Probing Alternative Fuel Compositions to Determine Electrical Parameters

Abstract

Introduction. In this paper attention is paid to the study of electrical parameters of fifteen compositions of alternative fuels. The task of developing non-contact methods of fuel composition analysis is relevant. Aim of the Study. The study is aimed at obtaining dielectric constant data of alternative fuels for further search of the relationship with combustion process. Materials and Methods. For the study there was used a capacitor consisting of two 175x102 mm aluminum plates and a Sinometex ZT-Y multimeter. Results. When comparing the dielectric constant values of all presented alternative fuel compositions, there is found the dependence between the minimum and maximum content of added alcohol and vegetable oils in the mixture. This dependence manifests itself in the nature of dielectric constant values correlating with the capacitor electric capacity, if there is the mixture between the plates. It is observed for all three hydrocarbons added to the mixture: ethanol, rapeseed and colza oils. For example, the dielectric permittivity increases throughout the range from 10 to 50% of the added ethanol, rapeseed and colza oils, reaching the values from Ɛ =3.05 to 45.31; from Ɛ = 2.35 to 2.72; from Ɛ = 2.33 up to 2.8, respectively. Discussion and Conclusion. The analysis of the dielectric constant values of various alternative fuel compositions shows that when the content of alcohol and vegetable oils in the mixture increases from 10 to 50%, the dielectric constant increases. And this is true for all three hydrocarbons: ethanol, rapeseed and colza oils.