APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING PHASE SEPARATION RISK OF A BLENDED FUEL IN A STORAGE TANK

摘要

A method for improved handling of a blended fuel (12) includes obtaining a sample of the blended fuel (24) from a storage tank (12); cooling the same until the sample separates into phases; and determining a risk that the fuel (24) in the storage tank (12) will separate based on the cooling step. An apparatus (26) for assessing the risk of phase separation of a blended fuel (24) includes a test cavity (60) for holding a sample of the blended fuel (24) from a storage tank (12); a heat transfer device (78) for cooling the sample in the test cavity (60); and at least one sensor (90, 92) for indicating when the sample in the test cavity (60) has separated into phases.