IP Library Granted Patent US 12,724,015
Granted Patent B2
US 12,724,015 · App. 18/479,518 · Granted Sep 1, 2026

Prediction of research octane number using a constant volume combustion chamber

Inventors: Kwang Hee Yoo (Houston, TX); Michael Brosseau (Houston, TX); Thomas Herold (Boxberg-Uiffingen, DE)
Assignee: PRECISION ANALYZER COMPANY L.P.
G01N33/0016G01N7/06G01N33/0026G01N33/241
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,724,015
App. No.
18/479,518
Filed
Oct 2, 2023
Granted
Sep 1, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2852
USPC
73/35.02
Abstract

A device may include a memory storing instructions and a processor configured to execute the instructions to obtain a research octane number for a sample; perform a combustion test for the sample in a constant volume combustion chamber; and record, at time points during the combustion test, pressure values. The processor may be further configured to calculate values for one or more pressure parameters for the sample based on the pressure values; generate a research octane number function for the constant volume combustion chamber based on the determined research octane number and the calculated values for the one or more pressure parameters; and use the generated research octane number function to determine research octane numbers for samples using the constant volume combustion chamber.

Claims (58)

1 . A method comprising:

obtaining a research octane number for a sample;

performing a combustion test for the sample in a constant volume combustion chamber;

recording, at a plurality of time points during the combustion test, a plurality of pressure values associated with the sample;

calculating one or more values for one or more pressure parameters for the sample based on the plurality of pressure values and the plurality of time points;

generating a research octane number mathematical function for the constant volume combustion chamber based on the obtained research octane number and the calculated one or more values for the one or more pressure parameters; and

using the generated research octane number mathematical function to determine a research octane number for a second sample,

wherein using the generated research octane number mathematical function to determine a research octane number for the second sample includes:

performing a combustion test for the second sample in the constant volume combustion chamber,

calculating a second set of one or more values for the one or more pressure parameters for the second sample based on the combustion test performed for the second sample, and

determining a research octane number for the second sample based on the generated research octane number mathematical function and the calculated second set of one or more values for the one or more pressure parameters for the second sample.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the combustion test for the sample in the constant volume combustion chamber includes:

mixing nitrogen gas with at least one of air or oxygen gas to generate a gas mixture with a particular percentage of oxygen content using information received from an oxygen sensor; and

injecting the gas mixture into the constant volume combustion chamber.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more pressure parameters include a low temperature ignition delay parameter corresponding to a time at which a first derivative of pressure reaches a particular threshold value during a low temperature heat release period.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more pressure parameters include a high temperature ignition delay parameter corresponding to a time at which a third derivative of pressure reaches a maximum value before a maximum first derivative of pressure occurs.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more pressure parameters include a maximum pressure rise rate ignition delay parameter corresponding to a time at which a first derivative of pressure reaches a maximum value.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more pressure parameters include a maximum pressure rise rate parameter corresponding to a maximum value of a first derivative of pressure.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more pressure parameters include a maximum low temperature pressure rise rate parameter corresponding to a maximum value of a first derivative of pressure during a low temperature heat release period of the combustion test.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more pressure parameters include at least one of a maximum pressure parameter or a minimum pressure parameter.

9 . A device comprising:

a memory storing instructions; and

a processor configured to execute the instructions to:

obtain a research octane number for a sample;

perform a combustion test for the sample in a constant volume combustion chamber;

record, at a plurality of time points during the combustion test, a plurality of pressure values;

calculate one or more values for one or more pressure parameters for the sample based on the plurality of pressure values and the plurality of time points;

generate a research octane number mathematical function for the constant volume combustion chamber based on the determined research octane number and the calculated one or more values for the one or more pressure parameters; and

use the generated research octane number mathematical function to determine a research octane number for a second sample,

wherein, when using the generated research octane number mathematical function to determine a research octane number for the second sample, the processor is further configured to:

perform a combustion test for the second sample in the constant volume combustion chamber,

calculate a second set of one or more values for the one or more pressure parameters for the second sample based on the combustion test performed for the second sample, and

determine a research octane number for the second sample based on the generated research octane number mathematical function and the calculated second set of one or more values for the one or more pressure parameters for the second sample.

10 . The device of claim 9 , wherein, when performing the combustion test for the sample in the constant volume combustion chamber, the processor is further configured to:

signal a gas mixer to:

mix nitrogen gas with at least one of air or oxygen gas to generate a gas mixture with a particular percentage of oxygen content using information received from an oxygen sensor; and

inject the gas mixture into the constant volume combustion chamber.

11 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the one or more pressure parameters include a low temperature ignition delay parameter corresponding to a time at which a first derivative of pressure reaches a particular threshold value during a low temperature heat release period.

12 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the one or more pressure parameters include a high temperature ignition delay parameter corresponding to a time at which a third derivative of pressure reaches a maximum value before a maximum first derivative of pressure occurs.

13 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the one or more pressure parameters include a maximum pressure rise rate ignition delay parameter corresponding to a time at which a first derivative of pressure reaches a maximum value.

14 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the one or more pressure parameters include a maximum pressure rise rate parameter corresponding to a maximum value of a first derivative of pressure.

15 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the one or more pressure parameters include a maximum low temperature pressure rise rate parameter corresponding to a maximum value of a first derivative of pressure during a low temperature heat release period of the combustion test.

16 . A system comprising:

a constant volume combustion chamber comprising:

a pressure sensor configured to record a pressure inside the constant volume combustion chamber, wherein the pressure sensor includes a cooling jacket; and

a controller configured to:

perform a combustion test for a sample in the constant volume combustion chamber;

record, at a plurality of time points during the combustion test, a plurality of pressure values using the pressure sensor;

calculate one or more values for one or more pressure parameters based on the recorded plurality of pressure values; and

determine a research octane number for the sample using a research octane number mathematical function and the calculated one or more values for the one or more pressure parameters.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the constant volume combustion chamber further includes:

a gas injector to inject a gas mixture into the constant volume combustion chamber.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the constant volume combustion chamber further includes:

a gas mixer comprising an oxygen sensor, wherein the gas mixer is configured to:

mix nitrogen gas with at least one of air or oxygen gas to generate the gas mixture with a particular percentage of oxygen content using information received from the oxygen sensor; and

provide the gas mixture to the gas injector.

19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more pressure parameters includes at least one parameter based on a derivative of pressure with respect to time.

20 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the one or more pressure parameters includes at least one parameter based on a derivative of pressure with respect to time.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 25, 2025
From: PETROLEUM ANALYZER COMPANY L.P.
To: PRECISION ANALYZER COMPANY L.P.
Reel/Frame 071058/0188 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 2, 2023
From: YOO, KWANG HEE; BROSSEAU, MICHAEL; HEROLD, THOMAS
To: PETROLEUM ANALYZER COMPANY, LP
Reel/Frame 065097/0027 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63380005 · Oct 18, 2022
Related Publication 20240133853A1 · Apr 25, 2024
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