A Sensor for Discrimination of Fossil Diesel Fuel,Biodiesel, and Their Blends

摘要

Many modern diesel engines can be operated on fossil diesel fuel (DF), rapeseed oilmethyl ester (RME, biodiesel), or their blends, without violation of the regulated exhaust gas limits. Inthe future, the engine must be adapted to the fuel in order to fulfil more stringent exhaust gasregulations. This adaptation is possible without mechanical measures; the modern electronic enginemanagement unit (EMU) can be used to achieve this. However: in order to switch to the adequateengine management, the EMU needs the information which fuel (or blend) is actually used. Sensorconcepts that are able to provide this information have been studied in some depth in a researchproject. Prototypes were built and tested both in laboratory and in a passenger car. The Beru AG hastaken over the task to develop a sensor for mass production. Some specimens of the sensor arealready available and are going to be tested in the near future.