Sensores em fibra ótica para avaliação de combustíveis líquidos

Abstract

This work shows a study about the applicability of optical fiber sensors based on long period gratings as tools for assessment of liquid fuels. The study was based on both experimental research and evaluation of the main metrological characteristics of the sensors, including the estimative of uncertainties according to guidelines recommended by international organizations for standardization. In a sense, it was evaluated the performance of sensors for determining the ethanol concentration in ethanol-gasoline blends. The results obtained showed that ethanol concentrations were measured in these mixtures with resolution up to 0.14% v/v. The use of the sensors to measure ethanol in ethanol-water blends was also investigated and two methods were proposed to establish the ethanol content without ambiguity for the whole ethanol concentration range. In this application it was possible to measure ethanol concentrations with resolution up to 0.17% v/v. Optical fiber sensors were also employed for evaluating biodiesel, vegetable oil and petrodiesel concentrations in binary and homogeneous mixtures. Three methods were developed in order to overcome the drawbacks imposed by the high refractive indices of these substances, allowing quantifications without requiring segregation of components or specialty optical fibers. Biodiesel concentrations could be identified in biodiesel-petrodiesel blends with resolution up to 0.05% v/v. Finally, an alternative method to interrogate long period gratings that employs the reflection provided by a fiber Bragg grating was implemented to evaluate mixtures of vegetable oil and biodiesel. In this case, oil concentrations were determined with resolution of 0.10% v/v.