Low diesel flashpoint tied to fuel tank bursts?

CHENNAI: The flashpoint of diesel in India needs to be increased to meet international standards and to prevent vehicles from catching fire during explosion of fuel tanks, according to CONCERT (Centre for consumer education, research, teaching, training and testing), a constituent of the BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) committee. The observation comes after the recent private bus accident at Kaveripakkam in which 21 lives were snuffed out when the vehicle overturned and exploded.Addressing a press conference, R Desikan, trustee, CONCERT, said that fire accidents involving fuel tank explosions in India may be attributed to low flashpoint of diesel fuel.The flashpoint is the minimum temperature at which the vapour above the sample fuel would ignite when it comes into contact with an ignition source. A low flashpoint diesel results in formation of inflammable fuel - air mixture in the diesel tank which can increase the risk of fuel tank explosion, he said.Stating that the required specification for flashpoint of automobile diesel is at present 35 degree celsius, as per the BIS, IS 1460-2005, he said that maintaining a low flashpoint in a tropical country like India where the ambient temperature is 45-50 degree celsius is a great risk when “cold countries” in Europe, America and Russia specify a higher flashpoint of 55-65 degree celsius.Majority of countries in Asia: Pakistan (66 degree celsius), Philippines (52 degree celsius), Hong Kong(66 degree celsius) and Malaysia (60 degree celsius) have a higher flashpoint than India, he pointed out.Citing  the results of a 2003 study conducted by the Automobile Research Association of India, Pune, Desikan said increasing the flashpoint of diesel to 65 degree celsius will have a host of benefits.  The flashpoint can be increased to meet international standards if the contents of Naphtha and Kerosene in the diesel blend are reduced. But, since the quantity of diesel production will be reduced by almost 10 percent, oil PSUs are reluctant to alter the flashpoint, he added.