Method and apparatus for determining a composition characteristic of a combustible fluid

Abstract

Abstract METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUSLY DETERMINING A COMPOSITION CHARACTERISTIC OF A COMBUSTIBLE FLUID, SUCH AS THE OCTANE RATING OF A GASOLINE BOILING RANGE HYDROCARBON-CONTAINING FLUID. A SAMPLE OF THE FLUID IS OXIDIZED IN AN ANALYZER COMPRISING A STABILIZED COOL FLAME GENERATOR WITH A SERVO-POSITIONED FLAME FRONT. THE POSITION OF THE FLAME FRONT IS AUTOMATICALLY DETECTED AND UTILIZED TO MANIPULATE A COMBUSTION PARAMETER, SUCH AS PRESSURE, TEMPERATURE, FLUID FLOW, OR OXIDIZER FLOW, IN A MANNER SUFFICIENT TO IMMOBILIZE THE FLAME FRONT REGARDLESS OF FLUCTUATIONS IN COMPOSITION CHARACTERISTIC OF THE FLUID SAMPLE. CHANGES IN COMBUSTION PARAMETER WHICH ARE REQUIRED TO IMMOBILIZE THE FLAME FRONT ARE CORRELATABLE WITH CHANGES IN COMPOSITION CHARACTERISTIC, AND MEANS IS PROVIDED FOR SENDING THE MANIPULATED COMBUSTION PARAMETER AND DEVELOPING THEREFROM A CONDITION OUTPUT SIGNAL WHICH IS FUNCTIONALLY REPRESENTATIVE OF AND CORRELATABLE WITH COMPOSITION CHARACTERISTIC. A SUITABLE REFERENCE FUEL OF KNOWN COMPOSITION CHARACTERISTIC IS PERIODICALLY PASSED TO THE ANALYZER IN PLACE OF THE FLUID SAMPLE AND AN ANALYZER TEMPERATURE IS SENSED. MEANS IS PROVIDED TO COMPENSATE THE CONDITION OUTPUT SIGNAL FOR ANY DEVIATION IN THE SIGNAL BETWEEN APPARENT REFERENCE FUEL SIGNAL AND A SIGNAL CORRESPONDING TO THE TRUE KNOW VALUE OF REFERENCE FUEL COMPOSITION CHARACTERISTIC, AND TO FURTHER COMPENSATE THE CONDITION OUTPUT SIGNAL FOR TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATIONS, WHEREBY THE CONDITION OUTPUT SIGNAL IS COMPENSATED FOR COMBUSTION EFFECTS NOT INDICATIVE OF COMPOSITION CHARACTERISTIC, AND IS THEREBY FUNCTIONALLY REPRESENTATIVE OF AND CORRELATABLE WITH THE TRUE COMPOSITION CHARACTERISTIC OF THE FLUID SAMPLE.

Inventors

• 👤 Ellsworth R Fenske

Bibliographic Details