Adjustable Density Fuel Tank Water Detector Float

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current water detection systems in fuel storage tanks, particularly those using Magnetostrictive probes, fail to accurately detect water levels when ethanol is present, as the water-ethanol mixture forms a solution with a density close to that of gasoline, causing floats to malfunction and leading to inaccurate fuel level reporting.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a float with adjustable density, using trigger weights to maintain buoyancy in low-density water-ethanol mixtures and prevent the float from rising to the surface, with multiple trigger points and telescopic assemblies to ensure accurate water level detection across varying densities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional floats with fixed density are used to detect water levels, then the system is simple and easy to manufacture, but the detection accuracy deteriorates when ethanol is present because the float cannot properly detect water-ethanol mixtures with densities close to gasoline

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater level detection accuracyVSAvoidfloat density adjustment mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The float assembly incorporates a movable weight that can be adjusted along the float body to change the overall density of the float. This dynamic adjustment allows the float to adapt to different density conditions created by water-ethanol mixtures, enabling accurate detection across a range of densities without requiring multiple fixed-density floats or complex electronic adjustment systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the density parameter of the float by adding or removing weight from the float assembly. By adjusting the weight, the float's density can be modified to match the density of the water-ethanol mixture being detected, allowing the float to remain stable and provide accurate readings even when the mixture density is close to that of gasoline.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If the float density is increased to detect low-density water-ethanol mixtures, then detection capability improves, but the float may rise to the surface in high-density fuel conditions, causing false readings

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection capability in low-density mixturesVSAvoidfloat position stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The float assembly allows dynamic adjustment of the weight position and quantity to optimize density for detection conditions. The system can be reconfigured based on the expected fuel composition, allowing the float to have high enough density to detect low-density water-ethanol mixtures while avoiding excessive density that would cause the float to rise in high-density fuel conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The float assembly is pre-configured with adjustable weights that can be set before deployment based on the expected operating conditions. This preliminary adjustment ensures the float has the appropriate density characteristics for the anticipated fuel mixture, preventing both failure to detect and false positive readings before they occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution allows for precise detection of water levels in tanks containing ethanol-blended fuels, preventing fuel quality compromise and ensuring the integrity of fuel dispensing systems by accurately reporting water presence and levels, even in complex density scenarios.

Implementation Method 1

The means of ascertaining the levels, 'fuel' and 'water', are commonly through the utilization of floating bodies each carrying a magnet. The floats are often constructed of materials such as Nitrophyl, Buna-N, Urethane and Stainless Steel. In the tank, floats are calibrated to have densities that are less than the fuel they are intended to monitor in order to float at the surface of said liquid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Implementation Method 2

The Magnetostrictive probe detection apparatus is set to locate the presence of a magnet along the shaft by means of an interaction between the permanent magnetic field emanating from the magnet and the circumferential field introduced into the Nichrome wire within the shaft by the application of a current pulse into that said wire

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic field interaction: Magnetic Field

Implementation Method 3

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetostriction: Magnetostriction

Data Source

PatentUS9037423B2Fuel storage tank water detector with triggered density

Publication Date: 2015.05.19 ASCENT-X LLC

AI summary

The present discloses alternate constructions of water detector floats for fuel storage tanks. Embodiments show various techniques of altering the density of a sub-assembly floatation device while maintaining the system's efficient ability to detect water presence in conjunction with a Magnetostrictive probe. In the float's upward motion due to water presence or high density fuel in the tank, at some predetermined locations, its density is altered by way of strategically located free weights along its travel path.