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The US Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 40 Part 1065 and 1066 require gravimetric determination of automobile Particulate Matter (PM) collected onto filter media from the diluted exhaust. PM is traditionally collected under simulated driving conditions in a laboratory from a full flow Constant Volume Sampler (CVS) system, where the total engine exhaust is diluted by HEPA filtered air. This conventional sampling and measurement practice is facing challenges in accurately quantifying PM at the upcoming 2025-2028 CARB LEVIII 1 mg/mi PM emissions standards. On the other hand, sampling a large amount of PM emitted from large size high power engines introduces additional challenges. Applying flow weighting, adjusting the Dilution Ratio (DR) and Filter Face Velocity (FFV) are proposed options to overcome these challenges.

The use of portable emissions measurement systems (PEMS) for testing vehicle emissions while driving on the road has been demonstrated as early as the 1980s. Many users have taken the driving route and repeated the route in a chassis cell with the same vehicle expecting identical results. Emission results can be comparable but there are many factors that need to be considered. This study compares PEMS results for a driving route repeated across seasons and traffic conditions with a single vehicle. The ambient temperature variability and traffic is shown to cause variation in emissions for any individual run. Generating a test cycle to mimic the driving route can be done in a variety of ways. The simplest is to take an individual driving run and translate the time and speed trace directly. This does not address the statistical results from numerous driving runs on the same route.

Automobile Particulate Matter (PM) Emission regulation requires gravimetric determination of PM collected on filter media under simulated driving conditions in the laboratory traditionally in a full flow Constant Volume Sampling (CVS) dilution tunnel. There have been discussions about whether current sampling and measurement practices are sufficiently accurate in quantifying PM at the upcoming 1mg/mi PM emissions standards of CARB LEV III. Sampling technique alternative to a CVS such as a Partial Flow Dilution (PFD) system has already been developed and is acceptable for certification testing. Lower dilution ratios and higher filter face velocity (FFV) are options to load traceable amount of PM on filter in case of light duty vehicle (LDV) testing. On the other hand higher dilution ratios and lower FFV are required for heavy duty engine (HDE) testing to keep the PM loaded on filter <400μg.

Direct measurement of dilution air volume in a Constant Volume emission sampling system may be used to calculate tailpipe exhaust volume, and the total dilution ratio in the CVS. A Remote Mixing Tee (RMT) often includes a subsonic venturi (SSV) flowmeter in series with the dilution air duct. The venturi meter results in a flow restriction and significant pressure drop in the dilution air pipe. An ultrasonic flow meter for a similar dilution air volume offers little flow restriction and negligible pressure drop in the air duct. In this investigation, an ultrasonic flow meter (UFM) replaces the subsonic venturi in a Remote Mixing Tee. The measurement uncertainty and accuracy of the UFM is determined by comparing the real time flow rates and integrated total dilution air volume from the UFM and the dilution air SSV in the RMT. Vehicle tests include FTP and NEDC test cycles with a 3.8L V6 reference vehicle.

The application of Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) to control nitric oxides (NOx) in diesel engines (2010, Tier 2, Bin5) introduced significant amounts of Ammonia (NH3) and Urea to the NOx exhaust gas analyzers and sampling systems. Under some test conditions, reactions in the sampling system precipitate a white powder, which can accumulate to block sample lines, rendering the exhaust emission sampling inoperable. NOx gas analyzers used for exhaust measurement are also susceptible to precipitation within the sample path and detector components. The contamination requires immediate maintenance for powder removal to restore baseline performance. The results of experiments to eliminate the powder are presented. Analysis of the powder identifies it as ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) and ammonium sulfate ((NH4)2SO4), which is consistent with the white crystalline precipitate.

Diesel fuel may be blended with ethanol as a bio-fuel extender. However, ethanol is not miscible with diesel fuel, so an emulsifier must be added to a diesel-ethanol blend to prevent the ethanol fraction from separating in a fuel tank. This diesel-ethanol blending and storage problem can be avoided by installing a separate ethanol fuel tank, fuel pump, and ethanol fuel injector that operate in parallel with the standard diesel fuel injection system. A Medium Duty diesel truck has been modified for blending ethanol with the standard diesel fuel consumed by the engine. The ethanol is injected into the intake air so that diesel and ethanol aerosols are blended in the engine cylinder. The ethanol injection is synchronized with the diesel fuel injection, where the proportion of ethanol to diesel fuel is constant. Vehicle tests include EPA FTP procedures on a chassis test cell dynamometer.

Measurement of exhaust emissions emitted from Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) presents numerous difficulties for conventional emissions measurement equipment. Significant measurement errors are introduced during the measurement of PHEV emissions using conventional emissions equipment, methods, and test cycles due to the combined operation of the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) and electrical power sources. While previous work has identified possible sources of measurement errors using conventional Constant Volume Sampling (CVS) and Bag Mini-Diluter (BMD) techniques, this paper focuses on quantifying the measurement errors and offers suggestions for improvement. In addition, new sampling strategies are offered to improve measurement accuracy of criteria emissions such as Hydrocarbons (HC), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) and fuel economy.

A 2.5-liter light-duty diesel van certified to Euro 4 emission standards was tested in a chassis dynamometer test cell, which included a modal FTIR exhaust gas analyzer with the capability of measuring 22 separate gas species. The engine was equipped with a cooled Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system, which controls the nitrogen oxide emissions (NOx) to less than the 390 mg/km limit required by Euro 4 regulations. The vehicle was tested by dynamometer with the New European Drive Cycle (NEDC) sequence, and found to exceed the 390 mg/km NOx limit. The FTIR was applied as a diagnostic tool for the engine EGR function. The FTIR monitored N₂O, NO, NO₂, and NH₃ over the NEDC test cycles. The linear-control EGR valve failed abruptly during a subsequent test, and the relative concentration of the reduced and oxidized nitrogen species showed significant changes.

A Constant Volume Sampler (CVS) over dilutes the exhaust gas sample when testing Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV). This is because the CVS continues to fill the sample bag when the engine is shutdown. With a PHEV, it is possible to complete an FTP test with the engine running less than 20% of the time, resulting in a CVS bag dilution ratio in the range of 100 to 300. The CVS dilution ratio should be in the range of 5-25 for accurate results. At higher dilution ratios, the gas concentrations of CO, NOx and THC approach the ambient background level in the test cell. At a dilution of 100, the CO₂ concentration in the sample bag is about 0.13%, which is only 3 times the air background concentration. The measurement errors caused by over dilution create errors of 10% to 30% in the calculated mass of CO₂, CO, and NOx. Estimated errors for THC are in the range of 200%.

A test cell was developed for evaluating a 6-speed automatic transmission. The target vehicle had an internal combustion 5.4L gasoline V8 engine. An electric dynamometer was used to closely simulate the engine characteristics. This included generating mean torque from the ECU engine map, with a transient capability of 10,000 rpm/second. Engine inertia was simulated with a transient capability of 20,000 rpm/second, and torque pulsation was simulated individually for each piston, with a transient capability of 50,000 rpm/second. Quantitative results are presented for the correlation between the engine driven and the dynamometer driven transmission performance over more than 60 test cycles. Concerns about using the virtual engine in validation testing are discussed, and related to the high frequency transient performance required from the electric dynamometer. Qualitative differences between the fueled engine and electric driven testing are presented.

A partial-flow sampling system, namely a Bag Mini-Diluter (BMD) is an accepted alternative to Constant Volume Sampling (CVS) for obtaining mass emissions in a chassis test cell. Our equipment delivers equivalent CVS and BMD emission results with gasoline engines of 2.0 to 5.6 liter displacement. However, while testing a vehicle with a 1.3 liter engine, CVS and BMD CO2 mass differences greater than 9% were observed during cold-start tests. This paper describes the modifications made to obtain BMD and CVS mass emissions that match within 2% during cold-start tests with a 1.3 liter vehicle.

The accuracy of low-level emission measurements has become increasingly important, due to the development and implementation of SULEV and PZEV vehicles. One technique to test the low-level measurement performance of a CVS is to inject a known mass of a trace gas, such as propane, into the sample system and verify that substantially all of the mass injected is recovered, typically within 2% of the total injected mass. A Vehicle Exhaust Emission Simulator has been used to inject precise amounts of trace gases with a known accuracy in the range of 0.5% to 1.0%. Recoveries for propane, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide are typically 98% or higher, while recoveries for nitrogen oxide are sometimes as low as 95% to 96%. In other words, as much as 5% of the injected nitrogen oxide mass is not recovered by the CVS. This represents an unexpected loss of 3% to 4% of the injected nitrogen oxide.

The accuracy of low-level emission measurements has become increasingly important, due to the development and implementation of SULEV and PZEV vehicles. One technique to test the low-level measurement performance of a CVS is to inject a known mass of a trace gas, such as propane, into the sample system and verify that substantially all of the mass injected is recovered, typically within 2% of the total injected mass. A Vehicle Exhaust Emission Simulator has been used to inject precise amounts of trace gases with a known accuracy in the range of 0.5% to 1.0%. Recoveries for propane, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide are typically 98% or higher, while recoveries for nitrogen oxide are sometimes as low as 95% to 96%. In other words, as much as 5% of the injected nitrogen oxide mass is not recovered by the CVS. This represents an unexpected loss of 3% to 4% of the injected nitrogen oxide.

An experimental study was performed to investigate diesel particulate filter (DPF) performance during filtration with the use of real-time measurement equipment. Three operating conditions of a single-cylinder 2.3-liter D.I. heavy-duty diesel engine were selected to generate distinct types of diesel particulate matter (PM) in terms of chemical composition, concentration, and size distribution. Four substrates, with a range of geometric and physical parameters, were studied to observe the effect on filtration characteristics. Real-time filtration performance indicators such as pressure drop and filtration efficiency were investigated using real-time PM size distribution and a mass analyzer. Types of filtration efficiency included: mass-based, number-based, and fractional (based on particle diameter). In addition, time integrated measurements were taken with a Rupprecht & Patashnick Tapered Element Oscillating Microbalance (TEOM), Teflon and quartz filters.

The accuracy of low-level emission measurements has become increasingly important, due to the development and implementation of ULEV, SULEV, and PZEV vehicles. Measurement of these decreasing levels of automotive emissions requires new sampling and measuring techniques. Several alternative emission sampling techniques have been investigated to minimize measurement variability and maximize system repeatability. An alternative technique to obtain accurate low-level emissions measurement from SULEV vehicles is the Bag Mini-Diluter, which uses a proportional signal from an Exhaust Volume Measurement Device to sample vehicle exhaust. Crucial to successful proportional sampling of vehicle exhaust flow is the performance of the Exhaust Flow Measurement Device. This study evaluates an Exhaust Volume Measurement Device commonly used with a Bag Mini-Diluter.

A single vehicle (3.8L V6) underwent FTP75, HWFE, and US06 emission tests over a 6-month period. A bag mini-diluter and exhaust flowmeter sample system was installed in series with a CVS, so that mass emission results from an individual test could be directly compared between the bag mini-diluter and CVS. At one-month intervals, the bag mini-diluter and exhaust flowmeter sampling system was replaced with new units, while the vehicle and CVS remained unchanged. Assuming that the vehicle and CVS produce constant results, the variability of emissions over the test period are highly correlated with the variability of the bag mini-diluters and exhaust flowmeters. The average CO2 mass comparison between the bag mini-diluter and CVS shows the separate sample systems match within 0.5% for an individual test. The established baseline determined from the CVS has a standard deviation of about 2%, which we believe is predominantly due to vehicle variability.

A new electronic sensor has been developed to measure the time-resolved concentration of carbonaceous particulate matter (PM) emitted in engine exhaust. One application of the sensor could be to provide cycle-resolved feedback on the carbonaceous PM concentration in the exhaust to the engine control unit (ECU), thereby enabling real-time control of engine operating parameters to lower PM emissions. Another promising application is to monitor the performance of particulate traps. The sensor was tested in exhaust flows from a single cylinder diesel engine and from a steady-state acetylene diffusion flame in a flow tunnel. Steady-state engine measurements were made at constant speed and variable load, and transient measurements were performed during engine start-up and accelerations. The sensor response was compared with an opacity meter and with gravimetric filter measurements.