This document describes an experiment to determine the Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) of gasoline, diesel, and a gasoline-diesel mixture. The apparatus used includes a water bath, fluid chamber, manometer, and thermometer. Procedures involve filling the chambers, recording pressure readings over time, and calculating the True Vapor Pressure (TVP) from the RVP data. Results found the gasoline had the highest TVP at 39.9 kPa, diesel had no TVP, and the mixture was unexpectedly higher than gasoline. Errors may have occurred from insufficient testing time and residual vapor in the chambers between tests. Improving procedures and repeating tests could increase accuracy. In conclusion, RVP testing provides an applicable method

1. i
Department Of Engineering
Faculty Of Petroleum Engineering
Petroleum Fluid Properties Laboratory
PENG212L
Reid Vapor Pressure
Submitted to:
Mr. Jamil Mahfoud.
Submitted by:
Bassam El Ghoul
May 17, 2018

2. ii
Contents
Chapter 1 Introduction........................................................................................................1
1.1 Definition……………………………………………………………………………………………………….1
1.2 Objective……………………………………………………………………………………………………….1
Chapter 2 Apparatus ...........................................................................................................2
Chapter 3 Other Equipment Used......................................................................................4
Chapter 4 Procedure............................................................................................................5
4.1 Installation……………………………………………………..………………………………………………6
4.2 Operation……………………………………………………..……………………………………………….6
Chapter 5 Calculation..........................................................................................................6
Chapter 6 Results and Discussions.....................................................................................6
Chapter 7 Error and Recommendations ...........................................................................8
Chapter 8 Conclusion ..........................................................................................................9
Chapter 9 References.........................................................................................................10

3. iii
List of Figures
Figure 2.1 RVP Apparatus.........................................................................................................2
Figure 2.2 Manometer...............................................................................................................3
Figure 3.1 Thermometer............................................................................................................4
Figure 3.2 Gasoline and Diesel Sample .......................................................................................4

4. iv
List of Tables
Table 5.1 RVP Data..................................................................................................................6
Table 6.1 TVP..........................................................................................................................7

5. 1
Chapter 1 Introduction
1.1. Definition
Internal combustion engine is a type of engine that works through an internal ignition of a
mixture of air and flammable material. Moreover, these flammable materials can vary in a
wide range of petroleum product ("Reid Vapor Pressure", 2015). Usually, gasoline is one of
the most used petroleum product. The performance and operation of the gasoline depend on
the volatility of the product. Therefore, we conduct the Reid Vapor pressure, which measure
the pressure exerted by a liquid to calculate the volatility of gasoline. This experiment is
conducted on 37.8 degree Celsius. This experiment is applicable to a wide range of
petroleum product, where it can be used for crude oil, condensate and petroleum distillate
such as gasoline, kerosene, and diesel (Mahfoud, 2018).
The Reid Vapor Pressure comes as an applicable and easy way to appreciate the total vapor
pressure of the fluid due to the difficulties to measure it. In fact, there is a slight difference
between the TVP and the RVP, where in the TVP we remove all air and water of the chamber
by a vacuum. In the other hand, the RVP is done without a need of any vacuum, and we can
then convert it into TVP by using nomograms (Mahfoud, 2018).
1.2. Objective
The main purpose of this experiment is to find the Reid vapor pressure of petroleum product
(gasoline and diesel), and to compart it with the RVP of other petroleum product.

6. 2
Chapter 2 Apparatus
Figure 2.1 RVP Apparatus
Power Switch
Thermometer
Socket
RVP Chamber
Water Bath

7. 3
The apparatus of the Reid Vapor Pressure experiment is consisted of water bath to heat the
fluid chamber to 37.8°C, and a thermometer socket to insert the thermometer to measure the
water temperature. The fluid chamber is put in the water bath, the tested fluid is filled in the
chamber, and the pressure is red.
Figure 2.2 Manometer
The gasoline is filled in the gas chamber, the vapor will accumulate in the fluid chamber,
and its pressure will be measured using the manometer.
Manometer
Fluidchamber
Gas Chamber.

8. 4
Chapter 3 Other Equipment Used
Figure3.1 Thermometer
Used to measure the water temperature.
Figure 3.2 Gasoline and Diesel Sample
Tested sample of fuel
Thermometer
Socket

9. 5
Chapter 4 Procedure
4.1 Installation
1. Connect the equipment to the power supply.
2. Insert the thermometer in the socket using the plastic plug to hold it in place.
3. Install the manometer with the fluid chamber in the water bath.
4. Turn on the power switch.
5. Set the water temperature to 37.8 degree Celsius.
6. Wait until the temperature stabilizes.
4.2 Operation
1. Fill the water bath
2. Fill the gasoline chamber with gasoline to the top.
3. Join the gas chamber and the fluid chamber.
4. Place the chamber in the water bath and close the cover.
5. Wait 10 minutes, and then record the first reading.
6. Then, remove the chamber shake and replace it again, shaking will help the gas
to get out of the solution.
7. Wait 5 minutes, and then take another reading.
8. Repeat step 5.
9. Wait 2 to 3 minutes, if the pressure is not changing, remove the chamber and
clean it with distilled water.
10. Then fill the gas chamber with diesel.
11. Wait 10 minutes, if no reading occurs remove the chamber and clean it with
distilled water.
12. Then refill the chamber with the gasoline, and diesel mixture.
13. Then repeat the same procedure from step 3 to step 8.

10. 6
Chapter 5 Calculation
Table 5.1 RVP Data
Fuel Gasoline Diesel Mixture
RVP (kpa) 36 0 45
For gasoline
𝐴 = 𝐴1 − 𝐴2 ln( 𝑅𝑉𝑃) = 9.4947 + 0.9658𝑛(36)=12.955
𝐵 = 𝐵1 − 𝐵2 ln( 𝑅𝑉𝑃) = 2917.76 − 9.9001𝑛(36)=2882.283
TVP = exp (A −
B
T+𝐶
) = exp(12.955 −
2882.283
37.8+273.15
=39.9 kpa
Chapter 6 Results and Discussions

11. 7
Table 6.1 TVP
Fuel Gasoline Diesel Mixture
TVP (kpa) 39.9 0 49.8
Table 6.1 showed the true vapor pressure of the gasoline, diesel and a mixture of
gasoline and diesel. It shows that the gasoline have a high TVP compering to the diesel, who
has no significant TVP. The mixture TVP should be less than the gasoline TVP, because the
diesel has zero TVP, thus the mixture of diesel and gasoline, should have lower TVP than a
pure gasoline for the same volume. Therefore, the data collected are subjected to a human
and machine error, which we will discuss thoroughly in the error and reconditions section.
As we discussed in the introduction, the RVP test is done, without removing the air
from the solution, which will cause a pressure on the fluid decreasing its volatility.
Therefore, we can conclude that the TVP should be higher than the RVP because of
removing the air pressure above the gasoline, and creating a vacuum instead. This concept
was illustrated in our results too, where we noticed a significant increase while converting
from RVP to TVP.

12. 8
Chapter 7 Error and Recommendations
In this experiment, the main error was due to the shortage in time, where each tests
were not given enough time to have the right measurements. Furthermore, we were not able
to repeat the experiment more than one time. In addition, we only gave fifteen second to
connect the fluid chamber with the gasoline chamber. If we took more time, the gas will start
to evaporate, and we will get wrong readings.
Regarding the problem that we discussed previously, about the RVP of the mixture is higher
than that of pure gasoline. Their where maybe a residual of vapor stuck in the fluid chamber,
after conducting the gasoline test, and was not removed, which increase the RVP of the
mixture.
Another error we faced is the continuous cut in the electrical current, which affects
the stability of water bath temperature.
In order to be able to have better results in the experiment, the main recommendation is to
try to avoid the errors discussed previously. These errors can mainly be avoided by giving
enough time for the sample to fully evaporate, and repeat the measurement multiple time in
order to increase our accuracy.
Second, it can be by a more careful cleaning of the fluid chamber to remove any deposit.
Third, by avoiding any cut in the electrical current.

13. 9
Chapter 8 Conclusion
In conclusion, Reid vapor pressure is an applicable way experiment to test the
volatility of a fuel, which affects its performance in an internal combustion engine. The Reid
vapor pressure is an easier way to measure the true vapor pressure, where we can avoid the
complication of creating a vacuum in the fluid chamber, and we can then compensate it by
applying an appropriate equation to convert from RVP to TVP.
The results of the experiment, showed a huge different in the TVP between the
gasoline and the diesel, and the mixture of them both. Where the diesel recorded a zero in
the TVP and the mixture showed a TVP higher than that of the pure gasoline, which was an
error in the data collected.
Repeating the experiment multiple time and giving it enough time, is a key to insure
the accuracy of our data.

14. 10
Chapter 9 References
"Reid VaporPressure".(2015). RetrievedfromCourse Hero:
https://www.coursehero.com/file/17581165/LR-Experiment-1/
Mahfoud,J. (2018). Reid VaporPressure. RetrievedfromPENG212L LAB 1 PetroleumFluid
PropertiesLaboratory-SPRING2017:
https://lms.pu.edu.lb/sites/12017SPRING6045/Documents/Forms/AllItems.aspx