Gasohol quality control for real time applications by means of a multimode interference fiber sensor
Fecha
2014Autor
Versión
Acceso abierto / Sarbide irekia
Tipo
Artículo / Artikulua
Versión
Versión publicada / Argitaratu den bertsioa
Impacto
|
10.3390/s140917817
Resumen
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 gasoh ...
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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. [--]
Materias
Optical fiber sensor,
Multimode interference,
MMI,
Gasohol,
Gasoline,
Ethanol
Editor
MDPI
Publicado en
Sensors, 2014, 14(9), 17817-17828
Departamento
Universidad Pública de Navarra. Departamento de Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica /
Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa. Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa Saila
Versión del editor
Entidades Financiadoras
The authors appreciate the support from the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACyT) under contract CB-2010/157866 and CB-2010/156529. This work was also supported by the Spanish Economy and Competitivity Ministry-FEDER TEC2010-17805.