Abstract: A fuel dispensing system includes a fuel tank adapted to contain a quantity of fuel. A fuel dispenser in is fluid communication with the fuel tank via piping. A pump is operative to transfer fuel from the fuel tank to the fuel dispenser. A corrosive detection assembly operative to identify presence of a corrosive substance in the fuel is also provided. The corrosive detection assembly has at least one thermoelectric detector positioned to be in contact with fuel vapor in the fuel dispensing system, the thermoelectric detector producing a detector signal indicating presence of the corrosive substance. Electronics are in electrical communication with the thermoelectric detector, the electronics being operative to interpret the detector signal and produce an output if the corrosive substance is present. The at least one thermoelectric detector may comprises a plurality of thermoelectric detectors at different locations in the fuel dispensing system.

Abstract: A fuel dispensing system includes a fuel tank adapted to contain a quantity of fuel. A fuel dispenser in is fluid communication with the fuel tank via piping. A pump is operative to transfer fuel from the fuel tank to the fuel dispenser. A corrosive detection assembly operative to identify presence of a corrosive substance in the fuel is also provided. The corrosive detection assembly has at least one thermoelectric detector positioned to be in contact with fuel vapor in the fuel dispensing system, the thermoelectric detector producing a detector signal indicating presence of the corrosive substance. Electronics are in electrical communication with the thermoelectric detector, the electronics being operative to interpret the detector signal and produce an output if the corrosive substance is present. The at least one thermoelectric detector may comprises a plurality of thermoelectric detectors at different locations in the fuel dispensing system.

Abstract: A system and method for calculating the flow rate of a dispensing point or flow capacity of a pump and fuel delivery system and determining if the dispensing point or fuel delivery system has a blockage and/or a performance problem if the calculated dispensing point flow rate is other than expected. The calculated dispensing flow rate is calculated by collecting fuel tank level data points for a dispensing point that fall within start and stop events of the dispensing event. The slope of a fitted line to the fuel tank level data points is used as the indication of the flow rate of the dispensing point. Different mathematical techniques may be used to improve the flow rate calculation to compensate for the minimum resolution of collecting fuel tank level data and the dead time included in the data of a dispensing transaction.

Abstract: A fuel tank probe includes a water level float and a fuel level float. A fuel weight sensor is incorporated into the fuel tank probe to report the density of the fuel within the tank. The fuel weight sensor includes a compressible bladder whose shape changes as a function of the density of the fuel. A magnet on the compressible bladder moves in conjunction with the changing shape of the compressible bladder, and allows a fuel column height to be measured. The density of the fuel can be determined from the measured fuel column height.

Abstract: Determining a maximum dispensing efficiency of a dispensing point in a fuel dispenser and determining if a dispensing point has a blockage and/or a performance problem if the maximum dispensing efficiency is less than expected. The maximum dispensing efficiency is calculated by determining the dispensing events exhibiting the lowest time for dispensed volume from a set of volume and time pair measurements for the dispensing point. The dispensing events exhibiting the lowest time for dispensed volume that are used to determine the maximum dispensing efficiency are taken from dispensing events where the amount of dead time, the time between the activation of a fuel dispensing event and the engaging of a nozzle and the time between the disengaging of the nozzle and the deactivation of the dispensing event, and customer or pre-pay transaction controlled reduced flow rates are minimized.

Abstract: A system and method for calculating the flow rate of a dispensing point or flow capacity of a pump and fuel delivery system and determining if the dispensing point or fuel delivery system has a blockage and/or a performance problem if the calculated dispensing point flow rate is other than expected. The calculated dispensing flow rate is calculated by collecting fuel tank level data points for a dispensing point that fall within start and stop events of the dispensing event. The slope of a fitted line to the fuel tank level data points is used as the indication of the flow rate of the dispensing point. Different mathematical techniques may be used to improve the flow rate calculation to compensate for the minimum resolution of collecting fuel tank level data and the dead time included in the data of a dispensing transaction.

Abstract: Determining a maximum dispensing efficiency of a dispensing point in a fuel dispenser and determining if a dispensing point has a blockage and/or a performance problem if the maximum dispensing efficiency is less than expected. The maximum dispensing efficiency is calculated by determining the dispensing events exhibiting the lowest time for dispensed volume from a set of volume and time pair measurements for the dispensing point. The dispensing events exhibiting the lowest time for dispensed volume that are used to determine the maximum dispensing efficiency are taken from dispensing events where the amount of dead time, the time between the activation of a fuel dispensing event and the engaging of a nozzle and the time between the disengaging of the nozzle and the deactivation of the dispensing event, and customer or pre-pay transaction controlled reduced flow rates are minimized.

Abstract: A method of moving a cutter blade along a contour defined by a plurality of segments each connected end to end with one another and having at least one angle disposed between consecutively ordered segments calculates a distance from a corner point along one and another line segments and fits an arc to be followed by the blade between the line segments for eliminating repeated high force short time system inputs and replacing them with lower force longer duration inputs to affect the reduction and mechanical wear and the reduction of shocks to the system. The method further includes a process by which individual velocity profiles are determined for each contour in order to run the system at maximum velocity at all times during the course of a cutting operation.