JP2010169549A - Fuel property estimation device and fuel property estimation method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To estimate a ratio of each component in a fuel, concerning a multi-component fuel such as gasoline or gas oil. <P>SOLUTION: A fuel sensor 1 includes an adsorption/desorption reaction part 7 capable of adsorbing or desorbing i-paraffin, and a dehydrogenation reaction part 8 positioned on the downstream side of the adsorption/desorption reaction part 7 and performing a dehydrogenation reaction of a fuel, and estimates a fuel property by using a dielectric constant of the fuel on the upstream side of the adsorption/desorption reaction part 7, each dielectric constant on the outlet side of the adsorption/desorption reaction part 7 when controlling a fuel temperature at the adsorption/desorption reaction part 7 in a temperature condition wherein adsorption of i-paraffin is accelerated and in a temperature condition wherein the adsorption is hardly accelerated, and each dielectric constant on the outlet side of the dehydrogenation reaction part 8 when controlling the fuel temperature at the dehydrogenation reaction part 8 in a plurality of temperature conditions wherein each dehydrogenation reaction is different. Since each reaction in the adsorption/desorption reaction part 7 and the dehydrogenation reaction part 8 is changed thereby, and the dielectric constant is changed, the ratio of each component in the fuel can be estimated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel property estimation device and a fuel property estimation method.

  As a method for measuring the properties of the fuel and identifying the constituent fuel components, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, the property that the dielectric constant increases as the carbon number of the fuel increases, Conventionally, it is known to determine whether it is a light oil or a light oil.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-8956

  However, multi-component fuels such as gasoline and light oil are roughly divided into paraffinic, naphthenic, olefinic, and aroma-based fuels. Since the dielectric constant differs for each component, large differences between gasoline and light oil can be measured. Even if possible, there is a problem that the ratio of each component in the fuel cannot be estimated.

  Therefore, the fuel property estimation device of the present invention provides an adsorbing / desorbing means capable of adsorbing or desorbing a specific component in the fuel and a fuel permittivity upstream of the fuel reforming means for performing fuel reforming, The dielectric constant at the outlet side of the adsorption / desorption means when the fuel temperature in the desorption means is controlled to a temperature condition that promotes adsorption of a specific component in the fuel and a temperature condition that makes adsorption difficult to promote, and The fuel property is estimated using the respective dielectric constants at the outlet side of the fuel reforming means when the fuel temperature in the quality control means is controlled to a plurality of temperature conditions with different fuel reforming reactions.

  According to the present invention, by individually changing the fuel temperatures in the adsorption / desorption means and the fuel reforming means, the reactions in the adsorption / desorption means and the fuel reforming means change individually, and the dielectric constant of the fuel is increased. Since it changes, the fuel property, that is, the ratio of each component in the fuel can be estimated.

Explanatory drawing which showed typically the fuel sensor as a fuel property estimation apparatus. Explanatory drawing which showed typically the procedure of the fuel property estimation of the light oil using a fuel sensor. The characteristic view which showed the correlation with the dielectric constant and carbon number in n-paraffin, iso-paraffin, naphthene, and aroma. Explanatory drawing which showed typically the procedure of the fuel property estimation of gasoline using a fuel sensor. The characteristic diagram which showed the temperature dependence of the dielectric constant in water, ethanol, and gasoline.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory view schematically showing a fuel sensor 1 as a fuel property estimation device.

  The fuel sensor 1 is manufactured by a micromachining technique, for example, into a 1 cm square minute rectangular chip. The fuel sensor 1 is a fuel passage 2 as a passage through which fuel flows in one direction, and around the upstream end of the fuel passage 2. A heater 3 provided as a vaporizing means for heating to vaporize the fuel introduced into the fuel passage 2, a first electrode 4 as a dielectric constant measuring means for detecting a dielectric constant in the fuel passage 2, a second An electrode 5 and a third electrode 5. The fuel sensor 1 is used for estimating the fuel properties of the hydrocarbon fuel.

  The fuel passage 2 has an adsorption / desorption reaction unit 7 as an adsorption / desorption means coated with a catalyst capable of adsorbing or desorbing n-paraffin as a characteristic component in the fuel, and a catalyst for reforming fuel by dehydrogenation reaction. And a dehydrogenation reaction section 8 as a fuel reforming means. The dehydrogenation reaction unit 8 is located on the downstream side of the adsorption / desorption reaction unit 7.

  The first electrode 4 is disposed between the heater 3 and the adsorption / desorption reaction unit 7 and measures the dielectric constant on the inlet side of the adsorption / desorption reaction unit 7. The second electrode 5 is disposed between the adsorption / desorption reaction unit 7 and the dehydrogenation reaction unit 8 and measures the dielectric constant on the outlet side of the adsorption / desorption reaction unit 7. In other words, the second electrode 5 measures the dielectric constant on the inlet side of the dehydrogenation reaction unit 8. The third electrode 6 is disposed on the downstream side of the dehydrogenation reaction unit 8 and measures the dielectric constant on the outlet side of the dehydrogenation reaction unit 8.

  Adjacent to the adsorption / desorption reaction unit 7, first temperature heaters 9 and 9 are arranged as first temperature control means for controlling the temperature of the fuel in the adsorption / desorption reaction unit 7.

  Adjacent to the dehydrogenation reaction unit 8, a second temperature heater 10 is disposed as a second temperature control means for controlling the temperature of the fuel in the dehydrogenation reaction unit 8.

  Such a fuel sensor 1 is installed, for example, in a fuel tank (not shown) or a fuel pipe (not shown), and a pump (not shown) is also installed in a flow field by the pump. The

  Then, the action of the catalyst in the adsorption / desorption reaction unit 7 and the dehydrogenation reaction unit 8 is controlled by the first temperature heaters 9, 9 and the second temperature heater 10, and the inlet side of the adsorption / desorption reaction unit 7 and the dehydrogenation reaction unit 8. And the component contained in the fuel is estimated using the dielectric constant on the outlet side as will be described later.

  The temperature control of the heater 3, the first temperature heaters 9, 9 and the second temperature heater 10 is performed by a control unit (not shown). Moreover, the estimation result of the component contained in the fuel is specifically obtained by a calculation process (described later) in the control unit to which the measured dielectric constant is input.

  In the adsorption / desorption reaction unit 7, n-paraffin in the fuel is adsorbed when the fuel temperature is low, and the adsorbed n-paraffin is desorbed when the fuel temperature is high. In the dehydrogenation reaction section 8, naphthene in the fuel mainly undergoes a dehydrogenation reaction when the fuel temperature is low, and n-paraffin and olefin in the fuel also undergo a dehydrogenation reaction when the fuel temperature is medium. In the region, iso-paraffin in the fuel also undergoes a dehydrogenation reaction. By looking at the progress of the reaction under each temperature condition through the above process in terms of dielectric constant, the approximate components and the number of carbons in the fuel can be estimated.

  That is, a plurality of fuel temperature change processes from the inlet side of the adsorption / desorption reaction unit 7 to the outlet side of the dehydrogenation reaction unit 8 are set, and the dielectric constants at the electrodes 4, 5, 6 are measured for each fuel temperature change process. By doing so, the approximate component in the fuel and the number of carbons of each component can be estimated.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory view schematically showing the procedure for estimating the fuel properties of light oil using the fuel sensor 1 described above. When the fuel is light oil, the ratio of n-paraffin (n-paraffin), iso-paraffin (iso-paraffin), naphthene (naphthene) and aroma (aromatic), which are approximate components of light oil, Estimate the carbon number. Here, the vertical axis of FIG. 2 is the dielectric constant of the fuel, the horizontal axis of FIG. 2 is the measurement position of the dielectric constant, X in FIG. 2 is the position of the first electrode 4, Y is the position of the second electrode 5, and Z Indicates the position of the third electrode 6.

  FIG. 3 shows the correlation between the relative dielectric constant of n-paraffin, iso-paraffin, naphthene and aroma and the carbon number (Carbon Number). As is apparent from FIG. 3, n-paraffin and iso-paraffin have similar characteristics and it is difficult to distinguish them, but n-paraffin has a property that it is very easily adsorbed. Therefore, the component ratio and the carbon number in the fuel are estimated by combining the property that n-paraffin is easily adsorbed and the fuel reforming by the dehydrogenation reaction.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the fuel temperature in the adsorption / desorption reaction unit 7 is low (for example, 200 ° C.), n-paraffin in the fuel is adsorbed by the adsorption / desorption reaction unit 7. As the ratio of paraffin increases, the dielectric constant measured by the second electrode 5 increases.

  When the fuel temperature in the adsorption / desorption reaction unit 7 is high (for example, 600 ° C.), the n-paraffin adsorbed in the adsorption / desorption reaction unit 7 is desorbed, so that the n-paraffin in the fuel becomes large, The dielectric constant measured by the second electrode 5 is low.

  Next, when the fuel temperature in the dehydrogenation reaction section 8 is low (for example, 300 ° C.), the naphthene in the fuel changes to aroma (aromatic) in the dehydrogenation reaction section 8, so the ratio of naphthene in the fuel is large. The dielectric constant measured by the third electrode 6 becomes higher.

  When the fuel temperature in the dehydrogenation reaction unit 8 is high (for example, 600 ° C.), if the fuel temperature in the adsorption / desorption reaction unit 7 is low (for example, 200 ° C.), the dehydrogenation reaction unit 8 uses naphthene or iso- Since paraffin changes to aroma (aromatic), the dielectric constant measured by the third electrode 6 increases as the ratio of naphthene or iso-paraffin in the fuel increases.

  When the fuel temperature in the dehydrogenation reaction unit 8 is high (for example, 600 ° C.), if the fuel temperature in the adsorption / desorption reaction unit 7 is high (for example, 600 ° C.), the dehydrogenation reaction unit 8 uses naphthene in the fuel, n− Since paraffin and iso-paraffin change to aroma (aromatic), the dielectric constant measured by the third electrode 6 increases as the ratio of naphthene, n-paraffin and iso-paraffin in the fuel increases.

  When the fuel temperature in the dehydrogenation reaction unit 8 is an intermediate temperature (for example, 400 ° C.), if the fuel temperature in the adsorption / desorption reaction unit 7 is high (for example, 600 ° C.), the dehydrogenation reaction unit 8 Since n-paraffin changes to aroma (aromatic), the dielectric constant measured by the third electrode 6 increases as the ratio of naphthene or n-paraffin in the fuel increases.

  Therefore, the y1 process in which the fuel temperature in the adsorption / desorption reaction unit 7 is 200 ° C. (Txy1 = 200 ° C.) and the y1z1 process in which the fuel temperature in the dehydrogenation reaction unit 8 is 600 ° C. (Ty1z1 = 600 ° C.) after the y1 process. The y1 process in which the fuel temperature in the adsorption / desorption reaction unit 7 is 200 ° C. (Txy1 = 200 ° C.), and the fuel temperature in the dehydrogenation reaction unit 8 after the y1 process is 300 ° C. (Ty1z3). = 300 ° C), a second temperature change process including a y1z3 process, a y2 process in which the fuel temperature in the adsorption / desorption reaction unit 7 is 600 ° C (Txy2 = 600 ° C), and a dehydrogenation reaction unit 8 after the y2 process. A third temperature change process comprising a y2z1 process in which the fuel temperature at 600 ° C. is 600 ° C. And y2 process in which the fuel temperature in the adsorption / desorption reaction unit 7 is 600 ° C. (Txy2 = 600 ° C.), and y2z2 in which the fuel temperature in the dehydrogenation reaction unit 8 is 400 ° C. (Ty2z2 = 400 ° C.) after the y2 process. The fuel temperature in the adsorption / desorption reaction unit 7 is 600 ° C. (Txy2 = 600 ° C.) and the y2 process, and after the y2 process, the fuel temperature in the dehydrogenation reaction unit 8 is 300 ° C. (Ty2z3). = 5 ° C.), a total of five temperature change processes are set, and the dielectric constant of the first to third electrodes 4, 5, 6 is set for each temperature change process. To estimate the ratio of the components in the fuel and the number of carbons in each component.

  Note that the ratio of n-paraffin, iso-paraffin, naphthene, and aroma can be estimated to some extent only by the first temperature change process and the second temperature change process.

  The derivation formula is shown below.

  The dielectric constant εx measured by the first electrode can be expressed as the following formula (1).

(Equation 1)
εx = Σ (Cnp × εnp (CN)) + Σ (Cip × εip (CN)) + Σ (Cna × εna (CN)) + Σ (Car × εar (CN)) (1)
Here, Cnp in the formula (1) is the concentration of n-paraffin in the fuel, εnp (CN) is the dielectric constant of n-paraffin, Cip is the concentration of iso-paraffin in the fuel, and εip (CN) is iso-paraffin. Cna is the concentration of naphthene in the fuel, εna (CN) is the dielectric constant of naphthene, Car is the concentration of aroma in the fuel, and εar (CN) is the dielectric constant of the aroma.

  n-paraffin is adsorbed by the y1 process (adsorption). The dielectric constant εy1 measured at the second electrode 5 through the y1 process can be expressed as the following equation (2).

(Equation 2)
εy1 = Σ (Cip / (1 + Cnp) × εip (CN)) + Σ (Cna / (1 + Cnp) × εna (CN)) + Σ (Car / (1 + Cnp) × εar (CN)) (2)
n-paraffin is desorbed by the y2 process (desorption). The dielectric constant εy2 measured at the second electrode 5 through the y2 process can be expressed as the following equation (3).

(Equation 3)
εy2 = Σ (2 · Cnp × εnp (CN)) + Σ (Cip (1 / (1 + Cnp) −1 / (1-Cnp)) × εip (CN)) + Σ (Cna (1 / (1 + Cnp) −1 / ( 1−Cnp)) × εna (CN)) + Σ (Car (1 / (1 + Cnp) −1 / (1-Cnp)) × εar (CN)) (3)
Here, when the formula (2) is subtracted from the formula (3) and the formula (1) is substituted, the following formula (4) is obtained.

(Equation 4)
εy2−εy1 = −2 Cnp ^ 3 / (1-Cnp ^ 2) × εx (4)
From this, Cnp is obtained.

  Here, since Cnp, Cip, Cna, and Car are concentrations, the following equation (5) is established.

(Equation 5)
Cnp + Cip + Cna + Car = 1 (5)
In the y1z3 process, the n-paraffin in the fuel is adsorbed by the adsorption / desorption reaction unit 7 while the temperature of the fuel in the dehydrogenation reaction unit 8 is lowered and only naphthene is dehydrogenated and converted to aroma. The dielectric constant εy1z3 measured at the third electrode 6 through the y1z3 process is expressed by the following equation (6).

(Equation 6)
εy1z3 = Σ (Cip / (1 + Cnp + Cna) × εip (CN)) + Σ (Car / (1 + Cnp + Cna) × εar (CN)) (6)
Here, Cna is obtained by subtracting (2) from (6).

  In the y1z1 process, the n-paraffin in the fuel is adsorbed by the adsorption / desorption reaction unit 7, and the iso-paraffin is also dehydrogenated at a high temperature in the dehydrogenation reaction unit 8. A dielectric constant εy1z1 measured at the third electrode 6 through the y1z1 process is expressed by the following equation (7).

(Equation 7)
εy1z1 = Σ (Car / (1 + Cnp + Cna + Cip) × εar (CN)) (7)
Here, Cip is obtained by subtracting Equation (7) from Equation (6).

  Finally, Car is calculated from Equation (5).

  Substituting the obtained Cnp, Cip, Cna, and Car into Equation (7) gives Σεar (CN). Similarly, Σεip (CN) from Equation (6), and Σεna (CN), (1 from Equation (2). ) [Epsilon] np (CN) is obtained from the equation.

  The carbon number of n-paraffin, iso-paraffin, naphthene, and aroma can be estimated by referring to the map as shown in FIG.

  Thus, the fuel sensor 1 can estimate the fuel property of the fuel, that is, the ratio of each component in the fuel. It is also possible to estimate the ignition characteristics of the fuel from the ratio of each component in the fuel and the carbon number of each component.

  Note that the above calculation results may be verified using data from the y2z1 process to the y2z2 and y2z3 processes, and the conversion efficiency is unknown for each process. By calculating the conversion efficiency of each process as an unknown parameter using an equation, it can be calculated with higher accuracy. It is also possible to predict RON (octane number) from the obtained average CN and component ratio.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory view schematically showing a procedure for estimating the fuel property of gasoline using the fuel sensor 1 described above. When the fuel is gasoline, the approximate components of gasoline are n-paraffin (n-paraffin), iso-paraffin (iso-paraffin), naphthene (naphthene), aroma (aromatic) and olefin ( (Olefin) ratio and carbon number (carbon number) are estimated.

  The difference from the case of the light oil described above is that olefin is present in the fuel, but the same logic as when the fuel described above is light oil is used for n-paraffin, iso-paraffin, naphthene, aroma and olefin. The ratio (Cnp, Cip, Cna, Car, Cor) can be estimated. Specifically, in the case of fuel gasoline, the setting of the fuel temperature in the adsorption / desorption reaction unit 7 is the same as that in the case where the fuel is light oil, but the fuel temperature in the dehydrogenation reaction unit 8 is set in four stages (300 ° C., 400 ° C, 500 ° C, 600 ° C).

  That is, when the fuel temperature in the dehydrogenation reaction unit 8 is low (for example, 300 ° C.), the naphthene in the fuel changes to aroma (aromatic) in the dehydrogenation reaction unit 8, so that the ratio of naphthene in the fuel increases. The dielectric constant measured by the third electrode 6 increases.

  When the fuel temperature in the dehydrogenation reaction unit 8 is slightly low (for example, 400 ° C.), the naphthene or olefin in the fuel changes to aroma (aromatic) in the dehydrogenation reaction unit 8, so the ratio of naphthene or olefin in the fuel The larger the is, the higher the dielectric constant measured by the third electrode 6 becomes.

  When the fuel temperature in the dehydrogenation reaction unit 8 is high (for example, 600 ° C.) and the fuel temperature in the adsorption / desorption reaction unit 7 is low (for example, 200 ° C.), the dehydrogenation reaction unit 8 uses naphthene, olefin, and Since iso-paraffin changes to aroma (aromatic), the dielectric constant measured by the third electrode 6 increases as the ratio of naphthene, olefin and iso-paraffin in the fuel increases.

  When the fuel temperature in the dehydrogenation reaction unit 8 is high (for example, 600 ° C.), if the fuel temperature in the adsorption / desorption reaction unit 7 is high (for example, 600 ° C.), the dehydrogenation reaction unit 8 has naphthene, olefin, Since n-paraffin and iso-paraffin change to aroma (aromatic), the dielectric constant measured by the third electrode 6 increases as the ratio of naphthene, olefin, n-paraffin and iso-paraffin in the fuel increases. .

  When the fuel temperature in the dehydrogenation reaction unit 8 is slightly high (for example, 500 ° C.), if the fuel temperature in the adsorption / desorption reaction unit 7 is high (for example, 600 ° C.), the dehydrogenation reaction unit 8 uses naphthene and olefin in the fuel. Since n-paraffin changes to aroma (aromatic), the dielectric constant measured by the third electrode 6 increases as the ratio of naphthene, olefin and n-paraffin in the fuel increases.

  Note that when the fuel is gasoline, there is an ultra-low CN such as C4, C5, etc., so the tendency of RON is different from that of light oil, so it is necessary to have a lower table for estimating RON.

  Further, when the fuel is GTL, the fuel component ratio can be estimated without any problem using the fuel sensor 1 because there is no partial component in the light oil.

  However, special measures are required when fuel with a large dielectric constant such as gasoline mixed with ethanol is mixed. That is, since ethanol has a large dielectric constant with respect to hydrocarbon fuel, the influence on others increases, and the fuel estimation accuracy deteriorates. Therefore, in this case, it is necessary to estimate the ethanol concentration in advance and perform the measurement, or to measure the ethanol after separating it with an ethanol separation membrane or the like.

  The fuel sensor 1 can also estimate the ratio of components other than hydrocarbons in the fuel using the measured value of the first electrode 4 using the temperature dependence of the dielectric constant.

  That is, from the characteristics of water, ethanol, and gasoline as shown in FIG. 5, it is possible to estimate the ratio of water or ethanol as a component having a high dielectric constant composition other than hydrocarbons in the fuel. In this case, the fuel temperature at the position of the first electrode 4 is changed by the heater 3, and the hydrocarbon in the fuel is determined from the correlation between the fuel temperature at the position of the first electrode 4 and the dielectric constant measured at the first electrode 4. Estimate the proportion of components with a high dielectric constant other than.

  Further, if the ratio of the components in the fuel is known, it is possible to estimate the type of fuel, so that it is understood that the type of fuel can be estimated by the fuel sensor 1. That is, the fuel type can be determined by the fuel sensor 1 such as whether the fuel is gasoline or light oil.

  The technical ideas of the present invention that can be grasped from the above-described embodiments will be listed together with their effects.

  (1) The fuel property estimation device includes: a flow path through which fuel flows in one direction; an adsorption / desorption means provided in the flow path that can adsorb or desorb a specific component in the fuel; A fuel reforming means provided in series with the adsorption / desorption means for performing fuel reforming, and a dielectric constant for measuring the dielectric constant of the fuel on the inlet side and the outlet side of the adsorption / desorption means and the fuel reforming means Measuring means; first temperature control means for controlling the temperature of fuel in the adsorption / desorption means; and second temperature control means for controlling the temperature of fuel in the fuel reforming means; The conditions of the fuel permittivity on the upstream side of the desorption means and the fuel reforming means, the fuel temperature in the adsorption / desorption means, the temperature conditions for promoting the adsorption of specific components in the fuel, and the temperature conditions for which the adsorption is difficult to promote The adsorption / desorption means Using the respective dielectric constants at the fuel reforming means and the respective dielectric constants at the fuel reforming means outlet side when the fuel temperature in the fuel reforming means is controlled to a plurality of temperature conditions with different fuel reforming reactions. Estimate the properties. By changing the fuel temperature in the adsorption / desorption means and the fuel reforming means, the reaction in the adsorption / desorption means and the fuel reforming means changes, and the dielectric constant of the fuel changes. Thereby, the fuel property, that is, the ratio of each component in the fuel can be estimated.

  (2) The fuel property estimation device according to (1) estimates the type of fuel from the estimated fuel property. By estimating the fuel properties, it is possible to estimate the type of fuel such as whether the fuel is gasoline or light oil.

  (3) In the fuel property estimation apparatus according to (1) or (2), specifically, the adsorption / desorption means and the fuel reforming means are configured by applying a catalyst to the flow path. Specifically, each of the first and second temperature control means can heat a portion of the flow path where the catalyst is applied, and the composition of the fuel is changed by the catalytic reaction. The fuel temperature in each of the adsorption / desorption means and the fuel reforming means is controlled under at least two temperature conditions.

  (4) In the fuel property estimation apparatus according to any one of (1) to (3), the fuel is a hydrocarbon-based fuel, and the fuel reforming means is downstream of the adsorption / desorption means. A vaporizing means for heating in order to vaporize the fuel on the upstream side of the adsorption / desorption means; As a result, the vaporized fuel is introduced into the adsorption / desorption means and the fuel reforming means.

  (5) In the fuel property estimation device according to any one of (1) to (4), specifically, the fuel reforming reaction in the fuel reforming means is a dehydrogenation reaction.

  (6) The fuel property estimation apparatus according to any one of (1) to (5) is specifically manufactured using a micromachining technique. As a result, the fuel property estimation apparatus can be manufactured in a very compact and low-cost manner.

  (7) In the fuel property estimation device according to any one of (1) to (6), specifically, the fuel is mainly composed of gasoline or light oil, and the dielectric constant measuring means The main components of fuel, n-paraffin, iso-paraffin, naphthene, olefin, aroma, etc., are estimated using the dielectric constant detected by, and the average carbon number is estimated to ignite the fuel components and fuel. Estimate the characteristics.

  (8) In the fuel property estimation apparatus according to any one of (1) to (7), a composition having a high dielectric constant other than hydrocarbons is formed upstream of the adsorption / desorption means from the temperature dependence of the dielectric constant. It has a property ratio estimation means for estimating the ratio of the components. Thereby, even if a component having a high dielectric constant such as water or ethanol is mixed in the fuel, the property of the fuel can be estimated with high accuracy.

  (9) In the fuel property estimation apparatus according to any one of (1) to (7), a composition having a high dielectric constant other than hydrocarbons is formed upstream of the adsorption / desorption means due to the temperature dependence of the dielectric constant. And an ethanol detection and separation means for separating the ethanol component from the fuel. Thereby, even when fuel with a large dielectric constant such as ethanol-mixed gasoline is mixed, it is possible to prevent the fuel estimation accuracy from deteriorating.

  (10) The fuel property estimation method includes an adsorption / desorption means capable of adsorbing or desorbing a specific component of fuel in a flow path in which fuel flows in one direction, and a fuel provided in series with the adsorption / desorption means. And a fuel reforming means for reforming, the temperature of the fuel in the adsorption / desorption means is controlled by the first temperature control means, and the temperature of the fuel in the fuel reforming means is controlled by the second temperature control means The fuel permittivity on the upstream side of the adsorption / desorption means and the fuel reforming means, the fuel temperature in the adsorption / desorption means, and the temperature conditions and adsorption that promote the adsorption of specific components in the fuel When the dielectric constant at the outlet side of the adsorption / desorption means when controlling to a temperature condition that is not easily promoted and the fuel temperature at the fuel reforming means are controlled to a plurality of temperature conditions with different fuel reforming reactions The fuel reformer Estimating a fuel property by using the respective dielectric constant at the outlet side.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Fuel sensor 2 ... Fuel passage 3 ... Heater 4 ... 1st electrode 5 ... 2nd electrode 6 ... 3rd electrode 7 ... Adsorption / desorption reaction part 8 ... Dehydrogenation reaction part 9 ... 1st temperature heater 10 ... 2nd Temperature heater

Claims (10)

A flow path through which the fuel flows in one direction, an adsorption / desorption means provided in the flow path that can adsorb or desorb a specific component in the fuel, and the adsorption / desorption means in series in the flow path A fuel reforming means for performing fuel reforming; a dielectric constant measuring means for measuring a dielectric constant of fuel on the inlet and outlet sides of the adsorption / desorption means and the fuel reforming means; and the adsorption / desorption. First temperature control means for controlling the temperature of the fuel in the means, and second temperature control means for controlling the temperature of the fuel in the fuel reforming means,
The dielectric constant of fuel on the upstream side of the adsorption / desorption means and the fuel reforming means,
Dielectric constants at the outlet side of the adsorption / desorption means when the temperature of the fuel in the adsorption / desorption means is controlled to a temperature condition that promotes adsorption of a specific component in the fuel and a temperature condition that makes adsorption difficult to promote. When,
A fuel property is estimated using each dielectric constant at the outlet side of the fuel reforming means when the fuel temperature in the fuel reforming means is controlled to a plurality of temperature conditions with different fuel reforming reactions. A fuel property estimation device.   The fuel property estimation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the type of fuel is estimated from the estimated fuel property. The adsorption / desorption means and the fuel reforming means are each configured by applying a catalyst to the flow path,
The first and second temperature control means can heat a portion of the flow path where the catalyst is applied, and at least two temperature conditions in which the composition of the fuel changes due to the catalytic reaction. The fuel property estimation apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fuel temperature in each of the adsorption / desorption means and the fuel reforming means is controlled. The fuel is a hydrocarbon fuel, and the fuel reforming means is located downstream of the adsorption / desorption means;
The fuel property estimation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a vaporization unit that heats the fuel to vaporize the fuel upstream of the adsorption / desorption unit.   The fuel property estimation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fuel reforming reaction in the fuel reforming means is a dehydrogenation reaction.   6. The fuel property estimation device according to claim 1, wherein the fuel property estimation device is manufactured using a micromachining technique.   The fuel is mainly composed of gasoline or light oil, and uses the dielectric constant detected by the dielectric constant measuring means, and the main components of the fuel are n-paraffin, iso-paraffin, naphthene, olefin, aroma. The fuel property estimation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fuel component and the ignition characteristics of the fuel are estimated by estimating the average carbon number and the like.   8. A property ratio estimating means for estimating a ratio of a component having a high dielectric constant other than hydrocarbon from the temperature dependence of dielectric constant on the upstream side of the adsorption / desorption means. The fuel property estimation apparatus according to any one of the above.   On the upstream side of the adsorption / desorption means, an ethanol detection / separation means for estimating the ratio of ethanol as a component having a high dielectric constant composition other than hydrocarbon from the temperature dependence of the dielectric constant and separating the ethanol component from the fuel The fuel property estimation device according to claim 1, wherein   An adsorbing / desorbing means capable of adsorbing or desorbing a specific component of the fuel in a flow path in which the fuel flows in one direction, and a fuel reforming means provided in series with the adsorbing / desorbing means for performing fuel reforming The temperature of the fuel in the adsorption / desorption means is controlled by the first temperature control means, the temperature of the fuel in the fuel reforming means is controlled by the second temperature control means, and the adsorption / desorption means and The fuel permittivity upstream of the fuel reforming means and the fuel temperature in the adsorption / desorption means were controlled to a temperature condition in which adsorption of a specific component in the fuel is promoted and a temperature condition in which adsorption is difficult to promote. The respective permittivity at the outlet side of the adsorbing / desorbing means and the fuel temperature at the outlet side of the fuel reforming means when the fuel temperature in the fuel reforming means is controlled to a plurality of temperature conditions with different fuel reforming reactions. Dielectric Fuel property estimating method characterized by estimating a fuel property with, the.

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