Biofuel ethanol adulteration detection using an ultrasonic measurement method

► We proposed identify adulteration in biofuel ethanol using attenuation and propagation velocity. ► We measured at different fractions of dilution of ethanol in water. ► Propagation velocity was found to be useful to identify adulteration in ethanol fuel. ► Attenuation could not be considered a goo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Fuel (Guildford) 2012-01, Vol.91 (1), p.209-212
Main Authors: Figueiredo, Monique K.-K., Costa-Felix, Rodrigo P.B., Maggi, Luis E., Alvarenga, André V., Romeiro, Gilberto A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adulteration
Applied sciences
Brazil
Energy
Energy. Thermal use of fuels
Ethanol
Ethanol fuel
Ethyl alcohol
Exact sciences and technology
Fuels
Gold
Propagation velocity
Ultrasonic attenuation
Ultrasonic propagation velocity
Uncertainty
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Summary:► We proposed identify adulteration in biofuel ethanol using attenuation and propagation velocity. ► We measured at different fractions of dilution of ethanol in water. ► Propagation velocity was found to be useful to identify adulteration in ethanol fuel. ► Attenuation could not be considered a good parameter for identify adulteration. Hydrous ethanol is a worldwide used biofuel. According to Brazilian regulations, the concentration of ethanol in hydrous ethanol can be accepted at a maximum concentration of 93.8% and a minimum of 92.6% by mass. The aim of this study is to identify the possible changes in hydrous ethanol fuel using ultrasonic attenuation and propagation velocity. The experiments were performed in the Laboratory of Ultrasound of the Brazilian National Institute of Metrology (Inmetro). The experiments and uncertainties in the methodology were evaluated according to the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement, JCGM 100:2008. The test samples used in this study were mixtures of ethanol and water with ethanol concentrations varying from 89.84% to 93.71% by mass; and a commercial fuel ethanol bought from a local distributor. The correlation coefficient between ethanol concentrations and ultrasonic propagation velocity was 0.99 (in modulus), and the maximum combined uncertainty was 0.60ms−1. Considering attenuation, the correlation coefficient was 0.97, and the maximum combined uncertainty was 0.085dBcm−1. However, its signal is not stable resulting an unreliable parameter. Within the tested concentration range, the highest concentration that is statistically different (p
ISSN:0016-2361
1873-7153
DOI:10.1016/j.fuel.2011.08.003