Capacitive microsensor for evaluation of the quality of automotive fuels. / Micro-sensor capacitivo para avaliação da qualidade de combustíveis automotivos.

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2008

RESUMO

This work proposes a capacitive sensor with interdigitated electrodes in order to evaluate the quality of automotive fuel. Interdigitated electrodes have some interesting features for this type of sensor. Among them, they increase the capacitance by having several capacitors in parallel, and by having a structure feasible to be manufactured by conventional microfabrication processes. In addition, automotive fuel, serving as the dielectric material, fills the gaps of the electrodes. Modeling and computational simulations of the sensor were carried out in order to realize the influence of several design parameters. Samples were manufactured using alumina substrates with electroplated nickel electrodes. The width of the electrodes was chosen to be between 50m and 100m, with gaps of similar size. The paired length of the electrodes was 800m. The height of the electrodes varied between 20m and 40m. The whole sensor was around 4cm² in area. Several measurements were carried out using mixtures of alcohol and water, gasoline and alcohol, gasoline and kerosene, and others. Characterizations showed good results, validating the method. The sensor was capable of detecting the main types of fuel adulteration used in Brazil: addition of water to alcohol, and addition of organic solvents or alcohol to gasoline beyond the acceptable limit.

ASSUNTO(S)

sistemas microeletromecânicos mems combustíveis veiculares sensor microelectromechanical systems fuel sensor fuel adulteration

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

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