University of Illinois Researchers Work on Electrochemical Fuel Sensors

Certain crucial factors remain undected by recently used commercial fuel sensors in monitoring the quality of diesel and bio-diesel mixed fuels in engines. A study aiming at improving the quality of these currently used fuel sensors has been carried out at the University of Illinois by Professor Alan Hansen and his colleagues.

According to Hansen, this research throws light into the development of a sensing device that determines the pollutant in the fuel or detects the problems associated with the diesel or biodiesel quality by intruding the fuel line of the diesel engine just before the fuel enters the engine. He also added that monitoring sulfur level is important since it impairs the catalysts in the engine’s filter and forms corrosive sulfuric acid that damages the engines.

Electrochemical sensors can be used in the place of current sensors as electrochemical sensors can detect the chemical composition of the fuel being used. It can be fabricated to detect the presence of sulfur or compounds of sulfur along with the incorporation of an alert system indicating high sulfur concentrations in fuel.

Professor Alan Hansen added that these sensors if proven successful will solve many major limitations associated with the currently used fuel sensors.