Bitcoin Fluid Dispenser Allows Customers To Purchase Diesel Fuel With Bitcoin

When it comes to technology, we have seen a lot of advancements being made year after year. Even so with Bitcoin and digital currency, as they remain a disruptive payment method. When you combine technological advancements with Bitcoin payments, you create something utterly amazing. Meet the new and improved Bitcoin Fluid Dispenser!

As add as those words might sound when you combine them, the concept is relatively simple. Andy Schroder created a prototype retail diesel fuel dispenser, which also accepts Bitcoin as a payment method. The current model is iteration 2.3 of the Bitcoin Fluid Dispenser, as several improvements have been made compared to previous versions.

By supporting Near Field Communication (NFC), Bluetooth and the Bitcoin payment protocol, fueling up your gas tank and paying by Bitcoin is not such a distant dream all of a sudden. The best part of all this? Customers don’t even need an internet connection to pay for their diesel fuel, as payments can be done via Bluetooth.

More features and improvements are coming for the Bitcoin Fluid Dispenser. Andy Schroder is currently looking at ways to support more volatile fuels such as gasoline, methanol and aviation gasoline (I assume he means kerosene). Biodiesel compatibility is also being looked at.

One of the major downsides of the current Bitcoin Fluid Dispenser prototype is the fact only 1 type of fuel is supported by the dispenser. Multiple product support (as in supporting multiple types of gasoline , eventually in conjunction with diesel fuel, via the same machine) is one of the top priorities for now.

In the odd event of a power outage in the middle of a Bitcoin transaction, you do need a way to recover the details. This is a feature currently not supported, but Mr. Schroder is working on a way to offer mid-sale power failure recovery.

If you are interested in deploying one of these Bitcoin Fluid Dispenser prototypes, you have to be somewhere near the Greater Cincinatti area. Owners of a (preferredly) independent fuel station and selling diesel fuel (or kerosene), should get in touch with Andy Schroder.

Technical Specifications

• Fluid: Diesel Fuel

• Pump: Positive Displacement, Self Priming Rotary Vane Pump, with air separator

• Motor: 110/220V @ 60Hz, Single Phase, AC induction, 746 Watt, 1,725 RPM

• Flow Measurement: Piston Type Positive Displacement

• Flow Control Valve: 110V AC double stage solenoid valve

• Nozzle: Auto Shut Off with Swivel and Break Away, 3/4 inch NPT female hose input

• Filter: 10 micron (nominal) disposable cartridge

• Flow Rate: ~30 liters/minute (with demonstration piping configuration)

• Control Electronics:

  • 110V AC Powered

  • Network Connection: 10/100 Mbit/s Wired Ethernet

  • Screen: 217 mm (1280 pixels) x 136 mm (800 pixels) (> 720p) LCD with rain protector

  • Linux Based Controller

  • Industrial Grade Relays, DC Transformers, and Terminal Strips

  • Bluetooth Radio

  • Near Field Communication (NFC) Radio

  • Bitcoin Payment Protocol Support (using Bluetooth and HTTPs)

• Printer: 57.5 mm wide thermal paper printer with integrated paper cutter

• Cabinet Dimensions: ~100 cm wide (with nozzle) x 47.0 cm deep x 137.7 cm tall

• Connections:

  • Piping Input: 1.5 inch NPT female

  • Power Plug: NEMA 5-15 Male (15 amp 110V AC 3 prong plug)

  • Network Connection: RJ45 Male

Official website : http://andyschroder.com/BitcoinFluidDispenser/