NIR Fuel Quality Sensing for Real-Time Dispensing Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel dispensing systems lack accurate and reliable real-time monitoring of fuel quality parameters such as water content and air bubbles, which can lead to safety and accuracy issues due to the hazardous nature of fuels.
Innovation Solution
A fuel quality sensor using near-infrared (NIR) spectrometry with laser diodes and a control unit to measure fuel properties like water content, air bubbles, and octane rating by transmitting and receiving light signals at specific frequencies, triggering alarms or stopping the pump if parameters deviate from predetermined thresholds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If real-time monitoring of fuel quality parameters is implemented, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system performs multiple fuel quality measurements (water content, air bubbles, octane rating) using a single integrated NIR spectrometry platform, eliminating the need for separate measurement devices and reducing overall system complexity despite the multi-parameter monitoring capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical and chemical analysis methods with optical spectroscopy technology, using near-infrared light absorption characteristics to non-contactly measure fuel properties, thereby simplifying the measurement system while improving precision and real-time capability
2Productivity
If multiple fuel quality parameters are measured simultaneously, then productivity and safety are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables continuous real-time monitoring of multiple fuel quality parameters during the dispensing process without interrupting fuel flow or requiring separate measurement cycles, thereby improving productivity while maintaining manageable system complexity through parallel optical detection channels
Solution Approach 2:
A single NIR spectrometry system measures multiple parameters (water content, air bubbles, octane rating) simultaneously by detecting different absorption wavelengths, eliminating the need for multiple separate measurement systems and improving throughput without proportionally increasing complexity
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
Enables accurate, real-time monitoring of fuel properties, ensuring safe and precise fuel dispensing by triggering alarms or stopping the pump when parameters exceed limits, and can be retrofitted to existing systems with minimal alteration.
Implementation Method 1
A fuel dispensing unit includes a near-infrared (NIR) light source and a detector. The NIR light source transmits a plurality of light signals at a plurality of wavelengths through the fuel.
Implementation Method 2
The detector detects the light signals that have passed through the fuel, and the processor determines characteristics of the fuel based on the detected light signals.
Data Source
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AI summary
A fuel quality sensor can include a pump with a suction side and a pressure side for pumping fuel along a fuel flow path between an underground reservoir and a nozzle of a fuel dispensing unit; a first transmitter disposed at the suction side of the pump on a first side of a bypass plenum in fluid communication with the fuel flow path, the first transmitter configured to transmit a first light signal at a first predetermined frequency in the bypass plenum; a receiver disposed at the suction side of the pump on a second side of the bypass plenum and configured to receive the first light signal; and a control unit electrically connected to the first transmitter and the receiver and configured to determine at least one parameter of the fuel present in the fuel flow path based on the received first light signal at the first predetermined frequency.