Aqueous Ethanol Float Sensor

OPW's Aqueous Ethanol Float Sensor provides industry-leading in-tank detection of water contamination and phase separation. Phase-separated fuel occurs when water in the tank causes the ethanol to become saturated to the point that it can no longer be suspended, and falls out of the gasoline and settles at the bottom of the tank. Fuel contamination resulting from phase separation can cause significant damage to vehicle engines. 

Unlike competing aqueous ethanol detection devices, OPW’s AEF sensor’s real-time density readings are temperature-corrected, which prevents false phase separation alarms. Programmable thresholds allow corrective actions to be deployed before phase separation — and costly inventory losses — occur.

Features & Benefits

Aqueous Ethanol Float Sensor Features

  • Displays temperature-corrected density readings in kg/m3, g/cc or API 
  • AEF Sensor calibrates in-tank product density to deliver the most accurate density measurement readings 
  • AEF Sensor monitors ethanol blends ranging from E10 to E85 
  • Programmable alarm settings 
  • System alarms when sensor detects that the E10 density has exceeded 30 kg/m3 or that E85 density has exceeded 15kg/m3

Benefits

  • OPW’s AEF Sensor detects water level changes and product density changes at the bottom of storage tanks sooner than competing water-detection devices
  • Provides real-time fuel density measurements
  • Unlike competing aqueous ethanol floats, OPW’s AEF sensor net-corrects for thermal changes in the tank that frequently occur during deliveries, eliminating false phase separation alarms
  • Triggers a warning and then an alarm to accurately and clearly communicate current tank conditions
  • Programmable density thresholds empower site managers to deploy corrective actions before phase separation occurs
  • Registers density changes in E85 even if water is completely suspended in the fuel and no water has collected at the bottom of the tank
  • Easily installs on new and existing in-tank OPW magnetostrictive probes
  • Fits through the same 2-inch (5 cm) opening in the tank that is used by the probe

How Water Sabotages Fuel Inventory Through Phase Separation

Water is the enemy of fuel. It can enter tanks in two ways, which are common and difficult to prevent:

1. The spill container during fuel delivery.

2. A bad riser cap gasket or service fitting.

It takes very little water to ruin inventory. In 10,000 gallons of E10, it takes as little as 40 gallons of water to cause phase separation, a condition when the ethanol becomes oversaturated and can no longer be suspended in the gasoline. This can cause four distinct layers of inventory to develop in the tank:

Fuel that has undergone phase separation can lead to:

  • A complete loss of tank product
  • Costly waste filtration efforts or removal of contaminated product
  • Engine damage

For petroleum marketers, engine damage caused by contaminated fuel jeopardizes customer loyalty and results in significant liability costs. For fleet-fueling operations, engines damaged by phase-separated fuel can lead to significant repair logistics and equipment downtime.

OPW's Aqueous Ethanol Float Sensor offers a first line of defense against fuel contamination through industry-leading in-tank detection of unstable water levels and phase separation.

Technical Specifications

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