Spectrometer Now Detects Biodiesel In Diesel Fuel

Wilks Enterprise's Infraspec VFA-IR spectrometer, featuring a new flow-through sample system, is now capable of measuring biodiesel in diesel fuel down to 0.05 per cent within less than a minute. This is particularly important for nuclear power plants and pipeline operators as they need to ensure that little or no biodiesel is in their systems. The ASTM Method D 975 currently allows up to five per cent biodiesel in diesel without the requirement for biodiesel content labelling.

For nuclear power plants, fuel can be stored for as long as 10 years to power their standby diesel generators in case of electrical power shutdowns. Emergency diesel generators (EDGs) supply electrical power to safely shut down the nuclear reactor in the event of a loss of normal offsite power and supply power to critical items such as cooling pumps for decay heat removal. Biodiesel is a natural food source for microbial growth and, while biocides should prevent the growth of bacteria, fungi and mould, nuclear power plants cannot risk the fact that microbial growth could clog filters and shut down the EDG.

In cold-weather areas, there is also concern that the cold flow properties of biodiesel-blended fuel may cause it to gel in cold temperatures and clog filters. Therefore, it has become necessary for many standby generator operators to determine whether their fuel delivery contains biodiesel. Pipeline operators also need to know that the products being delivered to their customers are as specified. If a delivery of diesel fuel to be shipped through a pipeline contains unlabelled biodiesel or the pipeline previously carried a diesel/biodiesel blend, it is important to ensure that there is no residual biodiesel present in the delivery to a customer that requires pure diesel fuel, such as a nuclear power plant.

The fast analysis capability of the Infraspec VFA-IR spectrometer is suitable for onsite biodiesel measurements in less than one minute by non-technically trained personnel. It eliminates the need to wait for measurement results from an offsite laboratory. This spectral range analyser contains a linear variable filter with a 128-pixel detector array covering a wavelength range of 5.4-10.8um (1,850-925cm-1) and an integrated flow-through sample cell. The Infraspec spectrometer is compact and portable and has a simplified PC interface that gives the user the capability to measure on site at a nuclear power plant or at a manufacturing facility as well as in the laboratory.

Ball-Screw Drives Improve Vehicle Fuel Consumption

Schaeffler's energy-efficient ball-screw drive is being utilised on the electromechanical steering system for the Volkswagen Tiguan. Schaeffler supplies the ball-screw drive to Volkswagen, as well as a toothed rack, which is partly designed as a spindle on which the drive is located. Ball-screw drives are used to transform rotary motion into linear motion through a direct coupling between the drive element and the output element.

In the Tiguan, the ball nut is driven by a servomotor, which is linked to the ball-screw drive via a belt. These low-friction, low-noise ball-screw drives play a role in helping to improve a vehicle's fuel consumption and reduce CO2 emissions. As well as offering the driver optimised handling, the latest electromechanical steering systems can also reduce fuel consumption by as much as three per cent compared to conventional hydraulic steering systems.

An advantage of an electromechanical steering system over a hydraulic one is that the servomotors require energy only when specific steering manoeuvres are carried out, while hydraulic pumps need to maintain hydraulic pressure at all times. This means that pumps and feeds are no longer required on an electromechanical system, which reduces the space required for operating the steering system. Other customers of Schaeffler's ball-screw drives include automotive supplier TRW. The ball-screw drives are also used on vehicles manufactured in the US by Volkswagen, Ford and BMW. The aerospace sector is another user of high-precision ball-screw drives, which are often found in an aircraft's tail-steering system.

Students Race Low-Carbon Fuel Vehicles

Among the teams entering cars in the low-carbon fuel category are the University of Hertfordshire with a hydrogen-powered car and Oxford Brookes University with a parallel hybrid. Teams from across the world have entered the Formula Student competition, which is backed by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and takes place at Silverstone the weekend after the British Grand Prix This year, for the first time, there is a category for cars powered by low-carbon fuel.

Formula Student is aimed at building future engineering talent and there are five different classes that can be entered. Those taking part design and manufacture a single-seater racing car. Among the teams entering cars in the low-carbon fuel category are the University of Hertfordshire with a hydrogen-powered car and Oxford Brookes University with a parallel hybrid.

Robin McGill, Chief Executive of the IET, said: "Environmentally friendly fuels are the fuels of the future and it's for this very reason that the IET has pushed to have a low-carbon vehicle category in the competition". "We have been a partner in Formula Student for three years and recognise the vital role the competition plays in promoting careers and excellence in engineering".

With three weeks to go, both teams are gearing up for the challenge. It is the 11th car that the University of Hertfordshire has entered in the competition. The team of nine students, who are all final year MSc students, is looking to build on the previous years' results of 7th and 5th.

The Hertfordshire car is hydrogen powered with an adapted 250cm3 internal combustion engine. Leader of the Hertfordshire team, Professor Howard Ashe, said: "The students are keen to take part in the competition as they are only too aware that it provides them with hard to come by real world practical and business skills". "It helps them to gain valuable team working and individual skills". "It also gives them an appreciation of real world skills".

"Now that their exams are over, the team are working all day, every day, including working into the night, to ensure the car is fit for purpose for its launch on 3rd July". The Oxford Brookes team is entering an electricity-powered parallel hybrid car. The team is led by James Larminie and it's the seventh year that the university has taken part in the competition. Made up of undergraduate and postgraduate students, the team is currently busy putting the finishing touches to the car.