LOW-COST, PORTABLE AND AUTOMATED SMOKE POINT TESTING APPARATUS FOR MILITARY APPLICATIONS

Fuels for Army use undergo rigorous analysis to determine many chemical and physical properties before they are used in Army vehicles. The property of fuels to produce smoke or soot is one such specification used to determine fuel quality. Smoke production of a diffusion flame produced by a kerosene fuel can be correlated to the chemical composition of the fuel. Unfortunately, the standard used to determine the smoke producing properties of kerosene fuels suffers from various drawbacks as noted in the topic description. InnoSense LLC (ISL) has teamed with a notable technical expert in the relevant area to develop a modern technique that satisfies the Army needs. In Phase I, two different approaches will be investigated to demonstrate the feasibility of an automated testing device that builds on the latest engineering knowledge. The results of Phase I will determine which one of the two approaches will be further developed to a form-factor prototype in Phase II. At the end of Phase II, the prototype will be delivered to the Army for further testing and evaluation. For commercializing the device, ISL has teamed with two partners. Their support letters are attached.