Patent Application
20240272136
The present invention relates to a composition identification program, a composition identification apparatus and a composition identification system.
As measures against global warming, there is an increasing momentum for decarbonization. For example, unlike fossil fuel, bio-derived fuel or green fuel synthesized using green hydrogen and recovered carbon dioxide are considered to have zero carbon dioxide emissions even when these fuels are used.
Incidentally, as one of efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, there is a credit system in which the reduction amount of carbon dioxide emissions and the absorption amount are certified by the government. According to the credit system, a business operator that has reduced carbon dioxide emissions can sell an authorized credit to another business operator. In a case where a mixture of a plurality of different fuels such as fossil fuel, bio-derived fuel, green fuel, and the like is used as fuel of a diesel vehicle, if the component ratio of the fuels can be identified, it is possible to identify the amount of carbon dioxide emission reduction caused by the operation of the diesel vehicle, and it is expected that the amount of carbon dioxide emission reduction can be used for credit certification.
In addition, when these fuels are added to already used fossil fuel, since the fuel properties such as kinematic viscosity, flow point, and cetane number are different, it is assumed that ideal parameters of engine control are different, and it is necessary to grasp the degree of mixing of the components and feed back to the engine control.
An object of the present invention is to provide a composition identification program, a composition identification apparatus, and a composition identification system capable of identifying the composition of a mixture including a plurality of components.
According to the invention, the above objects are achieved by providing the following:
and identifies the composition of the mixture;
The invention can provide a composition identification program, a composition identification apparatus, a composition identification system and moving object capable of identifying the composition of a mixture including a plurality of components.
Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described. The invention, however, is not limited to the following embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention.
The fuel unit 3 is provided with one or a plurality of measurers capable of measuring one or a plurality of characteristic values of the fuel mixture. The fuel unit 3 is a concept including not only a fuel tank that stores a fuel mixture but also a fuel supply line for supplying the fuel mixture to a heat engine 4 such as an engine or the like and an oil supply line for supplying the fuel mixture to the fuel tank, and it is sufficient that the one or a plurality of measurers capable of measuring one or a plurality of characteristic values of a fuel mixture are provided in any of the fuel tank, the fuel supply line, and the oil supply line.
The plurality of measurers can respectively measure different characteristic values. For example, one of the plurality of measurers can measure a parameter regarding a dielectric constant of the fuel mixture and another measurer can measure a parameter regarding a thermal conductivity of the fuel mixture. The measurers are not particularly limited as long as the characteristic value of the fuel mixture can be measured, and examples thereof include a sensor or a measuring instrument used for measuring a dielectric constant, a thermal conductivity, a specific gravity, a flash point, a viscosity, and the like. In the present invention, characteristic values for a plurality of characteristics (for example, dielectric constant, thermal conductivity, specific gravity, flash point, viscosity) of a fuel mixture are measured, and a composition of the fuel mixture is identified on the basis of the characteristic values. However, a type of the characteristic used to identify the composition of the fuel mixture is not particularly limited, and a combination of any type of characteristics to identify the composition of the fuel mixture is not particularly limited.
The characteristic value of a fuel mixture measured by the measurers is transmitted to the composition identification apparatus 2 by wired or wireless communication. The composition identification apparatus 2 can identify the composition of the fuel mixture on the basis of the received characteristic value of the fuel mixture.
When two types of fuels are contained in a fuel mixture, the composition of the fuel mixture can be identified on the basis of the characteristic value of the fuel mixture measured by one measurer and the characteristic value that is the same kind of characteristic value as the characteristic value of the fuel mixture measured by one measurer and is unique to each of the two types of fuels contained in the fuel mixture. In addition, when three types of fuels are contained in a fuel mixture, the composition of the fuel mixture can be identified on the basis of two different characteristic values of the fuel mixture measured by two different measurers and characteristic values that are the same kind of characteristic values as the two different characteristic values and are unique to each of the three types of fuels contained in the fuel mixture. Furthermore, when four types of fuels are contained in a fuel mixture, the composition of the fuel mixture can be identified on the basis of three different characteristic values of the fuel mixture measured by three different measurers, and characteristic values that are the same kind of characteristic values as the three different characteristic values and are unique to each of the four types of fuels contained in the fuel mixture.
In this manner, the number of types of characteristic values required to identify the composition of a fuel mixture also varies depending on the number of types of fuels contained in the fuel mixture. Specifically, when the number of types of fuels contained in a fuel mixture is defined as n, the number of types of characteristic values required to identify the composition of the fuel mixture is (n−1) (n is an integer of 2 or more). That is, in the present invention, the composition of the mixture can be identified on the basis of a first characteristic value to an (n−1)th characteristic value of the mixture of n types of different liquids and the first characteristic value to the (n−1)th characteristic value unique to each liquid contained in the mixture.
The heat engine 4 may be either an internal combustion engine or an external combustion engine, and examples thereof include an internal combustion engine of a moving object 5 such as a vehicle, a ship, an aircraft, and the like. The vehicles include not only automobiles and motorcycles but also special vehicles such as construction vehicles, industrial vehicles, and the like. The composition identification apparatus 2 may be provided in the moving object 5 such as a vehicle, a ship, an aircraft, and the like together with the heat engine 4, or may be provided outside the moving object 5.
When the composition identification apparatus 2 is provided in the moving object 5 of a vehicle, a ship, or an aircraft together with the fuel unit 3 and the heat engine 4, a composition of a fuel mixture identified by the composition identification apparatus 2 or the information regarding the composition may be memorized in the composition identification apparatus 2, or may be transmitted from the composition identification apparatus 2 to another computer apparatus 7 via a communication network 6 by wired or wireless communication. Another computer apparatus 7 is provided inside or outside the moving object 5 provided with the composition identification apparatus 2. In another computer apparatus 7, the received a composition of the fuel mixture or an information regarding the composition can be memorized in a storage. Here, the information regarding the composition is a concept including information that can be calculated or identified from the composition, such as information indicating that the content of the fuel mixture of at least one liquid selected from a plurality of liquids contained in a fuel mixture or the content of a fuel mixture of the at least one liquid is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold value, is greater than the threshold value, is equal to or less than the threshold value, or is less than the threshold value. The same applies hereinafter.
Unlike
Regardless of whether the composition identification apparatus 2 is provided inside or outside the moving object 5, the composition of a fuel mixture identified by the composition identification apparatus 2 or the information regarding the composition may be displayed on a display unit provided in the moving object 5 so that a person riding on the moving object 5 can grasp the composition of the fuel mixture or the information regarding the composition.
The control unit 21 includes a CPU and a ROM. The control unit 21 executes a program stored in the storage 23 and controls the composition identification apparatus 2. As the main memory 22, for example, a RAM is used. The main memory 22 is a work area of the control unit 21. The storage 23 is a memory area for saving programs and data. The control unit 21 performs arithmetic processing on the basis of programs and data read from the main memory 22.
The communication interface 24 can be connected to the communication network 6 wirelessly or by wire. Data received via the communication interface 24 is loaded into the main memory 22, and arithmetic processing is performed by the control unit 21.
Another computer apparatus 7 may have a configuration similar to that of the composition identification apparatus 2. More specifically, another computer apparatus 7 includes a control unit, a main memory, a storage, and a communication interface, which are connected by a bus. The application and purpose of the composition identification apparatus 2 of another computer apparatus 7 are not particularly limited. In addition, another computer apparatus 7 may be provided inside the moving object 5 or may be provided outside the moving object 5. Another computer apparatus 7 may be, for example, a server apparatus that memorizes the composition of the fuel mixture identified by the plurality of composition identification apparatuses 2 or information regarding the composition, or may be a computer apparatus provided inside the moving object 5.
Next, composition identification processing will be described. The composition identification apparatus 2 can be mounted on, for example, a diesel vehicle. A diesel vehicle includes a fuel tank for supplying fuel to an engine, and the fuel tank stores the fuel.
Here, a case where a mixture of three types of fuels including fossil fuel (for example, equivalent to liquid A), hydrogenated vegetable oil (for example, equivalent to liquid B), and bio-derived fuel (for example, equivalent to liquid C) is stored as the fuel will be described. However, the fuel mixture may be a combination of different types of fuels from these three types of fuels. Examples of the bio-derived fuel include fuel oil containing a fatty acid methyl ester.
The fuel tank includes measurers capable of measuring a characteristic value of a fuel mixture. Here, a case where a dielectric constant sensor is provided as a measurer for measuring the first characteristic value, and a thermal conductivity sensor is provided as a measurer for measuring the second characteristic value will be described. The dielectric constant sensor can measure a dielectric constant of the fuel mixture in the fuel tank or a parameter for calculating the dielectric constant, and the thermal conductivity sensor can measure a thermal conductivity of the fuel mixture in the fuel tank or a parameter for calculating the thermal conductivity. The fuel tank may further include a temperature sensor capable of measuring the temperature of the fuel mixture.
Here, the dielectric constant or the parameter for calculating the dielectric constant is adopted as the first characteristic value, and the thermal conductivity or the parameter for calculating the thermal conductivity is adopted as the second characteristic value, but the combination of the first characteristic value and the second characteristic value is not limited thereto. For example, in addition to the dielectric constant and the thermal conductivity, a characteristic value that linearly (or substantially linearly) changes according to the composition when different types of fuels are mixed may be used as the first characteristic value and/or the second characteristic value. That is, the characteristic value that changes in proportion to the content of each fuel in the fuel mixture can be adopted as the first characteristic value and/or the second characteristic value. Here, the “substantially linear change” refers to a case where the characteristic value tends to increase or decrease as the content of a specific component increases, or the characteristic value tends to increase or decrease as the content of a specific component decreases, and a change different from a complete linear change is made to such an extent that an appropriate content can be identified by correction. Examples of the characteristic value used in addition to the dielectric constant and the thermal conductivity include a kinematic viscosity, an acid value, a density, and the like. In addition, as the first characteristic value and the second characteristic value, it is also possible to adopt a characteristic value which is not the characteristic value itself such as the dielectric constant, the thermal conductivity, and the like, but has a correlation with a characteristic value such as the dielectric constant, the thermal conductivity, and the like, for example, capacitance or a voltage output when the dielectric constant or the thermal conductivity is measured by a sensor.
First, information regarding the dielectric constant P of the fuel mixture in the fuel tank measured by the dielectric constant sensor is received by the composition identification apparatus 2 (step S1). The information regarding the dielectric constant P may be the dielectric constant P itself or a parameter regarding the dielectric constant P. The parameter regarding the dielectric constant P means that the dielectric constant P can be calculated using the parameter. The parameter regarding the dielectric constant P is preferably a parameter having a proportional relationship or an inverse proportional relationship with the dielectric constant P. Examples of the parameter regarding the dielectric constant P include “capacitance” in a case where a capacitor is manufactured by inserting a fuel mixture to be measured between two parallel sheet-shaped electrodes, and the capacitance of the manufactured capacitor is measured. The “capacitance” is a parameter having a proportional relationship with the dielectric constant P.
As a method for measuring the capacitance, a known method can be used. For example, the capacitance can be calculated by disposing electrodes such that a fuel mixture to be measured is between two flat metal electrodes, applying a voltage between the electrodes, and measuring the impedance of a capacitor formed by the two electrodes.
Next, the composition identification apparatus 2 receives information regarding a thermal conductivity Q of the fuel mixture in the fuel tank measured by the thermal conductivity sensor (step S2). The information regarding the thermal conductivity Q may be the thermal conductivity Q itself or a parameter regarding the thermal conductivity Q. The parameter regarding the thermal conductivity Q means that the thermal conductivity Q can be calculated using the parameter. The parameter regarding the thermal conductivity Q is preferably a parameter having a proportional relationship or an inverse proportional relationship with the thermal conductivity Q.
Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is a method in which a blank and a measurement sample are heated under the same conditions, and a specific heat capacity is measured from a temperature difference between the blank and the measurement sample, which is generated when the blank and the measurement sample absorb and generate heat. The blank is, for example, an empty container identical to the container enclosing the measurement sample. By measuring the specific heat capacity, the thermal conductivity can be identified. The temperature difference between the blank and the measurement sample causes a difference in electromotive force between two thermocouples in the differential scanning calorimetry. This electromotive force difference “dVx” can be used as a parameter regarding the thermal conductivity Q. “dVx” is a parameter having an inverse proportional relationship with the thermal conductivity Q.
In addition, as a method of measuring “dVx”, the following method can also be used.
Furthermore, information regarding the temperature of the fuel mixture in the fuel tank measured by the temperature sensor is received by the composition identification apparatus 2 (step S3).
The three types of fuels contained in the fuel mixture have dielectric constants and thermal conductivities unique to the respective fuels, and these dielectric constants and thermal conductivities change depending on the state of the fuel mixture or the surrounding environment of the fuel mixture (hereinafter, referred to as a state of a fuel mixture or the like). For example, the dielectric constant and thermal conductivity of each fuel change depending on the temperature of the fuel. Therefore, the information regarding dielectric constants PA to PC and the information regarding thermal conductivities QA to QC used for identifying the composition of the fuel mixture in step S5 are identified on the basis of the temperature of the fuel mixture in the fuel tank received in step S3 (step S4). Here, the correction of the value of the capacitance on the basis of the temperature of the fuel mixture will be described. However, if the characteristic value changes according to a parameter indicating the state of the fuel mixture or the surrounding environment other than the temperature of the fuel mixture, the characteristic value can be corrected according to the parameter.
For example, an approximate formula of a correlation between a dielectric constant (or a parameter regarding the dielectric constant) and a temperature is set for each of the three types of fuels, and on the basis of the temperature of the fuel mixture in the fuel tank received in step S3, unique dielectric constants PA to PC of each of the three types of fuels at the temperature (or a parameter regarding the unique dielectric constant of each of the three types of fuels) can be calculated. As the approximate formula, known approximate formulas such as exponential approximation, linear approximation, logarithmic approximation, and polynomial approximation can be used. In the case of polynomial approximation, a linear formula or a quadratic formula may be used, and the order is not particularly limited. In addition, unlike the method of calculating the dielectric constant using the approximate formula, for example, a data table memorizing a correspondence relationship between the temperature and the dielectric constant (or a parameter regarding the dielectric constant) is set every 0.1° C. or every 0.01° C. for each of the three types of fuels, and unique dielectric constants PA to PC (or a parameter regarding the unique dielectric constant of each of the three types of fuels) corresponding to the temperature of the fuel mixture in the fuel tank can be identified with reference to the data table.
Next, the composition of the fuel mixture is identified on the basis of the received the information regarding the dielectric constant P and the thermal conductivity Q of the fuel mixture and the information regarding the dielectric constants PA to PC and the thermal conductivities QA to QC unique to the three types of fuels identified in step S4 (step S5).
For example, the dielectric constant and thermal conductivity of a fuel mixture with a volume ratio of 50:50 of light oil to HVO correspond to the dielectric constant and thermal conductivity at point AB that is intermediate between point A plotted for light oil and point B plotted for HVO. A case where “capacitance” and “dVx” of a fuel mixture of light oil and HVO at a volume ratio of 50:50 are plotted also corresponds to the “capacitance” and “dVx” of point A′B′ intermediate between point A′ plotted for light oil and point B′ plotted for HVO. The dielectric constant and thermal conductivity of a fuel mixture of BDF (registered trademark) (SME 100) and light oil at a volume ratio of 20:80 correspond to the dielectric constant and thermal conductivity of point CA obtained by dividing the distance between point C and point A such that the distance from point C is 20% and the distance from point A is 80% on a line segment between point C plotted for BDF (registered trademark) and point A plotted for light oil. A case where “capacitance” and “dVx” of a fuel mixture of BDF (registered trademark) (SME 100) and light oil at a volume ratio of 20:80 are plotted also corresponds to “capacitance” and “dVx” of point C′A′ intermediate between point C′ plotted for BDF (registered trademark) and point A′ plotted for light oil. Furthermore, the dielectric constant and thermal conductivity of a fuel mixture of light oil, HVO, and BDF (registered trademark) at a volume ratio of 65:28:7 correspond to the dielectric constant and thermal conductivity of point ABC moved to the inside of the triangle toward point C from a point at which division is allowed such that the distance between points A and B satisfies the distance from point A:the distance from point B=65:28 on a line segment between point A plotted for light oil and point B plotted for HVO. A case where “capacitance” and “dVx” of a fuel mixture of light oil, HVO, and BDF (registered trademark) at a volume ratio of 65:28:7 are plotted also corresponds to “capacitance” and “dVx” of point A′B′C′ moved to the inside of the triangle toward point C′ from a point at which division is allowed such that the distance between point A′ and point B′ on the line segment between point A′ plotted for light oil and point B′ plotted for HVO satisfies the distance from point A′: the distance from point B′=65:28.
As described above, by using the characteristic value that changes in proportion to the content of each fuel in the fuel mixture (including the characteristic value that changes in substantially proportion to the content of each fuel in the fuel mixture), the composition of the fuel mixture can be identified by the following formula. Here, the dielectric constant of the fuel mixture is defined as P(Fm−1), and the thermal conductivity of the fuel mixture is defined as Q(W/(m·K)). In addition, the dielectric constant of fossil fuel is defined as PA(Fm−1), the thermal conductivity of fossil fuel is defined as QA(W/(m·K)), the dielectric constant of hydrogenated vegetable oil is defined as PB(Fm−1), the thermal conductivity of hydrogenated vegetable oil is defined as QB(W/(m·K)), the dielectric constant of bio-derived fuel is defined as PC(Fm−1), and the thermal conductivity of bio-derived fuel is defined as QC(W/(m·K)). In step S5, as the composition of the fuel mixture, a volume fraction X (vol %) of fossil fuel, a volume fraction Y (vol %) of hydrogenated vegetable oil, and a volume fraction Z (vol %) of bio-derived fuel can be identified by the following formulas (a) to (c).
The values of the dielectric constant PA(Fm−1) and the thermal conductivity QA(W/(m·K)) of fossil fuel, the dielectric constant PB(Fm−1) and the thermal conductivity QB(W/(m·K)) of hydrogenated vegetable oil, and the dielectric constant PC(Fm−1) and the thermal conductivity QC(W/(m·K)) of bio-derived fuel are memorized in advance in the main memory or the storage of the composition identification apparatus 2, and are used when identifying the composition of the fuel mixture in step S5. All of the volume fraction X (vol %) of fossil fuel, the volume fraction Y (vol %) of hydrogenated vegetable oil, and the volume fraction Z (vol %) of bio-derived fuel may be identified by the formulas (a) to (c), and any one or two of the volume fraction X (vol %) of fossil fuel, the volume fraction Y (vol %) of hydrogenated vegetable oil, and the volume fraction Z (vol %) of bio-derived fuel may be identified by any one or two of the formulas (a) to (c). When any one or two of the volume fraction X (vol %) of fossil fuel, the volume fraction Y (vol %) of hydrogenated vegetable oil, and the volume fraction Z (vol %) of bio-derived fuel are identified by any one or two of the formulas (a) to (c), the volume fraction of the remaining fuel may be identified using other methods.
In the above formulas (a) to (c), the volume fractions of the three types of fuels can be calculated as the composition of the fuel mixture, but the mass fractions of the three types of fuels can also be calculated from the specific gravities of the three types of fuels on the basis of the calculated volume fractions. The mass fraction of the three fuels can also be memorized as the composition of the fuel mixture.
In step S5, the composition of the fuel mixture can be identified by substituting the dielectric constant P and the thermal conductivity Q of the fuel mixture, and the dielectric constants PA to PC and the thermal conductivities QA to QC unique to the three types of fuels into the above formulas (a) to (c). However, the composition of the fuel mixture can be identified by the above formulas (a) to (c) by using the parameter P regarding the dielectric constant of the fuel mixture and the parameter Q regarding the thermal conductivity instead of the dielectric constant P and the thermal conductivity Q of the fuel mixture, and substituting the parameters PA to PC regarding the dielectric constant and the parameters QA to QC regarding the thermal conductivity unique to the three types of fuels instead of the dielectric constant PA to PC and the thermal conductivity QA to QC unique to the three types of fuels. For example, a detection value (for example, a capacitance value detected by the sensor) detected by a dielectric constant sensor is used as the parameter P regarding the dielectric constant of the fuel mixture, and a detection value (for example, dVx detected by the sensor) detected by a thermal conductivity sensor is used as the parameter Q regarding the thermal conductivity of the fuel mixture. Similarly, the composition of the fuel mixture can be identified using the parameters PA to PC regarding the dielectric constants unique to the three types of fuels, that is, the detection values (for example, values of capacitances detected by the sensor) of the dielectric constant sensor corresponding to the dielectric constants, and the parameters regarding the thermal conductivities unique to the three types of fuels, that is, the detection values (for example, dVx detected by the sensor) of the thermal conductivity sensor corresponding to the thermal conductivities.
Next, the composition of the fuel mixture identified in step S5 is memorized in the storage 23 of the composition identification apparatus 2 or transmitted to another computer apparatus 7 (step S6). Either the memorization of the composition of the fuel mixture in the storage 23 or the transmission of the composition of the fuel mixture to another computer apparatus 7 may be executed, or both of them may be executed. When the composition of the fuel mixture is received by another computer apparatus 7, the received composition of the fuel mixture is memorized in the storage 23 of another computer apparatus 7. The composition identification processing ends by the processes of steps S1 to S6.
When the composition of the fuel mixture is memorized in the storage 23 of the composition identification apparatus 2 or the storage of another computer apparatus 7, the identified composition is memorized in association with, for example, a time when a characteristic value such as a dielectric constant or a thermal conductivity is measured, a time when the characteristic value is received in step S1 and/or step S2, or a time when the composition of the fuel mixture in step S5 is identified.
In addition, the composition identification processing in steps S1 to S6 is preferably executed periodically at predetermined time intervals. The cycle at which the composition identification processing is executed can be appropriately set. For example, the composition identification processing may be executed every 1 minute, every 1 hour, or every 24 hours. The composition identification processing in steps S1 to S6 may be executed every time a predetermined condition is satisfied, for example, every time fuel is supplied to the fuel tank. As described above, the identified composition is memorized in association with time, and then the composition identification processing in steps S1 to S6 is repeatedly executed a plurality of times, whereby the composition history can be memorized.
In the above step S5, the case where the composition of the fuel mixture is identified using the formulas (a) to (c) has been described. Hereinafter, a method of identifying the composition of the fuel mixture by another method in step S5 will be described.
As illustrated in
In step S5, a method of obtaining the composition of the fuel mixture using curve approximation will be described. The method of obtaining using curve approximation is performed by the following procedure. In obtaining the composition of the fuel mixture using curve approximation, reference is made to
(9) The proportion of BDF (registered trademark) in the fuel mixture and the proportion of HVO in the fuel mixture are subtracted from 100% to obtain the proportion of light oil in the fuel mixture.
The fitting curve refers to a curve obtained by fitting a curve so as to apply to a plurality of pieces of data obtained in an experiment. Examples of the curve fitting method include a method of estimating an optimum function by a least squares method. Hereinafter, the same applies to the fitting curve.
The proportion of BDF (registered trademark) in the fuel mixture theoretically obtained from dVx and capacitance of each of light oil, HVO, and BDF (registered trademark) and dVx and capacitance of the fuel mixture is less deviated from the actual BDF (registered trademark) as compared with the case of HVO and light oil. Therefore, in (4), the proportion of BDF (registered trademark) in the fuel mixture can be calculated, and the proportion of HVO and light oil in the fuel mixture can be obtained using the fitting curve and the calculated proportion of BDF (registered trademark) in the fuel mixture.
Note that, although dVx and capacitance are used as the characteristic values here, the present method can be used even when other characteristic values are used.
Next, in step S5, a method for obtaining the composition of the fuel mixture using curve approximation different from the above will be described. When this method is used, step S4 is omitted.
(1) A plurality of mixtures in which the proportion of HVO is 0 vol % and the mixing ratio of light oil and BDF (registered trademark) is changed are prepared, and dVx and capacitance are measured by changing the temperature. Similarly, a plurality of mixtures in which the proportion of light oil is 0 vol % and the mixing ratio of HVO and BDF (registered trademark) is changed are prepared, and dVx and capacitance are measured by changing the temperature.
(2) A fitting curve representing a relationship between dVx and capacitance of a mixture of light oil and BDF (registered trademark) and a fitting curve representing a relationship between dVx and capacitance of a mixture of HVO and BDF (registered trademark) are obtained for each temperature.
(3) From a plurality of fitting curves obtained for each temperature, a temperature-dependent formula representing a relationship between dVx and capacitance of a mixture of light oil and BDF (registered trademark) and a temperature-dependent formula representing a relationship between dVx and capacitance of a mixture of HVO and BDF (registered trademark) are obtained.
The (1) to (3) are executed in advance, and these temperature dependent formulas are memorized in the storage. In step S5, the following processes (4) to (6) are executed.
(4) From the temperature measured in step S3, temperature correction is performed for the above two temperature dependent formulas.
(5) The proportion of the fuel mixture of BDF (registered trademark) is calculated on the basis of the following equation (c).
(6) The proportion of light oil in the fuel mixture is calculated using BDF (registered trademark) calculated in the (5) and the formula obtained by correcting the temperature of light oil-BDF (registered trademark) in the (4). In addition, the proportion of the HVO in the fuel mixture is calculated using BDF (registered trademark) calculated in (5) and the formula obtained by correcting the temperature of HVO-BDF (registered trademark) in the (4).
As described above, the proportion of BDF (registered trademark) in the fuel mixture theoretically obtained from dVx and capacitance of each of light oil, HVO, and BDF (registered trademark) and dVx and capacitance of the fuel mixture is less deviated from the actual BDF (registered trademark) as compared with the case of HVO and light oil. Therefore, in (5), the proportion of BDF (registered trademark) in the fuel mixture can be calculated by the formula (c), and the proportion of HVO and light oil in the fuel mixture can be obtained using the fitting curve and the calculated proportion of BDF (registered trademark) in the fuel mixture.
Next, a method of correcting the composition of the fuel mixture on the basis of the fitting curve of the deviation amount in step S5 will be described.
As illustrated in
For example, it is possible to calculate the deviation amount for fuel mixtures having different proportions of BDF (registered trademark) for each temperature, perform curve fitting using the proportion of BDF (registered trademark) as an explanatory variable and the deviation amount as an objective variable for each temperature, obtain a fitting curve for each temperature, and obtain a fitting formula representing the fitting curve for each temperature.
It is also possible to calculate the deviation amount for fuel mixtures having different proportions of BDF (registered trademark) at a plurality of different temperatures, perform curve fitting using the proportion of BDF (registered trademark) as an explanatory variable and the deviation amount as an objective variable, and obtain a fitting formula representing one fitting curve applicable even at a plurality of different temperatures.
In addition, unlike
For a fuel mixture whose composition has not been identified, the deviation amount can be obtained by identifying the proportion of BDF (registered trademark) by the formula (c) and then inputting the proportion of BDF (registered trademark) as an explanatory variable to a fitting formula. Alternatively, it is also possible to prepare in advance a table defining a correspondence relationship between a proportion of different BDF (registered trademark) and a deviation amount using this fitting formula and identify the deviation amount according to the proportion of BDF (registered trademark). Such fitting formula or table is memorized in the storage in advance.
In step S5, first, the proportion of BDF (registered trademark) in the fuel mixture is calculated using the formula (c) on the basis of the measured values of dVx and capacitance of the fuel mixture. Then, on the basis of the calculated proportion of BDF (registered trademark) in the fuel mixture, the deviation amount of the proportion of HVO or light oil is identified on the basis of the fitting formula or table memorized in the storage. Then, the proportion of HVO or the proportion of light oil can be calculated by adding the deviation amount to the proportion of HVO or the proportion of light oil calculated by the formulas (a) to (c) on the basis of dVx and capacitance measured for the fuel mixture. Note that the proportion of light oil can also be calculated from the proportion of HVO and the proportion of BDF (registered trademark) after calculating the proportion of HVO.
As described above, in the present invention, the composition of the fuel mixture to be measured can be identified on the basis of the correspondence relationship (for example, the fitting formula or the table) between the volume fraction of the liquid in the fuel mixture calculated by the predetermined calculation formula (in the case of three components, for example, the formula (a), the formula (b), and/or the formula (c)) and the deviation amount of the volume fraction of each liquid in the actual fuel mixture, and further on the basis of the characteristic value of the fuel mixture to be measured.
Here, the deviation amount is a difference obtained by subtracting a theoretically calculated proportion of a certain component from an actual proportion of the certain component in the fuel mixture. However, a more accurate proportion of the component can be identified from the theoretically calculated proportion of the component from the characteristic value of the fuel mixture to be measured on the basis of a ratio of the actual proportion of the component in the fuel mixture to the theoretically calculated proportion of the certain component in the fuel mixture. In this case, by multiplying the proportion of the components theoretically calculated from the characteristic value of the fuel mixture to be measured by the ratio, a more accurate proportion of the components can be identified.
Note that, in the embodiment described above, identification of the composition of the fuel mixture is mainly described. However, the composition identification apparatus and the composition identification system of the present invention can be used not only for identifying the composition of the fuel mixture but also for identifying the composition of a mixture obtained by mixing a plurality of different liquids used for applications other than fuel. The liquid contained in the mixture is not particularly limited, and water, an organic solvent, and the like are candidates. The organic solvent may be either flammable or non-flammable, and may be either volatile or nonvolatile.
The circuit unit 27 includes the control unit 21, the main memory 22, the storage 23, and the communication interface 24. The information regarding the dielectric constant, the thermal conductivity, and the temperature measured by the sensor unit 26 is received by the communication interface 24. The control unit 21 executes the composition identification processing in steps S1 to S6 on the basis of the received information to identify the composition of the fuel mixture, and memorizes the obtained composition of the fuel mixture in the storage 23. Instead of identifying the composition of the fuel mixture by the apparatus attached to the fuel tank, the information regarding the dielectric constant, the thermal conductivity, and the temperature measured by the dielectric constant sensor, the thermal conductivity sensor, and the temperature sensor in the apparatus attached to the fuel tank may be transmitted to another computer apparatus 7, and the composition of the fuel mixture may be identified by another computer apparatus 7.
According to the present invention, the composition of the mixture can be identified on the basis of the first characteristic value and the second characteristic value of the mixture, the first characteristic value and the second characteristic value unique to the liquid A, the first characteristic value and the second characteristic value unique to the liquid B, and the first characteristic value and the second characteristic value unique to the liquid C. Furthermore, according to the present invention, the composition of the mixture in the fuel tank can be identified on the basis of the first characteristic value and the second characteristic value of the mixture stored in the fuel tank of the heat engine.
According to the present invention, the first characteristic value and/or the second characteristic value unique to the liquid A, the first characteristic value and/or the second characteristic value unique to the liquid B, and/or the first characteristic value and/or the second characteristic value unique to the liquid C can be identified according to the temperature of the mixture.
According to the present invention, the composition of the mixture can be identified on the basis of the dielectric constant or the parameter regarding the dielectric constant and the thermal conductivity or the parameter regarding the thermal conductivity of the mixture.
According to the present invention, since the liquid A is fossil fuel, the liquid B is hydrogenated vegetable oil, and the liquid C is bio-derived fuel, it is possible to identify the composition of a mixture including fossil fuel, hydrogenated vegetable oil, and bio-derived fuel.
According to the present invention, changes in the composition of the mixture can be recorded as a history in order to memorize the composition of the identified mixture.
According to the present invention, since the identified composition of the mixture is transmitted to another computer apparatus, changes in the composition of the mixture can be recorded as a history in another computer apparatus.
According to the present invention, the composition of the fuel mixture can be identified on the basis of one or a plurality of characteristic values of the fuel mixture including different types of fuels and one or a plurality of characteristic values unique to each of the plurality of fuels included in the fuel mixture.
According to the present invention, since one or a plurality of characteristic values unique to each of the plurality of fuels are values identified according to the state of the fuel mixture or the surrounding environment of the fuel mixture, it is possible to more accurately identify the composition of the fuel mixture without being affected by the state of the fuel mixture or the surrounding environment of the fuel mixture.
1: composition identification system, 2: composition identification apparatus, 3: fuel unit, 4: heat engine, 5: moving object, 6: communication network, 7: another computer apparatus, 21: control unit, 22: main memory, 23: storage, 24: communication interface, 25: tank attaching unit, 26: sensor unit, 27: circuit unit.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-073900 | Apr 2022 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2023/016028 | 4/21/2023 | WO |
