Prairie North, Octane Analyzer Information



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How do you determine what kind of octane analyzer you need?

Determining the octane or cetane of a petroleum fuel is not as easy as some may think. Depending on your application we offer two different analyzer product lines. It is important to understand that different products may require different devices, depending on your requirements.

The Shatox product offers excellent results for non-ethanol blended un-leaded gasoline and petroleum based diesel fuels. In addition, Shatox produces several products to determine viscosity as well as other quality tests.

For ethanol blended un-leaded gasoline as well as petroleum diesel fuels, the SpiritPFC OctaneChek-XL provides excellent results. For non-ethanol blended un-leaded gasoline and petroleum based diesel fuels the Shatox product works very well.

Many people often ask about testing aviation and racing fuels. Many times these gasoline type fuels contain Tetra-Ethel lead, or unusual chemical additives. It is important to understand that in these cases the only reliable method to use for measuring octane value is the CFR engine. If the fuel is unleaded many times the OctaneChek-XL can be calibrated for a unusual fuel type. Please inquire if we can accommodate your specific requirements by emailing us exactly what fuels you are working with.

If we are unable to provide a product to accomidate your requirments, you may want to consider an ASTM laboratory that speciallizes in fuel testing. You can expect to pay upwards of $600 per sample tested by these labs.

To help determine what analyzer you may require, we have created a table showing some of the pros and cons not only the analyzers we sell, but also comparing these products to the primary ASTM octane and cetane measurement products and procedures used around the world.

Octane Determination Methods

Device

Procedure

Detection Method

Pros

Cons

CFR Octane
Engine

This procedure uses a specialized internal combustion engine to acoustically determine when the combustion mixture in the engine begins to auto-ignite. The device can basically "hear" the precise instant the fuel mixture begins to ignite without the spark plug firing.

Combustion/ Acoustic

Primary ASTM method actually measures the octane value of the sample. Can be used to test many types of fuel. Most accurate!

Expensive ($200,000 - $500,000), complicated, laboratory bound. Laboratory skilled personnel needed to operate.

Gas/Liquid Chromatograph

This procedure uses a Gas or Liquid Chromatograph to determine the chemical make-up and the volumes of these chemicals. Then software extrapolates how this mixture would react in a CFR engine.

Electronic/ Chemical

Less expensive than CFR engine.

Still expensive ($50,000 - $250,000), complicated, laboratory bound. Laboratory skilled personnel needed to operate. Considered a secondary method.

Near-Infrared Detector

This procedure uses specialized NIR light, projects this light through the sample and determines the amount of light absorbed by the sample. Using this method, the device can determine the chemical make-up and the volumes of these chemicals. Then software extrapolates how this mixture would react in a CFR engine.

Electronic/ Optical

Much more affordable ($10,000 - $50,000) and portable. No special skills needed to operate.

Limited to unleaded fuels and only fuels the device is calibrated for. Considered a secondary method.

Dielectric
Detector

Electronically determines the electrical properties of the sample.Then compares the value to known fuel mixtures and the expected octane value of those mixtures.

Electronic

Most affordable ($2,000 - $4,000). No special skills needed to operate.

Limited to unleaded fuels and only fuels the device is calibrated for. Considered a secondary method.

Device	Procedure	Detection Method	Pros	Cons
CFR Octane Engine	This procedure uses a specialized internal combustion engine to acoustically determine when the combustion mixture in the engine begins to auto-ignite. The device can basically "hear" the precise instant the fuel mixture begins to ignite without the spark plug firing.	Combustion/ Acoustic	Primary ASTM method actually measures the octane value of the sample. Can be used to test many types of fuel. Most accurate!	Expensive ($200,000 - $500,000), complicated, laboratory bound. Laboratory skilled personnel needed to operate.
Gas/Liquid Chromatograph	This procedure uses a Gas or Liquid Chromatograph to determine the chemical make-up and the volumes of these chemicals. Then software extrapolates how this mixture would react in a CFR engine.	Electronic/ Chemical	Less expensive than CFR engine.	Still expensive ($50,000 - $250,000), complicated, laboratory bound. Laboratory skilled personnel needed to operate. Considered a secondary method.
Near-Infrared Detector	This procedure uses specialized NIR light, projects this light through the sample and determines the amount of light absorbed by the sample. Using this method, the device can determine the chemical make-up and the volumes of these chemicals. Then software extrapolates how this mixture would react in a CFR engine.	Electronic/ Optical	Much more affordable ($10,000 - $50,000) and portable. No special skills needed to operate.	Limited to unleaded fuels and only fuels the device is calibrated for. Considered a secondary method.
Dielectric Detector	Electronically determines the electrical properties of the sample.Then compares the value to known fuel mixtures and the expected octane value of those mixtures.	Electronic	Most affordable ($2,000 - $4,000). No special skills needed to operate.	Limited to unleaded fuels and only fuels the device is calibrated for. Considered a secondary method.