Development and characterization of a mobile photoacoustic sensor for on-line soot emission monitoring in diesel exhaust gas
- 28 March 2003
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry
- Vol. 375 (8), 1136-1143
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-003-1810-8
Abstract
Upcoming regulations for vehicle exhaust emission demand substantial reduction of particle emission in diesel exhaust. To achieve these emission levels, the car manufacturing industry is developing new combustion concepts and exhaust after-treatment techniques such as the use of catalysts and particle filters. Many of the state-of-the-art analytical instruments do not meet the required detection limits, in combination with a high temporal resolution necessary for engine optimization. This paper reports a new detection system and the first results of its application to on-line diesel exhaust soot measurements on a engine test bench (MAN diesel engine facility Nürnberg, Germany). The instrument is based on differential photoacoustic (PA) spectroscopy of black carbon aerosol. It contains two identical PA cells, one for the measurement of the aerosol particles and one which analyses the particle-free gas. Thus, a potential cross-sensitivity to gaseous absorbers in the exhaust gas can be excluded. The PA cells were characterized in a laboratory set-up, with water vapor as reference gas and artificial soot generated by a spark discharge generator. The detection limit was found to be 2 microg m(-3) BC (for diesel soot) with a sampling rate of 3 Hz. The temporal response of the system was found to be in the order of 1 s. After full characterization of the cells, the system was transferred into a mobile 19"-rack. Characterization of the mobile sensor system under real-world conditions was performed during several measurement campaigns at an engine test bench for heavy-duty diesel engines. Results for the limit of detection, the time resolution, accuracy, repeatability, and robustness of the sensor system are very promising with regards to a routine application of the system in engine development.Keywords
This publication has 21 references indexed in Scilit:
- Formation and cycling of aerosols in the global troposphereAtmospheric Environment, 2000
- Meteorological phenomena affecting the presence of solid particles suspended in the air during winterInternational Journal of Biometeorology, 2000
- Directive, décret et questions des députésRevue Française des Laboratoires, 1999
- Investigation of Ultrafine Particle Formation during Diesel Exhaust DilutionEnvironmental Science & Technology, 1999
- Ultrafine (nanometre) particle mediated lung injuryJournal of Aerosol Science, 1998
- Engines and nanoparticlesJournal of Aerosol Science, 1998
- Submicrometer and Supermicrometer Particles from Diesel Vehicle EmissionsEnvironmental Science & Technology, 1998
- Atmospheric Aerosols: Biogeochemical Sources and Role in Atmospheric ChemistryScience, 1997
- Some new laboratory approaches to studying tropospheric heterogeneous reactionsAtmospheric Environment, 1996
- Method comparison study on soot-selective techniquesMicrochimica Acta, 1995