A Self-Powered Density-Based Device for Automatic Mixed-Oil Cutting in Field Pipelines
Efficient oil transportation in field-deployed mobile pipelines is critical, but mixed-oil zones at interfaces reduce quality and increase waste, necessitating effective interface detection and cutting. Existing online densitometers, such as vibrating tube or high-accuracy magnetic suspension types,...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Sensors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/10/3030 |
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| Summary: | Efficient oil transportation in field-deployed mobile pipelines is critical, but mixed-oil zones at interfaces reduce quality and increase waste, necessitating effective interface detection and cutting. Existing online densitometers, such as vibrating tube or high-accuracy magnetic suspension types, typically require external power, limiting their use in remote or emergency/temporary field operations. A self-powered device is presented that leverages gravitational force variations acting on a float to detect density changes and trigger automatic cutting. Validated with gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and water, it achieves a 10 kg/<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mn>3</mn></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula> resolution, deemed sufficient for functional batch separation in its target application, with switching times of 61–395 s for density differences (760–835 kg/<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mn>3</mn></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula>). It supports 20–90% blending ratios, with a vent mitigating gas effects. The modular, robust, self-powered design suits emergency operations, offering a practical alternative to powered systems. Future work targets improved resolution and environmental testing. |
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| ISSN: | 1424-8220 |