Wilks Enterprise has published an application data sheet describing a simple method for measuring biofuel blend ratios.
The company claims that, with the development of biofuel programmes, there is a growing need for simple methods to ensure the specified blend ratios.
Tax incentives and government regulations are often based on the percentage of biofuel, making it important to have an accurate measurement system.
The Infracal blend analysers are rugged, compact and portable and can be used by non-technical personnel.
They provide a direct readout in either the percentage of biodiesel or the percentage of ethanol, giving the user the capability to measure the blend ratio on site - at a fuel loading rack, in a laboratory or from a pump at a fuelling station - in less than one minute.
The Infracal blend analysers are fixed-filter infrared analysers that, unlike FTIR spectrometers, have no moving parts and an insignificant optical air path, making them portable, rugged and suitable for use in a field environment.
Weighing less than 5lb (2kg), they can be operated from a battery pack or a cigarette-lighter-adapter cable and include an RS 232 interface for data transmission to a PC.
For analysis, the fuel sample is placed directly on the exposed ATR sample window, a 'run' button is selected and the result is displayed in 15 seconds.
After analysis, the fuel can be cleaned off using a wipe.
Biodiesel has a characteristic infrared absorption band at 5.7 microns (1,754cm-1) and ethanol at 9.6 microns (1,045cm-1).
As the biodiesel/ethanol percentage increases, the infrared absorbance rises, which directly correlates to the concentration percentage.
The Infracal analysers can measure zero per cent to 100 per cent biodiesel and zero per cent to 98 per cent ethanol.
