Method and apparatus for detecting a contaminated alcohol-gasoline fuel mixture

Patent · Tue Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993

OSTI ID:6511017

Ament, F; Gonze, E V

For an internal combustion engine having a fuel supply line through which a fuel mixture containing alcohol and gasoline is delivered to the engine, the fuel mixture having electrical properties characterized by an electrical resistivity and a dielectric constant, an apparatus for detecting and indicating that the fuel mixture is of a substandard quality due to an unacceptable amount of contaminants dissolved in the fuel mixture, the apparatus is described comprising: a single sensor for sensing both the electrical resistivity and dielectric constant of the alcohol and gasoline fuel mixture being delivered to the engine; resistance measuring means switchably coupled to the sensor means for developing a resistance signal indicative of electrical resistivity of the fuel mixture; capacitance measuring means switchably coupled to the sensor means for developing a capacitance signal indicative of the dielectric constant of the fuel mixture; means for alternatively switching the sensor between the resistance measuring means and the capacitance measuring means in accordance with predetermined switching criteria; means responsive to the capacitance signal for selecting a threshold amount based upon the dielectric constant of the fuel mixture; and means responsive to the fuel resistance signal for providing an indication of substandard fuel quality when the resistivity of the fuel mixture is less than the threshold amount.

• Assignee: General Motors Corp., Detroit, MI (United States)
• Patent Number(s): A; US 5216409
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-752344
• OSTI ID: 6511017
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
023000* -- Petroleum-- Properties & Composition
CONTROL
DESIGN
DETECTION
DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ENGINES
FUELS
GASOHOL
HEAT ENGINES
IMPURITIES
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
LIQUID FUELS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MEASURING METHODS
ON-LINE MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
ON-LINE SYSTEMS
OPERATION
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
QUALITY CONTROL