Fuel volatitlity sensor and method based on capacitance measurement
US6588253B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 17, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jul 8, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 22, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T137/6606
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for determining a volatility of a fuel sample. A fuel sample is collected in a container and heated for a time period using a heater device. Periodically during the heating, the capacitance of the fuel sample and the temperature of the heater device are determined. After a time period passes, the volatility of the fuel sample is determined using the capacitance decrease and the temperature increase. Specifically, a voltage across the heater device is used, along with the current through the heater device to determine the resistance of the heater device, which gives the temperature of the heater device and the sample. The capacitance and temperature are compared to values derived from experimentation for fuels of varying DI. The first measurement of capacitance with a known sample volume can be used to determine the MTBE or ethanol content in gasoline fuels.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.