Patent ID: 8228489
Filing Date: 2012-07-24
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. An optical sensing system for liquid fuels, comprising: a light source, a splitter, whereby the splitter directs light from the light source for reference sensing and test probe sensing; detectors, whereby a detector measures a signal from the test probe sensing and a reference signal from the light source; a temperature sensor, whereby the temperature sensor provides temperature data; an optical fiber, and a storage and processing unit, wherein the optical fiber is used as a light guide and said system is used to determine the refractive indexes of liquid fuels through the principle of reflectivity, said system further identifying different types of liquid fuels and/or the ratio of fuels making up a mixture, and wherein the sensitivity of the system is determined by using optical fibers having refractive indexes higher than the refractive index of a liquid under measurement and the temperature data provides for correction of effect temperature of the fuel has on the refractive indexes.