Device for measuring the oxidation stability and/or the thermal stability of a fuel by means of a microfluidic chip
The present invention relates to a device ( 1 ) for measuring the oxidation stability and/or the thermal stability of any type of fuel, including diesel fuel, by miniaturization of the test system by use of a microfluidic technique. The physical phenomena to which fuels are subjected are reproduced by the microchannels ( 12 ) of the microfluidic chip ( 7 ), which comprise a representation of at least one of the fuel injection and the fuel circulation for a drive system, an internal-combustion engine or an aircraft reactor for example.
1. A system for measuring at least one of oxidation stability and thermal stability of fuel, the system comprising a fuel supply, a microfluidic chip, a circulation system for circulating the fuel within the microfluidic chip from the fuel supply, and a measuring system for measuring at least one of the oxidation stability and thermal stability of the fuel, the measuring system being connected to the microfluidic chip, the microfluidic chip comprising a microchannel circuit for circulation of the fuel, the microchannel circuit comprising a representation of at least one of injection and circulation of the fuel for a drive system of an engine or a reactor, and includes a system for measuring flow rate variation caused by fuel degradation and formation of deposits in the microfluidic chip of flow of the fuel caused by variation of a physical property of the fuel, including two flowmeters which are respectively upstream and downstream from the microfluidic chip.
2. A system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the representation of at least one of the injection and the circulation of the fuel includes at least one means for shearing the fuel.
3. A system as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the means for shearing comprises at least one restriction in diameter of a microchannel circuit for circulating the fuel.
4. A system as claimed in claim 3 , wherein dimensions of the microfluidic chip range between 10×20 mm and 50×100 mm.
5. A system as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the representation further comprises at least one diversion microchannel for at least one of the fuel and shape of a circulation microchannel for the fuel.
6. A system as claimed in claim 2 , wherein dimensions of the microfluidic chip range between 10×20 mm and 50×100 mm.
7. A system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the representation further comprises at least one diversion microchannel for at least one of the fuel and shape of a circulation microchannel for the fuel.
8. A system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein dimensions of the microfluidic chip range between 10×20 mm and 50×100 mm.
9. A system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein dimensions of the microfluidic chip range between 10×20 mm and 50×100 mm.
10. A system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the measuring system comprises at least one spectrometer.
11. A system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the microfluidic chip comprises glass or metal.
12. A system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the fuel comprises one of jet fuel, diesel, biodiesel, biofuel, alternative fuel, a refined cut and gasoline.
13. A system as claimed in claim 1 , comprising a heater for heating the microfluidic chip.
14. A system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the circulation system comprises a syringe driver.
15. A system for testing a fuel, comprising a measuring device as claimed in claim 1 , connected to a fuel reserve.
16. A system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the system includes pressure sensors respectively upstream and downstream from the microfluidic chip or a differential pressure sensor in the microfluidic chip.
17. A fouling sensor within an internal-combustion engine or a reactor, comprising a system for measuring as claimed in claim 1 .