DVE - Direct Vehicle Exhaust Flow Measurement using Head-type Flowmeters 2003-01-0782

When exhaust emissions from a vehicle are measured, a flow rate is needed in addition to pollutant concentrations in order to calculate the mass emitted. The highly unsteady flow from an internal combustion engine presents measurement challenges to exhaust flowmeters, especially at idle. Mass measurement methods used in the past have gotten around this problem by a variable dilution scheme (CVS) that measures a different, more favorable flow, but reduces and can contaminate exhaust gas concentration levels. The flow measurement system described here makes possible a more accurate measure of the vehicle exhaust flow by means of a number of design features. This improves considerably the cost effectiveness and accuracy of emissions measurement techniques such as the Bag-Minidiluter sampling system and raw modal analysis.