What is BS EN 13016-3- Determination of vapour pressure and calculated DVPE (Triple Expansion Method) about?

BS EN 13016-3 specifies a method for the determination of the vapour pressure, exerted in vacuo, by volatile, low viscosity petroleum products, components, ethanol blends up to 85 % (V/V), and feedstocks using a variable volume chamber. A dry vapour pressure equivalent (DVPE) is calculated from the vapour pressure.

The conditions used in the test described in BS EN 13016-3 are a vapour-to-liquid ratio of 4:1 and a test temperature of 37,8 °C. The equipment is not wetted with water during the test, and the method described is, therefore, suitable for testing samples with or without oxygenates; no account is taken of dissolved water in the sample. This procedure calculates the partial pressure of the air dissolved in the test portion during the triple expansion process. It is suitable for samples with a DVPE between 13,7 kPa and 98,3 kPa.

BS EN 13016-3 is applicable to fuels containing oxygenated compounds up to the limits stated in the relevant Council Directive 85/536/EEC [6], and for ethanol-fuel blends up to 85 % (V/V) ethanol.

Note: BS EN 13016-3 does not give full details of instruments suitable for carrying out this test. Details on the installation, operation and maintenance of each instrument can be found in the manufacturer’s manual.

Who is BS EN 13016-3- Determination of vapour pressure and calculated DVPE (Triple Expansion Method) for?

BS EN 130163- Determination of vapour pressure and calculated DVPE (Triple Expansion Method) is useful for:

Petroleum industry
Testing house/ laboratories
Companies dealing with petroleum products and
Quality control department

Why should you use BS EN 13016-3- Determination of vapour pressure and calculated DVPE (Triple Expansion Method)?

Vapour pressure is used as a classification criterion for the safe handling and carriage of petroleum products, feedstocks and components; it has a relationship to the potential for hydrocarbon emissions, under uncontrolled conditions, and thus is the subject of environmental scrutiny.

Vapour pressure limitations are often imposed to prevent pump cavitation during transfer operations. Fuels having a high vapour pressure may vaporize too readily in the fuel handling systems, resulting in decreased flow to the engine and possible stoppage by vapour lock. Conversely, fuels of low vapour pressure may not vaporize readily enough, resulting in difficult starting, slow warm-up and poor acceleration.

BS EN 13016-3 provides you guidance on determination vapour pressure, thus enabling you to measure volatility characteristics of the fuels used in different types of engines with large variations in operating temperatures. Fuels having a high vapour pressure may vaporize too readily in the fuel handling systems, resulting in decreased flow to the engine and possible stoppage by vapour lock. Conversely, fuels of low vapour pressure may not vaporize readily enough, resulting in difficult starting, slow warm-up and poor acceleration.

BS EN 13016-3 helps you with VP and DVPE reference values and acceptable testing ranges for carrying out the method. BS EN 13016-3 allows you to determine VP and DVPE using triple expansion method with precision and accuracy.

BS EN 13016-3:2018

Liquid petroleum products. Vapour pressure - Determination of vapour pressure and calculated dry vapour pressure equivalent (DVPE) (Triple Expansion Method)

Published:

30 Apr 2018

Withdrawn:

24 Apr 2025