| 摘要 |
<p>PURPOSE:To provide a fuel component sensor, which can sense accurately the methanol concentration over a wide operation range without causing drop of the sensing accuracy even though the fuel temp. has sunk and which permits performing the optimum control of an engine operable with any of methanol and gasoline or even a mixture thereof. CONSTITUTION:Part of light from a light emitting element 1 leaks into the fuel from a conductor 3, wherein the amount of leakage depends upon the refractivity of the fuel. Because methanol and gasoline have different refractivity, the methanol concentration in the currently used fuel can be sensed with the signal given by a light receiving element 2. An electric heater wire 5 is provided on the surface of a photo-conductor 3 to make temp. control so that no phase separation is generated in the fuel. Even though the fuel temp. has sunk, the temp. of the fuel around the photo-conductor 3 is kept at a temp. over a specified level to enable sensing of the methanol concentration over a wide operation range without causing drop of the sensing accuracy, and thus the engine concerned can be controlled properly.</p> |
