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ACCURACY IS ALWAYS THIS ISSUE when the target is to combat fuel theft, improve efficiency, select the best additive, look for the most economical tires, train and rank drivers or pilot or any other actions toward improving fuel efficiency. We therefore believe that fleet managers and engineers need to invest in a tool that let them evaluate numerous issues efficiently and accurately in their own environment. Managers are barraged by many different products with efficiency savings claims. Choosing anything based on price is not necessarily what results in the best return on investment.
NO NEED OF CALIBRATION AND CORRECTION FACTORS. Our systems come calibrated out of the box with an accuracy guaranty. There is no need of calibration after installation, thus saving the time and money of the expensive and periodic recalibrations as well as eliminating possible error due to human intervention. This is why you get with our systems a guaranty of accuracy from the date of installation to the years after.
BENEFIT OF DIRECT MEASUREMENT. Unlike most other systems, we use the DIRECT MEASUREMENT method, permitting use of just one metering cell. Return fuel flow is re-routed AFTER the meter and therefore a number of variables are eliminated from the system, permitting us to simplify measurement and improve accuracy.
Traditionally, two flow meters are used, and this is called the “differential method”. A diesel engine has flow going to the engine, the fuel is pressurized in the injection system, and what is not used returns to the tank. Thus, it seems very simple, what comes out of the engine is subtracted from what comes in. Except that what comes out is generally quite a warmer, with turbulences and the temperature varies depending on load — all these issues substantially affect volume and flow velocity, and hence what is subtracted. After installation of such a system, it is first required to test the installed system accuracy. Then if necessary modify compensation factor used to “recalculate” the volume flow or velocity and enter it into the electronics to account for the return temperature. As you might guess, this is not generally much of an improvement and is detrimental to the accuracy over time. “How long will the compensation factor remain valid?” becomes a justified and recurrent question and almost if not impossible to answer. A differential system is measuring at full fuel pump flow and tries to resolve a small and varying difference between two meters, each with its own measurement error.
IDEAL CHOICE. For any sort of accountability/reporting application AIC systems metering solutions is the ideal choice because there is no user intervention — compensations or calibrations are not part of our installation. AIC systems are “plug-and-play” and measure accurately out of the box. There is nothing to taint or skew results, we offer a factory-guaranteed measurement instrument, and can even offer a test certificate from an independent testing lab. The certificate guarantees the measurement results. Importantly, because of all this, we can guarantee the measured results of the installed system, all others can only guarantee precision of each measurement cell individually, but not the results you actually get. In other words, we are perhaps the only supplier that guarantees the consumption measurement of the installed system.
EXPERIENCE AND REFERENCE in mobile accurate measuring applications. From a proving ground in Arizona to a train in England, a truck in Germany or a barge in Nigeria, customers from all around the world are relying on AIC systems direct measurement solutions. We proudly supply most of the major OEM testing and developing departments of engine, trucks, machines in the world. Among our worldwide customers of small to large fleet some have saved up to 15% of fuel consumption by basing various fuel saving actions on AIC fuel consumption measurement accuracy and reliability. We are happy and proud in helping our customer in the effort of getting greener thru improved efficiency.
