JP5246173B2 - Fuel property determination device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel property determination device that determines whether heavy oil or kerosene is mixed in light oil.

  Conventionally, the type of fuel is determined by detecting the light refractive index from the total reflection of light (hereinafter referred to as a first conventional example; see, for example, Patent Document 1). (Hereinafter, referred to as a second conventional example, for example, refer to Patent Document 2), which detects heavy oil using the fact that light transmittance is lowered by scattering of light due to distillation residue in heavy oil. (Hereinafter, it is referred to as a third conventional example. For example, see Patent Document 3). In addition, oil manufacturers (the Petroleum Institute) add light oil identification material (coumarin) to heavy oil and kerosene in order to determine unauthorized fuel in which heavy oil or kerosene is illegally mixed in light oil (hereinafter referred to as No. 1). 4 Conventional example).

JP 2001-242079 A JP 2008-122289 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-26391

  However, in the first conventional example, since the optical refractive index has a correlation with the fuel density, it is difficult to detect illegal fuel having a density equivalent to light oil by mixing heavy oil and kerosene. In the second conventional example, it is difficult to detect when illegal fuel is colored equivalent to light oil. In the third conventional example, since the light transmittances of light oil and kerosene are substantially equal, it is difficult to detect the mixing of kerosene into the light oil. In the fourth conventional example, there is an example in which the light oil identifying material is removed in the unauthorized fuel, and it is difficult to detect such unauthorized fuel.

  In view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to accurately determine whether heavy oil or kerosene is mixed in light oil.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the light transmittance detecting means (3, 4) for detecting the light transmittance of the inspection target fuel (2) and the inspection target fuel (2) are cooled. The cooler (5), the temperature detector (6) for detecting the temperature of the fuel to be inspected (2), the light transmittance detected by the light transmittance detection means (3, 4), and the temperature detector (6) A fuel property determination device comprising fuel property determination means (S103, S108, S109, S110, S112) for determining whether heavy oil or kerosene is mixed in light oil based on the fuel temperature detected in step When the fuel property determining means is cooled from the high temperature light transmittance which is the light transmittance of the fuel to be inspected (2) in the fuel temperature range exceeding the high temperature side set temperature and the fuel temperature range exceeding the high temperature side set temperature. When the light transmittance of the fuel to be inspected (2) is high On the basis of the light transmittance and reduced when the fuel temperature is a fuel temperature when decreased by more than a predetermined value than the transmittance, and judging the fuel property.

  According to this, in the illegal fuel in which heavy oil is mixed with light oil, light is scattered by the distillation residue particles contained in the heavy oil, so that the light transmittance at high temperature is lower than that of regular fuel or kerosene. Therefore, it can be determined whether heavy oil is mixed based on the light transmittance at high temperature.

  Further, when the fuel is cooled, the components in the fuel are precipitated as wax, and light is scattered by the deposited wax, so that the light transmittance is rapidly lowered when the temperature is lower than a certain temperature. The temperature at which the light transmittance sharply decreases (= the fuel temperature when the light transmittance decreases) differs depending on the regular fuel, the light oil-mixed light oil, and the kerosene-mixed light oil. Therefore, it can be determined whether the fuel to be inspected (2) is regular fuel, light oil-mixed light oil, or kerosene-mixed light oil based on the fuel temperature when the light transmittance decreases.

  Therefore, it is possible to accurately determine whether heavy oil or kerosene is mixed in the light oil based on the light transmittance at high temperature and the fuel temperature at the time of light transmittance decrease.

  As described above, the unauthorized fuel in which heavy oil is mixed in light oil has a light transmittance at high temperature lower than that of regular fuel or kerosene. Therefore, the light transmittance at high temperature is lower than a threshold value as in the invention of claim 2. When it is low, it can be determined that heavy oil is mixed.

  Here, the fuel temperature when the light transmittance is reduced follows low temperature characteristics represented by the cloud point of each fuel. And the fuel temperature at the time of a light transmittance fall becomes high in order of kerosene mixed light oil, regular fuel, and heavy oil mixed light oil. Therefore, as in the third aspect of the present invention, it can be determined that heavy oil is mixed when the fuel temperature when the light transmittance is lowered is higher than the high temperature side set temperature. Also. As in the fourth aspect of the invention, when the fuel temperature at the time when the light transmittance is lowered is lower than the low temperature side set temperature, it can be determined that the kerosene of the specified amount or more is mixed.

  In addition, the code | symbol in the bracket | parenthesis of each means described in this column and the claim shows the correspondence with the specific means as described in embodiment mentioned later.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a fuel property determination device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the temperature of a fuel, and the light transmittance. It is a flowchart of the control processing performed with the control apparatus of FIG.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a fuel property determination apparatus according to an embodiment.

  This fuel property determination device determines whether heavy oil or kerosene is mixed in fuel (ie, light oil) used in a diesel engine, and is used, for example, in a maintenance factory.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel property determination apparatus includes a cell 1 into which an inspection target fuel 2 is placed, and the cell 1 is made of a material (for example, quartz glass) that does not easily reduce light transmittance.

  Outside the cell 1, a light emitting element 3 and a light receiving element 4 constituting a light transmittance detecting means are arranged to face each other with the cell 1 interposed therebetween. The light emitting element 3 is made of, for example, an LED, and energization is controlled by the control device 7. The light emitting element 3 emits a certain amount of light (for example, near infrared light) toward the inspection target fuel 2 in the cell 1 when energized. The light receiving element 4 is composed of, for example, a PD (photodiode), receives light emitted from the light emitting element 3 and transmitted through the fuel 2 to be inspected, and outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the transmission amount to the control device 7.

  Around the cell 1, a cooler 5 whose energization is controlled by the control device 7 is arranged. The cooler 5 is composed of, for example, a Peltier element, and cools the inspection target fuel 2 when energized.

  Inside the cell 1, a temperature detector 6 such as a thermocouple for measuring the temperature of the fuel 2 to be inspected is arranged. Then, the temperature detector 6 outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the temperature of the inspection target fuel 2 to the control device 7.

  The control device 7 is configured by a known microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an I / O, and the like, and performs various calculations and processes according to a program stored in the ROM. The control device 7 calculates the light transmission amount of the inspection target fuel 2 based on the electric signal from the light receiving element 4. Further, the control device 7 calculates the light transmittance based on the known light emission amount of the light emitting element 3 and the light transmission amount obtained by the calculation. Note that light transmittance = light transmission amount / light emission amount.

  FIG. 2 shows the relationship between the temperature and light transmittance of the following seven types of fuel. Seven types of fuels are: No. 2 diesel oil, No. 3 diesel oil, kerosene, A heavy oil, No. 2 diesel oil mixed with more than the specified amount of kerosene, No. 2 diesel oil mixed with A heavy oil, A heavy oil and kerosene Mixed fuel. Incidentally, Special No. 3 diesel oil is a regular fuel mixed with less than the specified amount of kerosene.

  When the fuel is cooled, the components in the fuel are deposited as wax, and light is scattered by the deposited wax. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, when the fuel falls below a certain temperature, the light transmittance rapidly decreases. The temperature at which the light transmittance rapidly decreases (hereinafter referred to as the fuel temperature when the light transmittance decreases) follows low temperature characteristics typified by the cloud point of each fuel. Specifically, the fuel temperature when the light transmittance is reduced is the highest for heavy oil, the next highest for light oil, and the lowest for kerosene. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether the fuel is regular fuel, heavy oil-mixed fuel, or kerosene-mixed fuel based on the fuel temperature when the light transmittance decreases. Note that the low temperature side set temperature Ta to the high temperature side set temperature Tb (where Ta <Tb) shown in FIG. 2 is the range of the fuel temperature when the light transmittance of the regular fuel decreases.

  In addition, when heavy oil is mixed in the fuel, light is scattered by the distillation residue particles contained in the heavy oil, and therefore in a temperature range higher than the high temperature side set temperature Tb (in this example, for example, 0 ° C. or higher). The light transmittance (hereinafter referred to as “high temperature light transmittance”) of the fuel mixed with heavy oil is lower than that of the fuel not mixed with heavy oil. Therefore, the presence or absence of heavy oil can be determined based on the light transmittance at high temperature.

  Next, the property determination of the inspection target fuel 2 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the property determination process executed by the control device 7.

  First, the inspection target fuel 2 adjusted to a temperature higher than the high temperature side set temperature Tb is put into the cell 1. When a power switch (not shown) is turned on, the control device 7 is energized, and the control device 7 starts a property determination process.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the control device 7 first drives the light emitting element 3 to emit light in S <b> 101 (S represents a step), and in S <b> 102, the light transmission amount based on the electrical signal from the light receiving element 4. And the light transmittance V1 at high temperature of the fuel 2 to be inspected is calculated.

  Subsequently, in S103, it is determined whether or not heavy oil is mixed into the inspection target fuel 2 based on the high-temperature light transmittance V1 obtained in S102. Specifically, when the light transmittance V1 at high temperature is lower than the threshold value V0 (see FIG. 2), it is determined that heavy oil is mixed (S103 is YES), and the heavy oil mixed flag is turned on in S104. The threshold value V0 is stored in the ROM of the control device 7.

  If S103 is YES, the process proceeds from S104 to S105, and if S103 is NO, the process proceeds to S105. In S105, the cooler 5 is driven to cool the fuel 2 to be inspected.

  Subsequently, in S106, the cooling light transmittance V2 of the inspection target fuel 2 in the cooling process is calculated, and in S107, the temperature T1 of the inspection target fuel 2 in the cooling process is measured.

  In subsequent S108, a light transmittance decrease amount ΔV (= V1−V2), which is a value obtained by subtracting the cooling light transmittance V2 obtained in S106 from the high temperature light transmittance V1 obtained in S102, is obtained, and the light transmittance is further obtained. It is determined whether or not the decrease amount ΔV is equal to or greater than a predetermined value ΔVa. The predetermined value ΔVa is stored in the ROM of the control device 7.

  When the light transmittance decrease amount ΔV is less than the predetermined value ΔVa (NO in S108), the process proceeds to S109, where it is determined whether the fuel temperature T1 measured in S107 is higher than the low temperature side set temperature Ta, and the fuel temperature T1. Is higher than the low temperature side set temperature Ta (YES in S109), the process returns to S106.

  That is, the processes of S106 to S109 are repeatedly executed until an affirmative determination is made in S108 or a negative determination is made in S109. The low temperature side set temperature Ta is stored in the ROM of the control device 7.

  If the light transmittance decrease amount ΔV is equal to or greater than the predetermined value ΔVa and an affirmative determination is made in S108, the process proceeds to S110. In this S110, it is determined whether or not the fuel temperature T1 last measured in S107 (that is, the fuel temperature when the light transmittance decreases) is higher than the high temperature side set temperature Tb, and the fuel temperature T1 when the light transmittance decreases is the high temperature side. If it is higher than the set temperature Tb (YES in S110), it is determined that heavy oil is mixed as is apparent from FIG. 2, and therefore, in S111, it is displayed on a display unit (not shown) that the fuel is illegal fuel. The high temperature side set temperature Tb is stored in the ROM of the control device 7.

  On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in S110, that is, if the fuel temperature T1 when the light transmittance is reduced is equal to or lower than the high temperature side set temperature Tb, it is determined in S112 whether the heavy oil mixture flag is ON. When the light transmittance lowering fuel temperature T1 is equal to or lower than the high temperature side set temperature Tb (S110 is N0) and the heavy oil mixture flag is ON (that is, when the high temperature light transmittance V1 is lower than the threshold value V0). 2), it is determined that the fuel has been adjusted by mixing heavy oil and kerosene as is apparent from FIG.

  Further, when both S108 and S109 are negatively determined, that is, when the light transmittance decrease amount ΔV is less than the predetermined value ΔVa (S108 is NO), the fuel temperature T1 is decreased to the low temperature side set temperature Ta or less (S109). 2), since it is determined that kerosene is mixed as is apparent from FIG. 2, in S111, it is displayed on the display section that the fuel is illegal.

  Further, when the fuel temperature T1 is higher than the low temperature side set temperature Ta (S109 is YES), when the light transmittance decrease amount ΔV is equal to or greater than the predetermined value ΔVa (S108 is YES), the process proceeds to S110, where the fuel temperature When T1 is equal to or lower than the high temperature side set temperature Tb (S110 is NO), the process proceeds to S112.

  Accordingly, the fuel to be inspected 2 that is negatively determined in S112 (that is, the heavy oil mixture flag is not turned ON) has a predetermined light transmittance decrease ΔV in the temperature range from the low temperature side set temperature Ta to the high temperature side set temperature Tb. The light transmittance V1 at a high temperature is higher than the threshold value V0. Then, the inspection target fuel 2 having such characteristics is determined to be a normal fuel as is apparent from FIG. 2, so that the fact that it is a normal fuel is displayed on the display unit in S113. Note that S103, S108, S109, S110, and S112 constitute a fuel property determination unit.

  After being displayed on the display unit in S111 and S113, the cooler 5 is stopped in S114, the light emitting element 3 is stopped in S115, and the property determination process is ended.

  According to the present embodiment, it is possible to accurately determine whether heavy oil or kerosene is mixed in light oil based on the light transmittance V1 at high temperature and the fuel temperature T1 at light transmittance decrease.

  In S111 of the above-described embodiment, it is simply displayed that the fuel is illegal fuel, but instead of S111, if negative determination is made in S109, it is displayed that the fuel is illegal fuel mixed with kerosene. A step of displaying an unauthorized fuel mixed with heavy oil when an affirmative determination is made at S110, and an unauthorized fuel mixed with heavy oil and kerosene when an affirmative determination is made at S112. Steps may be provided.

2 Fuel to be inspected 3 Light emitting element (light transmittance detection means)
4 Light receiving element (light transmittance detection means)
5 Cooler 6 Temperature detector

Claims (4)

Light transmittance detecting means (3, 4) for detecting the light transmittance of the fuel to be inspected (2);
A cooler (5) for cooling the fuel to be inspected (2);
A temperature detector (6) for detecting the temperature of the fuel to be inspected (2);
Based on the light transmittance detected by the light transmittance detection means (3, 4) and the fuel temperature detected by the temperature detector (6), it is determined whether heavy oil or kerosene is mixed in the light oil. A fuel property determination device comprising fuel property determination means (S103, S108, S109, S110, S112),
The fuel property determining means is cooled from a high temperature light transmittance which is a light transmittance of the fuel to be inspected (2) in a fuel temperature range exceeding the high temperature side set temperature, and a fuel temperature range higher than the high temperature side set temperature. The fuel property is determined based on the fuel temperature when the light transmittance decreases, which is the fuel temperature when the light transmittance of the fuel to be inspected (2) is lower than the light transmittance at the high temperature by a predetermined value or more. A fuel property determination device.   The fuel property determination device according to claim 1, wherein the fuel property determination unit determines that heavy oil is mixed when the high-temperature light transmittance is lower than a threshold value.   2. The fuel property determination device according to claim 1, wherein the fuel property determination unit determines that heavy oil is mixed when the fuel temperature at the time of the decrease in light transmittance is higher than the high temperature side set temperature.   The fuel property determination means has a low temperature side set temperature lower than the high temperature side set temperature, and when the light transmittance lowering fuel temperature is lower than the low temperature side set temperature, kerosene more than a specified amount The fuel property determination device according to claim 1, wherein it is determined that there is contamination.

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