Novel method for on-road emission factor measurements using a plume capture trailer

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Automotive Engineering
• Air Quality Research

Background:

• Traditional vehicle emission testing often relies on dynamometers, which may not fully represent real-world driving conditions.
• Accurate measurement of particulate and gaseous emissions is crucial for understanding and mitigating air pollution from vehicles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a cost-effective method for measuring emission factors of unmodified vehicles under real-world driving conditions.
• To enable more extensive emission factor measurements and investigate early plume dilution processes.

Main Methods:

• A plume capture trailer towed by a test vehicle collects naturally diluted exhaust plume samples.
• Samples are analyzed in a mobile laboratory for particulate and gaseous emissions.
• Particle size distribution and emission factors (number and mass) are measured from diluted plumes.

Main Results:

• The method allows for emission factor measurements under real-world driving conditions at minimal cost.
• It offers low test turnaround times, facilitating a higher volume of measurements than dynamometer testing.
• Data on particle size distribution, number and mass emission factors, and a dilution profile for a diesel vehicle are presented.

Conclusions:

• The developed method provides a practical and efficient approach for real-world vehicle emission factor assessment.
• The ability to investigate early dilution processes and generate dilution profiles is valuable for air quality modeling.
• This technique supports more comprehensive research into vehicle emissions and their impact on air quality.