An Ultrasonic-Capacitive System for Online Characterization of Fuel Oils in Thermal Power Plants.

Mateus Mendes Campos,Carlos Eduardo Teixeira,Ronny Francis Ribeiro Junior,Levy Ely Lacerda Oliveira,Wilson Cesar Sant’Ana,Luiz Eduardo Borges-Da-Silva,Germano Lambert-Torres,Renato Guth De Paiva,Erik Leandro Bonaldi,Daniel De Almeida Arantes,Gabriel Pedro Krupa

doi:10.3390/s21237979

Mateus Mendes Campos, Carlos Eduardo Teixeira + Show 9 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/s21237979

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Abstract

This paper presents a ultrasonic-capacitive system for online analysis of the quality of fuel oils (FO), which are widely used to produce electric energy in Thermal Power Plants (TPP) due to their elevated heating value. The heating value, in turn, is linked to the quality of the fuel (i.e., the density and the amount of contaminants, such as water). Therefore, the analysis of the quality is of great importance for TPPs, either in order to avoid a decrease in generated power or in order to avoid damage to the TPP equipment. The proposed system is composed of two main strategies: a capacitive system (in order to estimate the water content in the fuel) and an ultrasonic system (in order to estimate the density). The conjunction of the two strategies is used in order to estimate the heating value of the fuel, online, as it passes through the pipeline and is an important tool for the TPP in order to detect counterfeit fuel. In addition, the ultrasonic system allows the estimation of the flow rate through the pipeline, hence estimating the amount of oil transferred and obtaining the total mass transferred as a feature of the system. Experimental results are provided for both sensors installed in a TPP in Brazil.

Highlights

The Brazilian electrical energy mix, since the 1990s, has shown a strong growth in Thermal Power Plants (TPP) based on fossil fuels [1]
The efficiency of power generation in a TPP is linked with the quality of the fuel oils (FO), besides the fact that oils with contaminants may induce to long-term damage to the equipment in the TPP
This paper presented a hybrid online monitoring system for the determination of fuel oil quality

Summary

Introduction

The Brazilian electrical energy mix, since the 1990s, has shown a strong growth in Thermal Power Plants (TPP) based on fossil fuels [1]. The counterfeit/adulteration of a high-quality fuel with some other substance of less quality and cheaper economical value is a common (and deceptive) practice around the world, as presented in scientific reports from Bangladesh [3], Ghana [4], India [5], and Tanzania [6]. In these aforementioned references, gasoline or diesel is mixed with subsidized kerosene or lubricants and affect automotive engines

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