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Topic starter
2020-12-12 6:06 am
Would like to monitor fuel remaining in tank, 12 gallons. Some sort of pressure sensor? Take sample readings at spaced time intervals or average continuous reading? Read out on vehicle dashboard with oled?
2020-12-12 1:47 pm
Being funny here, but it would be less work to buy a new car! The F150 I bought in 2013 and the Escape I bought this year both give me an estimated number of miles until empty. I'd say that was pretty good monitoring. But I would caution you to be very, very careful messing around with the fuel tank on your car. Maybe even to the point of telling you to refrain from even making the attempting. Now if it were a water tank that would be another story. In fact I think I have seen some posts on here that talked about that exact thing.
🤣
Welcome to the Forum, I think you will enjoy the group of folks we have here!
SteveG
2020-12-12 2:18 pm
But I would caution you to be very, very careful messing around with the fuel tank on your car. Maybe even to the point of telling you to refrain from even making the attempting
@otto I have to agree with Steve, this is dangerous stuff. Could you not just use the vehicle's existing sensors, every vehicle has a fuel gauge?
On the theoretical side measuring the amount of fuel remaining in a tank in a moving vehicle has its own challenges, as the fuel is constantly sloshing around. Going up or down hills or coming to a quick stop can push most of the fuel to one side of the tank.
You could tap into the existing file gauge, average the measurements over time and then print out to an OLED to accomplish what you want to do. Modern vehicles have sensors all over the place, and as Steve said they display a lot of data already. Of course, you may be speaking of an older vehicle, but even they had fuel gauges.
But I certainly would avoid messing around with the gas tank, the dangers are obvious. But I'm sure you know that already.
And, as Steve said, welcome to the forum.
😎
Bill
"Never trust a computer you can’t throw out a window." — Steve Wozniak
Topic starter
2020-12-12 2:38 pm
Yes, sloshing is the problem. This tank is in an aircraft, not in an existing car/truck. Yes, a water tank tank is OK, but the sloshing is the issue and making sure the sensor survives the fuel. We were considering a cork float with a wire extended vertically out of the fuel cap - can we sense the wire height somehow?
2020-12-12 5:42 pm
Even more dangerous and critical I would have thought than a land vehicle? What is wrong with whatever gauges are already available? I see one method is the use of several capacitance probes which I guess would average out any sloshing. Monitoring the rate of fuel use would probably be a useful as someone might have left the fuel cap open or an engine may be burning more fuel than usual. To deal with sloshing fuel I would assume anti sloshing baffles or fuel in bladder containers. Surely there must be strict regulations and guide lines on what is required with regards to fuel tanks and fuel gauges in aircraft? The engine/s fuel pump flow meter could also measure how much fuel has been used, and thus if the initial quantity is known, calculate how much should be left over as a backup comparison with any internal fuel gauge.
DroneBot Workshop reacted
2020-12-12 6:14 pm
I concur with @robotbuilder, and I also think that sloshing must be even more difficult to deal with in an aircraft as it moves in three dimensions.
@otto - Perhaps you could provide us a few more details as to what you are trying to accomplish? We now know you are working on an aircraft and not a vehicle, which is what Steve and I assumed from your initial post. But we still don't know the details, such as:
- What type of aircraft is it?
- Is it manned or is it a UAV?
- Is this a single-person craft you are building yourself? Or are you resurrecting an old biplane?
Surely there must be strict regulations and guide lines on what is required with regards to fuel tanks and fuel gauges in aircraft?
One would think that is a logical assumption. Are you even allowed to modify a fuel tank?
Again, please provide a few more details and I'm sure someone can assist you here!
😎
Bill
"Never trust a computer you can’t throw out a window." — Steve Wozniak
Topic starter
2020-12-13 2:49 pm
The project is a WWI replica DH2 biplane, a kit supplied by Aerodrome Aeroplanes. It is a single place aircraft with the pilot sitting in front of the wings and the fuel tank behind the pilot. The pilot can't see the wire float gauge directly, hence the interest in doing it remotely. The tank is a relative common plastic container with a filler on the top, no other access holes or fittings. There are no existing gauges, pumps, baffles, or sensors, etc.
Yes, a capacitance gauge might be appropriate. If that is the easiest/cheapest/lightest option, then it will be pursued. There are also "Reed" gauges that can be slipped into the filler neck, but they seem to have their own propriety equipment like gauges and wiring and a bit heavier than the capacitance gauges.
Additional monitoring of fuel rates really complicates the system. The wire/cork system has been used for decades in numerous aircraft and is simple and light. A redundant capacitance gauge might be considered.
Regulations/Safety: This is a "light sport aircraft", experimental, amateur-built in accordance with FAA regulations. The FAA is more concerned with the aircraft performance than personal safety. The builder is at least 51% responsible for the project; therefore, the builder/pilot is responsible for safety.
This is my 3rd aircraft project. The FAA inspects the final product, but does not interfere with the details of construction/building, it is up to the builder/pilot and the kit manufacturer to provide the details. I'm sure there are fuel regulations concerning certified aircraft such as Piper or Cessna, but the experimental/homebuilt world is totally different. There are construction standards available from the FAA which are usually followed.
If you think I should pursue capacitance gauges, then so be it. Search this site and others for that technology?