Gasohol Quality Control for Real Time Applications by Means of a Multimode Interference Fiber Sensor

Sensors

Adolfo J. Rodríguez Rodríguez¹  Oscar Baldovino-Pantaleón¹  Rene F. Domínguez Cruz¹  Carlos R. Zamarreño²  Ignacio R. Mat໚s² 

[1] Fiber and Integrated Optics Laboratory, Electronics Engineering Department, UAM Reynosa Rodhe, Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, Carr. Reynosa-San Fernando S/N, Reynosa, Tamaulipas 88779, Mexico; E-Mails:;Departamento de Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica, Universidad Pública de Navarra, Edif. Los Tejos, Campus Arrosadia, Pamplona 31006, Spain; E-Mails:

关键词: optical fiber sensor;    multimode interference;    MMI;    gasohol;    gasoline;    ethanol;   

DOI  :  10.3390/s140917817

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

In this work we demonstrate efficient quality control of a variety of gasoline and ethanol (gasohol) blends using a multimode interference (MMI) fiber sensor. The operational principle relies on the fact that the addition of ethanol to the gasohol blend reduces the refractive index (RI) of the gasoline. Since MMI sensors are capable of detecting small RI changes, the ethanol content of the gasohol blend is easily determined by tracking the MMI peak wavelength response. Gasohol blends with ethanol contents ranging from 0% to 50% has been clearly identified using this device, which provides a linear response with a maximum sensitivity of 0.270 nm/% EtOH. The sensor can also distinguish when water incorporated in the blend has exceeded the maximum volume tolerated by the gasohol blend, which is responsible for phase separation of the ethanol and gasoline and could cause serious engine failures. Since the MMI sensor is straightforward to fabricate and does not require any special coating it is a cost effective solution for real time and in-situ monitoring of the quality of gasohol blends.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.