ASTM D240 is the bomb-calorimeter method for the heat of combustion of liquid hydrocarbon fuels. A weighed sample is burned in oxygen inside a sealed bomb, and the temperature rise of the calorimeter is converted to an energy content. Fuel producers and acceptance labs use the number to check specification heat value — not to describe combustion in an engine or a burner.
The method is written for liquid hydrocarbon fuels. It is not a general calorimetry standard for solids, gases, or formulated lubricants. Gross heat of combustion (the usual D240 report) is also not the same as net heating value; the two differ by the latent heat of the water formed during combustion.
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ASTM Standard at a Glance
| Property | Value |
| ASTM Standard | ASTM D240 |
| Type | Test method |
| Measures | Heat of combustion (bomb calorimeter) |
| Applicable samples | Liquid hydrocarbon fuels |
| Related standards | Other bomb-calorimeter methods for different sample types |
| Recommended equipment | VeroCal — Oxygen Bomb Calorimeter |
Related Products
Recommended equipment for ASTM D240:
