WO2007004897A1

WO2007004897A1 - Device and method for analysing fluids in a tank

Info

Publication number: WO2007004897A1
Application number: PCT/NO2006/000257
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alf Mortensen
Original assignee: Alf Mortensen
Priority date: 2005-07-06
Filing date: 2006-07-05
Publication date: 2007-01-11
Also published as: EP1907823A4; NO20053320D0; NO20053320L; NO323486B1; EP1907823A1

Abstract

A device (1) for measuring diesel oil quality, in which said device (1) comprises a probe (12) comprising a signal source (4) and a signal receiver (5), in which said signal receiver (5) provides a signal to an indicator (11) indicating whether said diesel (2) is of a desired quality.

Description

Device and method for analysing fluids in a tank

Introduction

The invention relates to a device for quality checking diesel oil in a container or tank. More specifically the invention is an apparatus for conducting a simple and quick quality check of diesel oil in which the apparatus does not demand any technical demands with respect to the technical skills of the user.

Background of the invention The lorry transport trade is among the kind of business who often experience problems with the quality of the diesel oil bought for use in diesel engines. The plurality of problems may comprise insufficient maintenance and inspection of fuel tanks, water in the diesel oil, or use of diesel which may have been changed compared to the quality provided by serious fuel providers would like to deliver. The consequences of using a diesel oil of inferior quality may comprise all between sudden engine failure to fuel pump damage which may be costly to repair for a lorry owner. Purveyors of lorries are usually then held responsible as they are accused with having supplied a bad product which malfunctions or which does not perform according to expectations. It has thus been a long felt desire from both the purveyors and the users of diesel engine lorries to be enabled to, in a simple and swift way, to check the diesel oil in use. For conducting such quality checks it is a desire among the transport trade for developing a simple diesel oil quality detector. Such a detector should be so simple that it may be utilized without training, and provide results that may immediately be interpreted.

Bakground art

US 5696592 describes an apparatus for measurement of light penetrating fluids, in which said apparatus comprises two or more diodes, a light conducting device as e.g. a fibre optical conductor, and a metering apparatus indicating the voltage resulting. The apparatus is encapsulated in an acid- and water proof (waterproof) container. The apparatus is, however, relatively complicated, and will not feasibly conduct measurements of diesel oil quality. That the apparatus comprises fibre optic or other optically conducting connections in the probe as such, considerably complicates the apparatus and necessitates training of possible users, as compared to the fact that training is not required with the present invention.

US 5099504 describes a device that allows measurement of the thickness or density of a material by means of a diode.

US 6055059 describes a device measuring fibres on a plane surface by means of diodes and optical meters.

US 4637729 describes an apparatus and a method for detecting a given substance in a liquid. The apparatus comprises a container for keeping the liquid subject to be examined, two or more optically conducting devices, and two or more light diodes providing light at exact wavelengths. A light signal having a first wavelength expected to be affected by the fluid is sent through a first optical conductor, traverses the fluid subject to investigation, before being reflected by a mirror to meet the second optical conductor which conducts the light signal back to a meter. A light signal having a second wavelength expected not to be affected by the liquid is than sent through the liquid in the same way. By comparison of the two resulting different measurements one may remove disturbances that are not due to absorption in the liquid.

US 4682895 relates to an apparatus and a method for metering chemical properties of tissue, by means of a colorimetric liquid that interrupts the ray path of a given light ray. The colorimetric liquid is arranged i a chamber being semi- permeable relative to the liquid to be metered. The apparatus thus does not directly measure the absorption properties of a liquid, but the absorption properties of a liquid that reacts with a colorimetric molecule.

The above mentioned patent publications describe apparati being relatively complicated, and difficultly allow those not being skilled to conduct the techniques described. They also do not relate to determining the quality of diesel oil. The present invention allows an operator entirely without experience in using technical apparati to determine whether a diesel oil is of desired quality, and thus whether it may be used in e.g. a vehicle.

Short summary of the invention. The invention concerns a device for quality control of a diesel oil, in which the device is arranged for measuring the light absorption property of a diesel oil with respect to light of a given wavelength. The device comprises a light source and a light detector arranged in a chamber in a probe in which the light source and the light detector are arranged having a given relative separation and angular position. Electrical conductors are connected to the light source for providing it with voltage from a voltage source. The probe is arranged for being inserted into the diesel oil in a tank or container, and is further provided with channels or apertures allowing the diesel of the tank to penetrate into the chamber of the probe, and fill this entirely or partially with the diesel oil. The light source is arranged for emitting light waves having a wavelength about 360 - 420 nm, said light to traverse the diesel oil in said chamber.

The light detector converts part of said light from the light source to electrical voltage, which subsequently by means of electrically conductors leads the voltage to an indicator. The indicator is arranged for, based on the voltage provided by the light detector, to give an indicating signal telling whether the diesel has a light absorption or light transmission within or outside of a desired range, and thus whether the diesel oil is of acceptable quality or not.

Figure captions The drawings are merely intended for illustrating the invention and shall in no way be construed as limiting for the invention, which shall be limited by the claims only.

Fig. 1 illustrates the use of a preferred embodiment of a device (1) according to the invention, in which the device's (1) one end with the probe (12) is guided into a tank (3), said tank (3) being entirely or partially filled with diesel oil

(2), and in which said probe (12) is flexibly attached to an instrument housing (20) via a pipe (19), said instrument housing (20) further comprises one or more indicators (17), one or more computing units (15), one or more voltage sources (10), and one or more voltage meters (6).

Fig. 2 shows a section of the probe (12) according to the invention having a light source (4), glass (18) for separating the light source (4) and the light detector (5) from the diesel oil (2) in the chamber (14).

Fig. 3 shows in outline a device (1) according to the invention with the probe (12) and the chamber (14) and the indicator (17).

Fig. 4a shows an absorption spectrum for a first, Norwegian, so-called green diesel ["green": i.e. diced (dyed) with a chemical marker to indicate restricted use due to fiscal regulations], the diesel has an arrow-marked absorption peak calculated to be at 367 nm.

Fig. 4b shows an absorption spectrum for a second so-called Norwegian "green" diesel having an arrow-indicated absorption peak calculated to reside at 411 nm.

Fig. 4c displays an absorption spectrum for a third Norwegian so-called "green" diesel, having an arrow-indicated absorption peak calculated to be at 380 nm.

Fig. 4d shows an absorption spectrum for a Norwegian so-called red diesel, having an arrow-marked absorption peak calculated to be at 391 nm.

Fig. 4e shows an absorption spectrum for a mixed Norwegian diesel, having an arrow-indicated absorption peak calculated to be at 370 nm.

Fig. 4f shows an absorption spectrum for a Swedish so-called "green" diesel, having an arrow-indicated absorption top calculated to be at about 350 nm, but a secondary peak about 380 nm is clearly visible.

Fig. 4g shows an absorption spectrum for a second Swedish so-called greed diesel, having an arrow-marked absorption peak calculated to reside about 407 nm.

Fig. 4h shows an absorption spectrum for a fourth Norwegian so-called "green" diesel, having an arrow-indicated absorption peak calculated to be about 370 nm. Moreover one may observe clearly repeating peaks in every diagram except 4d about 600 or 650.

Fig. 5 shows absorption spectrum for different degrees of dilution of a diesel, having a first arrow-marked absorption peak for the single desired diesel oil about 400 nm.

Description of preferred embodiments

The principle for the method according to the invention may be described on the basis of the absorption spectra shown in Fig. 4a - 4h. The different absorption spectra display peaks at generally the same wavelengths, with a pronounced peak for most of the measurements residing between 370 and 412 nm wavelength light.

This top is pronounced and it will then, by a small change of the composition of the diesel oil 2, such as by e.g. dilution with e.g. kerosene, be seen a strong reduction of light absorption in this frequency interval. This reduction and also a certain displacement is illustrated in Fig. 5. This reduction in absorption will not be sought to be explained in this text, but we expect that the effect partially is due to a dilution effect.

Table 1 displayed below establishes that the voltage formed in the light detector 5 is reduced upon increasing dilution of diesel oil 2 with kerosene. The table also shows that the density of the mixture is very little affected, a fact that makes it hard to detect dilution of diesel oil using measurements of density.

Table 1. Comparison between degree of dilution of diesel and voltage formed in a light detector after light transmission of desired wavelength

density Voltage

Winter diesel 0,84761 1 ,02

19,5% kerosene 0,83634 0,91 30% kerosene 0,83095 0,85 summer diesel 0,83587 1 ,09

20,2%kerosene 0,83634 0,96

30%kerosene 0,83313 0,89

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the probe 12 is guided into a tank or container 3 containing(contents) diesel oil 2. In the probe 12 are arranged one or more light sources 4 and one or more light detectors 5 in a given separation and angular position between the light source 4 and the light detector 5 in a chamber 14. The chamber 14 is provided with channels or inlets 16 allowing the diesel oil 2 in the tank 3 to fill the chamber 14. the light from the at least one light source 4 traverses through the diesel oil 2 in said chamber 14 and arrives at the at least one light detector 5. in a preferred embodiment of the invention the light source 4 emits light with a wavelength about 360 to 420 nm. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the light source 4 is a light diode emitting a bluish light. In an alternative preferred embodiment the light source 4 is a laser that likewise emits a bluish light having a wavelength within said desired spectrum. The light detector 5 converts part of the received light having traversed the diesel oil 2 in the chamber 14 to an electrical voltage V1 that is led to an indicator 17 by means of electrically conductors 8. The indicator 17 according to a very simple embodiment of the invention, provides a signal 11 that indicates whether the diesel oil 2 is of desired quality. In this embodiment according to the invention the indicator 17 may be a light diode that may require a minimum voltage to light the lamp, whereby the light diode provides an optical signal as an indication that the diesel oil is of desired quality or not.

If this minimum voltage for a light diode, e.g. a red one, is e.g. above 0.39V, this may indicate little absorption and thus a diesel oil of undesired quality.

In a preferred embodiment according to the invention the indicator 17 is a voltage meter metering the voltage provided from the light detector 5. in a particularly preferred embodiment a voltage amplifier 9 is arranged between the light detector 5 and the indicator 17 in order to amplify or in other ways modify the electrical voltage signal from the light diode 5 to the indicator 17. In a particularly preferred embodiment according to the invention a computing unit 15 is arranged having an algorithm 13 being arranged for providing a signal to the indicator 17 which further indicates whether the diesel oil 2 being of desired quality. The electronics may simply be modified for indicating the absorption on a linear scale and send signals to different lamps indicating various degrees of fulfilment of the quality criteria, please refer to Fig. 3, in which is indicated a linear scale of lamps from an upper red that indicates a much too inferior diesel quality, to the lower green lamp indicating a desired diesel oil quality. Obviously this test of light absorption will not provide an exhaustive analysis of the composition or quality of the diesel oil, but may only give a quick but essential indication of the diesel oil quality.

In a further preferred embodiment according to the invention the probe 12 is flexibly connected to the voltage source 10 by means of a flexible hollow pipe 19, in which said pipe 19 is arranged for holding the electrical conductors 7, 8 between the voltage source 10 to the probe 12. In a further preferred embodiment the voltage meter 6, the voltage source 10, the computing unit 15, plus the indicator 17, enclosed by a housing 20, please refer to Fig. 1. In an alternative embodiment of the invention the probe 12 may be arranged for being fixedly arranged in a tank or container 3 or another part of the diesel oil's transport path ahead to the diesel injection pump. In such an embodiment the probe 12 may be provided by a wireless transmitter 21 arranged for transmitting a signal indicating the metered voltage V1 to a receiver 22 further connected to an instrument housing for analysing that voltage V1 , and which provides a signal indicating whether the diesel oil 2 is of a desired quality.

Parts list 1 Device 2 Diesel oil

3 Container / tank 4 Light source

5 Light detector

6 Voltage meter

7,8 Electrical conductors

9 Voltage amplifier

10 Voltage source

11 Signal

12 Probe

12a Probe end

12v Probe wall

13 Algorithm

14 Chamber

14v Chamber wall

15 Computing unit

16 Channels / Inlet

17 Indicator

18 Glass

19 Hollow pipe

20 Instrument housing

21 Transmitter

22 Receiver

Claims

1. A device (1) for quality-checking diesel oil (2) in a container or tank (3), comprising the following features: a light source (4); electrical conductors (7) arranged for supplying the light source (4) with electrical energy from one or more voltage sources (10); one or more light detectors (5) arranged with fixed separation relative to the light source (4) and arranged for converting at least part of the light from said light source (4) to an electrical voltage (V1); characterised by a probe (12) with a chamber (14) arranged for holding said light source (4) and said light detector with mutual separation and angular position, in which said probe (12) with said chamber (14) is arranged to be guided into said diesel oil (2) in said tank (3), in which said probe (12) is provided with an inlet (16) through a chamber wall (14v) of said chamber (14) so as for said diesel oil (2) entirely or partially to fill said chamber (14) while said probe (12) is immersed in said diesel oil (2) of said tank (3), in which said light source (4) is arranged for emitting light waves generally with a wavelength in the range about 360- 420 nm, in which said light from said light source (4) is arranged for traversing said diesel oil (2) in said chamber (14), in which said device (1) is further arranged for comprising the electrical conductors (7, 8) between the probe (12) and the voltage source (10), in which an instrument housing (20) via said conductors (7, 8) are connected to said probe (12), comprising an indicator (4§ 17) arranged for, on the basis of said voltage (V1), to provide an indicator signal (11) for indicating whether said diesel oil (2) has a light transmission or light absorption within or outside of a desired range, and thus being of acceptable quality or not.

2. The device according to claim 1 , in which a lamp (17L) is arranged for lighting up upon a voltage (V1) being higher than a given value (VLt) indicating that the light absorption is so low that the measured diesel oil (2) being diluted or added additives or in other ways changed.

3. The device according to claim 1 , in which said lamp (17L) is arranged for lighting up upon a voltage (V1) being lower than a given value (VLt) indicating that the light absorption of said diesel oil (2) being sufficiently high so as for said measured diesel oil (2) not being diluted or added additives or in other ways being changed.

4. The device according to claim 1 , in which a voltage amplifier (9) is arranged between said light detector (5) and said voltage meter (6).

5. The device according to claim 1 , in which said indicating signal (11) is an optical signal, preferably a light signal.

6. The device according to claim 1 , in which said device (1) comprises a computing unit (15) with an algorithm (13) arranged for interpreting said voltage signal from said light detector (5) and in which said computing unit (15) is arranged for producing a signal to said indicator (Φ§)(17) whereby said indicator (4€)(17) indicates whether said diesel oil (2) being of desired quality.

7. The device according to claim 1 , in which said light source (4) being a laser emitting light of a desired wavelength.

8. The device according to claim 1 , in which said light source (4) being a light diode emitting light of a desired wavelength.

9. The device according to claim 1 , in which said probe (12) being equipped with a transmitter (21) wirelessly providing signals about whether the voltage (V1) to said indicator (4€)(17) indicating whether said being of desired quality.

10. The device according to claim 1 , in which said probe (12) is flexibly connected to said voltage source (10) by means of a hollow pipe (19) and in which said pipe (19) is arranged for leading electrical conductors (7, 8) to said probe (12).

11. A method for measuring diesel oil quality, said method comprising the following sequential steps:

- a probe (12) connected to a voltage source (10) is guided into a tank or container

(3) being entirely or partially filled with diesel oil (2),

- a chamber (14) of said probe (12) is filled with diesel oil (2) via channels or inlets (16),

- a light source (4) in said chamber (14) is supplied with electrical voltage from a voltage source (10), and in which said light from said light source (4) traverses said diesel oil (2) in said chamber (14),

- a light detector (5) in said chamber (14) receives said light from said light source

(4) having traversed said diesel hoi (2) and converts part of or all of said received light to an electrical voltage,

- an electrical conductor (8) conducts said electrical voltage formed in said light detector to an indicator (17),

- said indicator (17) provides a signal (119 indicating whether said diesel oil (2) being of desired quality.

12. The method according to claim 11 , in which a transmitter (21) is connected to said probe (12) wirelessly provides a signal to a receiver (22) connected to said indicator (17) and in which said indicator provides a signal (11) indicating whether said diesel oil (2) being of desired quality.

13. The method according to claim 11 , in which said indicator (17) provides a signal (11) indicating whether said diesel oil (2) being of a desired quality, based on that said voltage (V1) being low, indicating considerable light absorption in the frequency range about where diesel oil of good quality having strong absorption.

14. The method according to claim 11 , in which said indicator (17) provides a signal (11) indicating whether said diesel oil (2) not being of a desired quality, based on that said voltage (V1) being high, indicating weak light absorption in the frequency range about where diesel oil of good quality having strong absorption.