Fuel quality determination device

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a fuel quality determination device capable of efficiently confirming the quality of aviation fuel. [Solution] A fuel quality determination device comprises a component determination means (server 2) that compares components of fuel oil F1, F2 brought into an aviation fuel supply facility 1 and components of fuel oil F3, F4 stored for a prescribed period at a prescribed place in the aviation fuel supply facility. The fuel oil may be a mixture of a prescribed aviation fuel (JETA-1) and other fuel oil (SAF). When fuel oil is supplied from the aviation fuel supply facility 1 to an aircraft 4, a content ratio of the fuel oil other than the prescribed aviation fuel may be outputted for each fuel tank containing fuel oil F5 to be supplied.

Description

Fuel quality determination device

[0001] The present invention relates to a fuel quality determination device, and more particularly to a device for determining the quality of aviation fuel.

[0002] As a measure to prevent global warming, attention is being drawn to the effective use of energy from biomass.Biomass fuels can effectively utilize carbon fixed from atmospheric carbon dioxide through photosynthesis during the growth process of plants, and therefore have the property of being carbon neutral, meaning that they do not lead to an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide from a life cycle perspective.

[0003] Among these, SAF (Sustainable aviation fuel) is expected to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional aviation fuel (JETA-1), and is used in combination with JETA-1. Japan has also set a goal of replacing 10% of aviation fuel use with SAF by 2030, and the International Air Transport Association has set a goal of achieving net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050.

[0004] Conventionally, fuel oil is supplied to aircraft under pressure from aviation fuel storage facilities via underground pipelines using a refueling vehicle or the like as described in Utility Model Registration No. 3192792. If it were possible to determine how much SAF has been mixed into conventional aviation fuel (JETA-1) at this point, it would be possible to grasp the degree to which the above-mentioned goal has been achieved, but there is currently no means of determining this, making it increasingly important to check the quality of aviation fuel.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel quality determination device that can efficiently check the quality of aviation fuel.

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is a fuel quality determination device, which is characterized by having a component determination means for comparing the components (chemical components) of fuel oil brought into an aviation fuel supply facility with the components of the fuel oil after it has been stored for a predetermined period of time in a predetermined location within the aviation fuel supply facility.

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to confirm that there is no deterioration in the quality of the components of the fuel oil brought in, and to confirm its reliability as a fuel oil for aircraft.

[0008] By preparing the fuel oil as a mixture of a predetermined aviation fuel and other fuel oils (SAF, etc.), it is possible to confirm the reliability of using the fuel oil with SAF, etc.

[0009] When fuel oil is supplied from the aviation fuel supply equipment to an aircraft, the content of fuel oil other than the specified aviation fuel is output for each fuel tank containing the supplied fuel oil, making it possible to numerically show the reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.

[0010] The present invention is also characterized by a fuel quality determination device that includes a component determination means that compares the components of fuel oil (SAF, etc.) brought into an aviation fuel supply facility, the components of a specified aviation fuel, and the components of a mixed fuel obtained after mixing the fuel oil and the aviation fuel in the aviation fuel supply facility.

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to check whether the fuel oil (SAF, etc.) brought into an aviation fuel supply facility contains specified amounts of components.

[0012] When fuel oil is supplied from the aviation fuel supply facility to an aircraft, the content of the fuel oil brought into the aviation fuel supply facility is output for each fuel tank containing the supplied fuel oil, making it possible to numerically show the reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.

[0013] In the above-mentioned fuel quality determination device, the arms are formed to be flexible and extendable according to the outer circumference of the detected part, and the component determination means is equipped with an irradiation unit that irradiates near-infrared light from one of the arms, a light receiving unit that receives near-infrared light that has passed through the detected part on the other arm, and an analysis unit that analyzes the spectrum of the near-infrared light received by the light receiving unit.The component determination means compares the components based on the components analyzed by the component analysis means, so that a common component analysis means can be installed according to the outer diameter of the fuel transport pipe, etc., and can be easily installed in existing equipment.

[0014] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a fuel quality determination device that can efficiently check the quality of aviation fuel.

[0015] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a method for supplying aviation fuel using a hydrant system. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a method for supplying aviation fuel using a refueler system. 3 is an overall configuration diagram illustrating a first embodiment of a fuel quality determination device according to the present invention. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a method for using a near-infrared spectroscopy inspection unit provided in the fuel quality determination device of FIG. 3, where (a) is a partially cutaway perspective view of the near-infrared spectroscopy inspection unit, (b) is a piping to which the near-infrared spectroscopy inspection unit is attached, and (c) is a partially cutaway perspective view showing the near-infrared spectroscopy inspection unit attached to the piping. 5 is a diagram illustrating another example of a method for using the near-infrared spectroscopy inspection unit shown in FIG. 6, where (a) and (b) are partially cutaway perspective views of the near-infrared spectroscopy inspection unit, (c) is a partially cutaway perspective view of a sample beaker, and (d) and (e) are partially cutaway perspective views showing the near-infrared spectroscopy inspection unit attached to the sample beaker. 6 is an overall configuration diagram illustrating a second embodiment of a fuel quality determination device according to the present invention.

[0016] Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0017] There are two methods for supplying aviation fuel to aircraft at airports: the hydrant system and the refueler system. In the hydrant system, as shown in Figure 1, a fuel filler (hydrant pit) 9 located in a spot on the airport apron is connected to a huge storage tank (not shown) on the airport grounds by a pipeline 10, and aviation fuel is pressurized and supplied from the fuel filler 9 to a dedicated refueling vehicle (servicer) 3 through a refueling hose 3a to a fuel filler 4a of an aircraft 4.

[0018] On the other hand, in the refueler system, as shown in Figure 2, at a loading yard, aviation fuel is temporarily stored in a tank 65a of a tanker truck-type dedicated refueling work vehicle (refueler) 65 via a fuel supply pipe 61 connected to a storage tank (not shown) and a rotary pipe 63 supported by a loading arm 62, and then a drop pipe 64.The refueling work vehicle 65 is then parked alongside the aircraft 4, and the aviation fuel is supplied from a fuel supply hose 65b to the refueling port 4a of the aircraft 4 via a pump 65c.

[0019] Next, an embodiment of the fuel quality determination device according to the present invention will be described. In the following description, first, a case of a hydrant system will be described.

[0020] FIG. 3 shows a first embodiment of a fuel quality determination device according to the present invention. This fuel quality determination device includes near-infrared spectroscopic inspection units (component analysis means) 11 (11A to 11G) inside and outside aviation fuel supply equipment 1 within an airport 6, and a server 2 that forms a cloud.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 4( a), the near-infrared spectroscopy inspection unit 11 includes a pair of arms 13, 14, an irradiation unit 15 provided at the lower end of one of the arms 13 for irradiating near-infrared light, a light receiving unit 16 provided at the lower end of the other arm 14 for receiving near-infrared light that has passed through a detection target (fuel transport piping 20 described later), and a near-infrared spectroscopy sensor 12 disposed between the arms 13, 14.

[0022] The near-infrared spectroscopic sensor 12 includes, on a control board 12d, an emitter 12a that emits near-infrared light, a light-receiving unit 12b that receives the near-infrared light, an analyzer 12c that analyzes the spectrum of the near-infrared light received by the light-receiving unit 12b, and a transmitter 12e that transmits information about the analyzed components (chemical components) to the server 2.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 4B, the fuel transport pipe 20 as the part to be detected has flanges 20b, 20c at both ends of a pipe body 20a, and a sight glass 21 provided in the middle of the pipe body 20a.

[0024] As shown in Figure 4(c), the irradiation unit 15 of the near-infrared spectroscopic inspection unit 11 is attached to one end of the sight glass 21, and the light receiving unit 16 is attached to the other end of the sight glass 21. In this case, since the arms 13 and 14 are freely extendable in directions in which they approach or move away from each other (directions of arrows A and B in Figure 4(a)), it is possible to easily accommodate fuel transport pipes 20 having various outer diameters and to easily install them in existing facilities.

[0025] Near-infrared light from light-emitting unit 12a of near-infrared spectroscopic sensor 12 is irradiated onto fuel transport pipe 20 from irradiation unit 15 via light guide 17 such as optical fiber, and the near-infrared light that has transmitted through fuel transport pipe 20 is received by light-receiving unit 16 and sent to light-receiving unit 12b of near-infrared spectroscopic sensor 12 via light guide 18 such as optical fiber. The spectrum of the near-infrared light received by light-receiving unit 12b is analyzed by analysis unit 12c, and information on the analyzed components is sent to server 2 (FIG. 3) by transmission unit 12e.

[0026] The server 2 that constitutes the cloud has the functionality of a general cloud server, and as shown in Fig. 3, is configured to be able to communicate with a refueling vehicle 3, an airline 5, and an airport 6. Each of them is provided with a terminal that can communicate with the server 2.

[0027] Next, the operation of the fuel quality determining device having the above configuration will be described.

[0028] 3 , when SAF and conventional aviation fuel (JETA-1) are mixed outside the aviation fuel supply facility 1, mixed fuel F1, which is a mixture of SAF A, a type of SAF, and conventional aviation fuel (JETA-1), and mixed fuel F2, which is a mixture of SAF B, a type of SAF, and JETA-1, are brought in. The components of these mixed fuels F1 and F2 are analyzed by near-infrared spectroscopic inspection units 11A, 11B, 11D, and 11E before and after they are brought into the aviation fuel supply facility 1. These analytical values ​​are sent from each near-infrared spectroscopic inspection unit 11 to the server 2.

[0029] The mixed fuels F1 and F2 are then stored in the aviation fuel supply facility 1, and after a certain time has passed, the mixed fuels F3 and F4 are sent to the refueling vehicle 3 via lines L1 and L2 and simultaneously refuel the aircraft 4. Before being supplied to the refueling vehicle 3, the components are analyzed by near-infrared spectroscopic inspection units 11C and 11F (see FIGS. 1 and 3) on lines L1 and L2, and tracking is performed to confirm whether the components are the same as those of the mixed fuels analyzed by the near-infrared spectroscopic inspection units 11A, 11B, 11D, and 11E. Also in the refueling vehicle 3, the components of mixed fuel F5, which is a combination of mixed fuels F3 and F4, are analyzed and tracked by near-infrared spectroscopic inspection unit 11G (see FIGS. 1 and 3). The refueling vehicle 3 then transmits the date and time, flight information, fuel amount, tank number, and analysis values ​​obtained by near-infrared spectroscopic inspection unit 11G to the server 2 via recording means and communication means.

[0030] The server 2 compares the components of the mixed fuels F1 and F2 with those of the mixed fuels F3 and F4 based on the analysis values ​​transmitted from each near-infrared spectroscopic inspection unit 11, and calculates and records the SAF content of the mixed fuel F5. For example, as shown in Table 1, the server 2 records the date and time, flight number, amount of fuel refueled and SAF content for each of tanks 1 to 4 where fuel was refueled, and the final amount of fuel refueled and SAF content. In addition, by comparing the analysis values ​​of the near-infrared spectroscopic inspection units 11C and 11F with the analysis value of the near-infrared spectroscopic inspection unit 11G, it is also possible to detect pipeline switching errors.

[0031]

[0032] The calculated SAF content rate and other information are output from the server 2 to the airline 5 and the airport 6. The airline 5 creates a certificate of SAF use based on the SAF content rate and other information calculated for each aircraft 4, and submits it to an agency 7 established as necessary by the International Air Transport Association or the like. This makes it possible to prove that aviation fuel is being used in accordance with the net-zero target.

[0033] Furthermore, the airline 5 can add a surcharge to cover the increase in fuel prices based on the SAF content rate and other factors, and can accommodate ticket purchases from customers using their mobile terminals 8. Furthermore, customers can also use their mobile terminals 8 to find out the fees in advance using information provided by the airline 5, which improves convenience and enables them to purchase or consider tickets for aircraft that use more environmentally friendly fuels, thereby expanding customer choices.

[0034] Furthermore, the airport 6 can take measures such as refusing or restricting the landing of aircraft 4 using fuel with a low SAF content.

[0035] Next, another example of a method for analyzing fuel oil using the near-infrared spectroscopic inspection unit 11 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0036] The near-infrared spectroscopic inspection unit 11 shown in FIG. 5 has the same configuration as the near-infrared spectroscopic inspection unit 11 shown in FIG. 4, and the same components are given the same reference numerals and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0037] In this example, a sample beaker 30 is used instead of the fuel transport pipe 20 (FIG. 4). Fuel oil is collected from the fuel transport pipe into the sample beaker 30, the sample beaker 30 is held by the arms 13 and 14, and its components are analyzed by the near-infrared spectroscopic sensor 12. The arms 13 and 14 are extendable in directions toward or away from each other (directions of arrows A and B), so that sample beakers 30 with various outer diameters can be easily accommodated. Another advantage is that the near-infrared spectroscopic inspection unit 11 does not need to be attached to the fuel transport pipe 20 at all times.

[0038] Next, a second embodiment of the fuel quality determining device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

[0039] This fuel quality determination device includes near-infrared spectroscopy inspection units (component analysis means) 51 (51A to 51I) inside and outside aviation fuel supply equipment 41, and a server 2 that forms a cloud. The near-infrared spectroscopy inspection unit 51 has the same configuration as the near-infrared spectroscopy inspection unit 11 in the first embodiment, and the server 2 has the same configuration as the server 2 in the first embodiment.

[0040] In this embodiment, when SAF and conventional aviation fuel (JETA-1) are mixed inside aviation fuel supply facility 41, SAF A and SAF B, which are types of SAF, are brought in, and the components of these fuels F6 and F7 are analyzed by near-infrared spectroscopic inspection units 51A, 51B, 51E, and 51F before and after being brought into aviation fuel supply facility 41. These analysis values ​​are sent from each near-infrared spectroscopic inspection unit 51 to server 2, and traceability of the fuel oil is established.

[0041] Thereafter, fuels F6 and F7 are stored in aviation fuel supply facility 41, and after time has passed, fuels F8 and F9 are analyzed for their components by near-infrared spectroscopic inspection units 51C and 51G, and then mixed with JETA-1 (F10). The components of mixed fuels F11 and F12 are also analyzed by near-infrared spectroscopic inspection units 51D and 51H (see Figures 1 and 6), and the results are sent from each near-infrared spectroscopic inspection unit 51 to server 2.

[0042] Next, the mixed fuels F11 and F12 are sent to the refueling vehicle 3 via lines L3 and L4, and are simultaneously refueled into the aircraft 4. In the refueling vehicle 3, the near-infrared spectroscopic inspection unit 51I (see FIGS. 1 and 6) analyzes and tracks the components of the mixed fuel F13, which is a combination of the mixed fuels F11 and F12, and the date and time, flight information, amount of fuel refueled, tank number, and the analysis value obtained by the near-infrared spectroscopic inspection unit 51I are sent from the refueling vehicle 3 to the server 2 via recording means and communication means.

[0043] Based on the analysis values ​​transmitted from each near-infrared spectroscopic inspection unit 11, the server 2 compares the components of fuels F6 and F7 with those of fuels F8 and F9, and calculates and records the SAF content of blended fuel F13. Subsequent operations are the same as those in the first embodiment, and detailed descriptions will be omitted. This embodiment also improves convenience for airlines 5, airports 6, and customers using mobile terminals 8, by enabling verification that aviation fuel is being used in accordance with the net-zero target. Furthermore, by comparing the analysis values ​​of near-infrared spectroscopic inspection units 51D and 51H with the analysis value of near-infrared spectroscopic inspection unit 51I, pipeline switching errors can also be detected.

[0044] In the above embodiment, the case of the hydrant system has been described, but in the early days of the introduction of SAF fuel and at airports where the hydrant system has not yet been introduced, a specified amount of aviation fuel is supplied from a supply hose 65b of a refueling vehicle 65 to a supply port 4a under the wing of an aircraft 4 using a refiller system, as shown in Figure 2.

[0045] When supplying aviation fuel using this type of refiller system, the tank section 65a of the refueling vehicle 65 is supplied with the required aviation fuel (JETA-1) or aviation fuel with a predetermined SAF blend ratio, and when supplying aviation fuel from the refueling vehicle 65 to the aircraft 4, the aviation fuel is supplied with the required aviation fuel (JETA-1) or aviation fuel with a predetermined SAF blend ratio, so that near-infrared spectroscopy inspection units (11C, 11F, 51D, 51H (see Figures 3 and 6)) are provided on the drop pipe 64 side, and near-infrared spectroscopy inspection units (11G, 51I (see Figures 3 and 6)) are provided on the refueling vehicle 65 side, and the aviation fuel is tracked.

[0046] By providing near-infrared spectroscopic inspection units (11C, 11F, 51D, 51H) on the drop pipe 64 side, the type of aviation fuel (JETA-1 or SAF mixture ratio) is identified before it is supplied to the tank portion 65a of the refueling vehicle 65. Because the refueling vehicle 65 moves and supplies aviation fuel to the aircraft 4, the identification work using the near-infrared spectroscopic inspection units can prevent erroneous refueling due to human error or the like.

[0047] For example, when a refueling work vehicle 65 pulls up alongside an aircraft 4 other than the one it was previously scheduled to supply, if the server 2 determines that the analysis value from the near-infrared spectroscopic inspection unit (11G, 51I) inside the refueling work vehicle 65 differs from the type of oil to be supplied to the aircraft 4 (leading to an incorrect oil type), the refueling work vehicle 65 will need to return to the loading area to change the type of oil or have another refueling work vehicle 65 supply the aviation fuel, which could lead to a flight delay; however, this can be prevented by the determination process using the near-infrared spectroscopic inspection unit.

[0048] The illustrated embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0049] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Aviation fuel supply equipment 2 Server 3 Refueling work vehicle 4 Aircraft 5 Airline 6 Airport 7 Government office 8 Mobile terminal 9 Refueling port 10 Pipeline 11 Near-infrared spectroscopy inspection unit 12 Near-infrared spectroscopy sensor 13, 14 Arm 15 Irradiation unit 16 Light receiving unit 17, 18 Light guide 20 Fuel transport pipe 21 Sight glass 30 Sample beaker 41 Aviation fuel supply equipment 51 (51A to 51I) Near-infrared spectroscopy inspection unit 61 Fuel pipe 62 Loading arm 63 Rotating pipe 64 Drop pipe 65 Refueling work vehicle

Claims

1. a component analysis means for analyzing components of fuel oil brought into an aviation fuel supply facility, fuel oil stored in the aviation fuel supply facility, and fuel oil supplied from the aviation fuel supply facility to aircraft; A fuel quality determination device characterized by comprising: a server that calculates the SAF content of each fuel oil based on the analysis values ​​obtained by the component analysis means and outputs the calculated SAF content to an airline or / and an airport.

2. 2. The fuel quality determination device according to claim 1, wherein the server compares the calculated SAF contents and outputs the comparison results to the airline and / or airport.

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