of turbine fuel, and (ii) the movement of turbine fuel into airstreams by atomization. We are looking for an automated, reliable, durable, compact, and user friendly instrument for quantification of the surface tension of jet fuel at a range of temperature, in conformity with the ASTM D1331 for Sustainable Aviation Fuel/Innovation Centre (SAF-IC) characterisation lab. Lot 2: Electrical conductivity in conformity with ASTM D2624 Aviation fuels, in general, are highly refined products with a very low electrical conductivity. This indicates that they have the potential to build up a very high static electrical charge, which can lead to sparking and ignition of explosive vapours. Commonly, aviation fuels are pumped through distribution lines and filters causing the potential for an static electrical discharge. In any event, the low conductivity of aviation fuels is the fundamental property that can cause a very hazardous situation to arise when handling flowing fuels. We are looking for a rapid and reliable test device for determining the electrical conductivity of aviation fuels, in conformity with ASTM D2624 for the Sustainable Aviation Fuel-Innovation Centre (SAF-IC) characterisation lab. Lot 3: Thermal Conductivity in conformity with ASTM D7894 We are looking for a rapid and reliable test device for determining the thermal conductivity of aviation fuels, in conformity with ASTM D7894 for the Sustainable Aviation Fuel-Innovation Centre (SAF-IC) characterisation lab. Lot 4: Existent Gum in Aviation Fuel, in conformity with ASTM D381 We are looking for a rapid and reliable test device for quantification of existent gum in aviation fuels, in conformity with ASTM D381 for the Sustainable Aviation Fuel-Innovation Centre (SAF-IC) characterisation lab. Lot 5: Quantification of speed of sound in aviation fuel We are looking for a rapid and reliable test device for quantification of speed of sound in aviation fuel, for the Sustainable Aviation Fuel-Innovation Centre (SAF-IC) characterisation lab. This is an in direct method to determine the Isentropic Bulk Modulus as function of temperature(ASTM D6793 ). Lot 6: A Test Device for Flammability Limits of Aviation Fuels, in Conformity with ASTM E681 We are looking for a controlled test device for determining flammability limits of aviation fuels for our Fuel/Innovation Centre (SAF-IC) characterisation lab.