The document describes a portable fuel analyzer that uses Raman spectroscopy to analyze fuel properties in 3 minutes with no sample preparation. It can identify fuels, contaminants, and adulterants. Validation testing found it provided accurate and repeatable results compared to standard ASTM tests, and was easy to use. The analyzer could help the military by analyzing local fuels in Afghanistan to ensure they meet requirements before use, reducing risks to fuel convoys.

1. 18 Fuel Properties Determined in 3 Minutes
by Raman Spectroscopy
Carl Brouillette,
Frank Inscore,
Michael Donahue,
Stuart Farquharson, and
Wayne Smith
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2. Need: Fuel, the most important supply
• The US Military consumes 300,000 gallons of fuel each
day in Afghanistan.
• There are only 4 ground supply routes (e.g. Khyber Pass).
• Convoys are easy targets for road side bombs.
• 1 in 5 US casualties in Afghanistan is the result of
protecting fuel and water convoys.
• The use of local fuel would reduce human
casualties costs, and increase combat unit
mobility during operations.
• But local fuel must be free of adulterants
(sabotage) or contaminants and meet Critical
Fuel Property Values.

3. Current Capability
Petroleum Quality Analysis System-Enhanced (PQAS-E)
• 16 Standard Tests
• 2-3 hours (1-2 days for sample delivery)
• BUT, can’t do adulterants or biofuels
• Needs HVAC & Generator
• $1.2 Million
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4. Concept Overview: Portable Fuel Analyzer
Operation:
• No Sample Preparation
• 3-Minute Measurement
• Portable (25 pounds)
• Battery Powered (+AC adapter)
• Rugged • Broad Temp Range
• Wireless Comm. • Spill Resistant
Analysis:
• acidity • cetane index
• alcohols • cloud point
• aromatics • density
• ether • distillation values
• olefins • flash point
• saturates • freeze point
• sulfur • lubricity
• net heat
• octane rating
• pour point
• viscosity
Red = critical properties
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5. Selecting a Technology:
Vibrational Spectroscopy
The disadvantages usual decide which spectroscopy to use.
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6. Selecting a Raman:
numerous peaks
Technology:
Vibrational Spectroscopy
NIR: few, broad,
overlapping peaks Infrared:
few peaks
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7. Raman Spectra of Basic Fuels
•
•
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8. General Unknowns:
Raman vs Near-Infrared
Raman: Every spectrum is different NIR: peaks are not distinct, often not
unique, and sometimes no peaks at all
No peaks!
No unique peaks!
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9. Fuels: Raman vs Near-Infrared
Raman: different fuels
NIR: all fuels look alike
produce different spectra
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10. RTA Advantage: No Fluorescence
Diesel Fuel
All Other Raman Analyzers
785 nm
Laser Excitation
RTA
1064 nm
Laser
Excitation
785 nm excitation generates fluorescence
and does not allow analysis.
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11. RTA Advantage: No Wavenumber Shift
5.0
Dispersive Raman Analyzers change
Diesel 2 wavenumber response with temperature:
(±-8 cm-1) 2 cm-1 shift produces wrong values.
8 cm-1 shift produces wrong decisions!
700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700
Ram Shift, cm
an -1
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12. RTA’s Military Grade Portable Fuel Analyzer
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13. Validation of Ruggedness:
Composite Wheeled Vehicle Vibration: 810F
•13

14. Validation of Ruggedness:
26 Drop Tests: 810F
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15. How it Works: Basis for Correlations
Raman Measures Chemical Composition,
Chemical Composition Dictates Properties
Raman Spectra
Chemical Physical
Composition Properties
15
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16. Density: Raman Spectral Correlations
6
Regression Coefficient
3
0
•
-3 •
Fingerprint Region CH Region
-6
Raman Intensity
Naphthene
Stretch
Alkane CH2
Stretch
Wavenumbers (∆cm-1)
Naphthalene, d=1.02 g/ml
Cetane, d =0.77 g/ml
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17. Density: Raman Spectral Correlations
32 Jet Samples
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18. Density: ASTM-Raman Correlations
Correlation = 0.985
Predicted Density (g/cm3)
Raman Error = ±0.004
ASTM = ±0.0008
ALL FUELS Diesel 2
Correlated Jets
Value
Measured
Value
Measured Density (g/cm3)
All fuel types (over 800 fuel samples)
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19. Sulfur: ASTM-Raman Correlations
Correlation = 0.95 Correlation = 0.96
Raman Error = ±0.11 Raman Error = ±0.01
168 Diesels 75 ULSD
Accurate ASTM data =
smaller Raman error
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20. User Interface: 17 Properties
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21. User Interface: Designed for Customer
Military Commercial
or
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22. Software Architecture: Decision Tree
Is it a fuel? Is it D -2, JP -5 or JP -8? Is it contaminated? ID contaminant
Yes Yes Yes
No No No
Identify liquid ID fuel type Can I use as D-2, JP -5 or JP -8? YES
Yes
No
Is it marginal? Provide critical properties
Yes
No
NO
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23. User Interface: More Properties
Raman NIR
Diesel-2
Biodiesel-100
Sasol-Jet
Hydraulic oil
Gasoline
Isopropyl
Alcohol
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24. User Interface: Properties
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25. User Interface: More Properties
Diesel-2 JP-8 or JP-5
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26. 15 Unknown
Samples
All fuels
correctly identified
All properties
Correct within error
Two fuels
correctly identified
as marginal
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27. Validation of Analysis: SwRI Results
Repeatability: “we found the measurement repeatability of the PFA to be very good,
and in many cases, better than the ASTM repeatability.”
Accuracy: “the accuracy of the PFA was in good agreement with the ASTM
measurements. The exceptions were primarily in the estimation of density and viscosity,
for which ASTM methods give extreme accuracy.”
Hot & Cold: “It was also found that the cold and hot temperature measurements
provided virtually the same repeatability and accuracy.”
Go /No-Go: “In terms of go / no-go determinations, the PFA correctly rejected the five
other fluids. The PFA also correctly identified the diesel and jet fuels by type (diesel,
JP-5, or JP-8)”
Ease-of-use: “the PFA was very easy to use and each sample was measured in 2-3
minutes, whereas the battery of ASTM measurements to determine the same properties
requires as much as 2-3 hours.
In summary, for its intended use, the PFA provided sufficient repeatable and accurate
determination of fuel properties to provide a go / no-go determination for use of
unknown fuels over the measured temperature range and would provide the U.S.
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Marines with greater flexibility and more control of tactical and emergency situations.

28. Summary
The Portable Fuel Analyzer can Automatically Identify:
Every common fuel:
• 7 Critical Properties for Diesels and Jets
• 10 Additional Properties
Numerous Other Chemicals as Unknowns
• Over 50 common petroleum products (lubricants, etc.)
• Every common solvent (including water)
• Over 500 general chemicals (including explosives)
• Chemical contaminants at < 1%
• Petroleum contaminants at < 5%
• Biodiesel at < 2%
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29. Providing Chemical Information When & Where You Need It
Keeping the Military Moving
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30. RamanPro
In-Process, Continuous Analysis!
No Sample Preparation!
• Fluorescence Free Raman
• Analyzer Always Calibrated
• Universal Interface
• Industry Hardened

31. Real-Time Biodiesel BlendingAnalysis
Analysis that can be done:
• Percent Biodiesel B100
• Cetane Index B50
• Cloud Point B20
• Density B5
• Distillation values
• Flash point
• Sulfur
• Viscosity
Raman Calibration Curve
Precision ±1.5%
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32. Real-Time Synthetic Fuel Analysis
Diesel 2
Sasol (FT) Diesel
B100 Biodiesel
Petroleum, Synthetic, and Blends can be identified.
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33. Portable Fuel Analyzer
Fuel Properties in 3 minutes!
No Sample Preparation!
• Cetane
• Density
• Lubricity • Acid #
• Net Heat • Aromatics
• Viscosity • Olefins
• Cloud Pt • Saturates
• Pour Pt • Sulfur
• Flash Pt • Water
• Freeze Pt
• Distill Pts

34. RamanPro
In-Process, Continuous Analysis!
No Sample Preparation!
• Fluorescence Free Raman
• Analyzer Always Calibrated
• Universal Interface
• Industry Hardened