Jul 17 2010
A new fuel analyzer equivalent to Fourier Transform Infra Red (FTIR) Laboratory methods measuring mixtures of diesel bio-fuels has been introduced by Oxford RF Sensors.
As there is an increase in the usage of bio-fuels, a precise fuel tester is needed for ensuring quality, throughout the supplier to customer chain. This battery operated hand held sensor imparts precise dimensions in the field area comparable to those available during sample tests at the laboratories. Presence of pollutants like petrol, water and white spirit can also be determined along with other impure vegetable oils and FAME (fatty acid methyl ester) products when the sensor analyses the quality of biodiesel in the diesel sample.
Incompatibility of biodiesel with FAME products causes complexities in fuel pumps. For this reason, several punters have started testing the bio ester levels in diesel through RF sensor technology. This sensor is suitable for field work and it alerts us to the incidence of contaminants. As the test is simple, it is ideal for supplying fuel to reserve power generators and it also evaluates fuel in batches at the depots. These trials are in accordance with FTIR laboratory testing processes.
When the sensor is inserted into the fuel and a button is depressed it displays the blend percentage instantaneously. University of Oxford’s RF technology used in the sensor, responds in 20 seconds with an accuracy of + - 1% for concentration of bio diesel ranging between 0 to 100 %. A speedy calibration is done before each operation the unit need not be calibrated with special calibrating fluids repeatedly.
The sensor can be connected to a computer through a USB port and recharged and the last stored 300 operation results can be down streamed and printed. Further, with the introduction of new bio fuels, their fluid parameters can be uploaded into the sensor. Advanced software can also be sent the same way.
Ross Walker, Oxford RF Sensors’ CEO says that, the plus point of this sensor was its ability to measure fuels, the amount of water in crude oil and jet fuels and also quality of AdBlue and water contaminants precisely and immediately on the field. This reduces the need for sending samples to the laboratory for analysis, thereby saving on expenses. Also, the sensor’s technology is easy to use and adaptable. He also stated that the company’s current goal was to develop a similar device which would be used for measuring oil conditions and ethyl alcohol/gasoline.
Source: http://oxfordrfsensors.com