Optical sensing system for liquid fuels

NOVELTY – An optical sensing system has an optical fiber (2) used as a light guide and a sensor device used to determine the refractive indexes of liquid fuels (9) through the principle of reflectivity to identify different types of liquid fuels and/or ratio of fuels making up a mixture. Sensitivity of the optical sensing system is determined by using optical fibers having different refractive indexes. Optical fibers are made of any type of material with refractive index value, preferably from 1.3 to 2.3 USE – Optical sensing system for identifying liquid fuels and/or determining ratio in liquid fuel mixtures in real time for use in e.g. ethanol production plant for controlling water concentration in produced ethanol and controlling fuel quality. ADVANTAGE – Enables optimization of the sensitivity of optical system according to application requirements by using optical fibers having suitable refractive indexes as function of fuel type and/or fuel mixture being analyzed. Allows checking for possible fuel adulterations during the whole production, transportation, and distribution cycle by being installed in fuel distribution facilities, tank trucks, gas stations, and motor vehicles due to portability of the optical sensing system. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) – The drawing shows a simplified schematic diagram of an optical sensing system for liquid fuels. Light source (1) Optical fiber (2) Test probe (3) Fuel container (4) Liquid fuels (9)

Main Application Field

S03 (Scientific Instrumentation); V07 (Fibre-optics and Light Control)

INVENTORS:

SUZUKI CARLOS KENICHI
GUSKEN EDMILTON
MERCADO ALLAN CARO
FUJIWARA ERIC
ONO EDUARDO

238_SENSORIAMENTO

Patent number: WO2009018638-A1;EP2176643-A1;US2010208243-A1;US8228489-B2;BR200703260-A2;EP2176643-A4

PATENT STATUS:

For information contact Inova Unicamp

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

parcerias@inova.unicamp.br

+55 (19) 3521-5207 / 2607