2. SCOPE & SIGNIFICANCE
The instrument provides a quick, portable means for
field and laboratory use to rate the ability of aviation
turbine fuels to release entrained or emulsified water
when passed through fiberglass coalescence material.
The test provides a measure of surface active materials
in aviation turbine fuels. These are known to affect the
ability of filter separators to separate free water from
fuel.
4. PREPARATION OF APPARATUS
• Unlock the box of WSIM apparatus by putting “000” on the lock and press
• Locate the instrument in an area where the temperature is between 18 °C and
29°C ± 3°C. Test performed outside of these temperature limits may not meet
ASTM repeatability/reproducibility criteria.
• Open the case and remove the Six-Pack box from the lid. Insert your finger into the
hole in the right panel and raise the panel until completely vertical and locked in
place. If power is available, check to be certain the source voltage (220-260 volt
power cord) matches the power cord label and connect the power cord.
• Open a new six pack “syringe, ALUMICEL COALESCER, vial, plug, pipette tip, and a
container for clean water.
• If the instrument is to be operated in a location where an AC outlet is not available,
the instrument should be charged for approximately 16 hours before testing. The
unit will function properly for approximately 25 tests before battery recharging is
necessary.
5. PREPARATION OF SAMPLE
• Obtain and handle the samples with the utmost care and cleanliness as required in
the ASTM Procedure D-3948. Before pouring the test sample from container, wipe
the container outlet thoroughly with a clean, lintless wipe. Then pour the test
sample into a clean beaker or directly into the syringe.
• If the sample for test is not within the test temperature limits (18°C to 29°C) let the
container stand or preferably put sample in a clean beaker and let it come to
operating temperature.
6. PROCEDURE
• Press “ON” switch and warm up for at least 30 minutes.
• Momentarily depress the "ON" switch. The annunciator lamps located on switches A
through G in the TEST SELECT section will then be scanning for your selection.
Depress switch "A". This will initiate the standard automatic program for Jet A fuel.
• Note: Only JP 4 requires Mode B operation
• Remove a plunger from a new 50-mL syringe and wipe the tip using a clean, lintless
wipe to remove any sheen caused by excess lubricant. Insert a plug into the exit hole
of the syringe barrel, add 50 ± 1 mL of fuel, and place the syringe barrel on the
emulsifier mount, turning to lock in place. Ensure that the syringe barrel is properly
aligned concentrically with the mixer shaft and is not touching the propeller.
Emulsifier mount
plug
Syringe Barrel
plunger
vial
ALUMICEL COALESCER
pipette tip
Micropipette
Wire Aid
clean water
7. PROCEDURE
• Add about 15 to 20 mL of the fuel to be tested into a new vial. Wipe the outside of the
vial with a clean, lintless wiper and insert the vial into the turbidimeter well aligning
the black mark on the vial with the line on the front panel.
• Initiate the CLEAN cycle by depressing the “START” pushbutton as designated by the
annunciator light.
• Warnings—do not operate the mixer without having a syringe with fuel in place.
Turbidimeter
Emulsifier mount and syringe barrel with fuel / Mixer
8. PROCEDURE
• At the end of the first clean cycle, when the mixer motor stops, press the RESET
push-button, remove the syringe barrel from the emulsifier, discard the fuel, and
drain the syringe thoroughly. Add 50 ± 1 mL of fresh fuel into the syringe and place
the syringe barrel on the emulsifier mount (turn to lock in place). Visually inspect that
the syringe barrel is properly aligned concentrically with the mixer shaft and is not
touching the propeller. Select Test Mode A by pressing A push-button
• Initiate the second CLEAN cycle by depressing the “START” pushbutton as
designated by the annunciator light.
• At the end of the clean cycle, when the mixer motor stops, remove the syringe barrel
from the emulsifier, discard the fuel, and drain the syringe thoroughly. Add 50 ± 1 mL
of fresh fuel into the syringe, add 50 μL of distilled water to the fuel sample. Place
the syringe barrel on the emulsifier mount, With the syringe in place, depress the
START push-button.
Water Addition
depress the START push-button.
9. PROCEDURE
• The automatic program starts with a read meter indication followed by a 10-s full-
scale adjustment period. During this period, the ARROWED pushbuttons will
illuminate and can be depressed to adjust the meter to read 100. If the adjustment
cannot be completed at this time, final adjustment can be accomplished during the
second meter adjust period occurring later in the test sequence.
• After the full-scale adjustment period the mixer motor activates and the emulsion
process is initiated.
• When the mixer stops (after emulsification), remove the syringe barrel from the
emulsifier and partially insert the. plunger to seal the open end of the syringe. Invert
the syringe (exit hole up), remove the plug, and exhaust the entrapped air in the
syringe barrel without significant fuel loss by carefully inserting plunger to the 50 mL
mark. (Use a clean wipe over the exit hole to capture the small amounts of fuel which
may be extruded as foam. Affix a new Alumicel coalescer to the end of the syringe
barrel.
10. PROCEDURE
• Place the entire syringe assembly into the syringe drive mechanism. To minimize the effect of
plunger resistance (drag) in the syringe barrel, align the syringe assembly vertically in the
syringe drive mechanism with the end of the syringe plunger parallel with pushbar of the
syringe drive mechanism. Position a waste container beneath the Alumicel coalescer to collect
the unwanted portion of the processed fuel sample during the coalescing period.
Pushbar
• Collect the last 15 mL of fuel sample being processed from the Alumicel coalesce, when the
collect sample annunciator lamp (marked C/S) illuminates and a pulsed tone of short duration
sounds. To lessen the amount of air introduced into the fuel during this operation, position the
vial at a slight angle and allow the fuel to flow down the inner surface. Remove the vial just
prior to when the last amount of sample is expelled from the Alumicel coalescer.
Collect the last 15 mL of fuel sample
11. PROCEDURE
• Wipe the outside of the vial with a clean, lintless wiper to remove any fingerprints
and fuel. Place the sample vial into the turbidimeter well aligning the marks on the
vial and on the control panel in front of the well. At the end of the settling time (1
min), a steady (4-s duration) tone will alert the operator that the meter is about to
activate
• At the end of the tone, the METER will automatically activate for approximately 10 s.
• MSEP ratings are read at the midpoint of the 10-s meter read cycle indicated by a
short 1-s tone.
• Report the results obtained in hole number.
