Capillary Rise Multiparametric Sensor for Testing of Diesel and Biodiesel Fuel

摘要

There are many fuel quality standards introduced by national organizations and fuel producers. Usual techniques for measuring fuel parameters like viscosity, density, cetane index, fraction composition and flash point, require relatively complex and expensive laboratory equipment. On the fuel user side, fast and low cost sensing of useful state of biodiesel fuel is important. The main parameters of diesel fuel compatibility are: density and viscosity. Diesel fuel surface tension is one of the main properties for characterization of the quality of the fuel atomization process that affect fuel quality. The present paper concentrates on the construction of the sensor which enables the examination of the mentioned parameters in one arrangement. Results of development of a capillary photonic sensor working on the principle of multipoint monitoring of capillary rise of fuel in inclined capillary are presented. We discuss the principle of the sensor's operation, the construction of the head, and the experimental results of testing biodiesel fuels for their parameters. We conclude that the proposed construction may be in future the base of low cost commercially marketable instruments.