CVS system sample water vapor management

• US 10,151,670 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2015
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AVL Test Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AVL Test Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Silvis, William Martin, Williamson, James Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Son
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eyassu, Marrit
• Application Number:
  US14/816,304
• Publication Number:
  US 20150338320A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,226 Days
• Field of Search: 7386302
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/102 by monitoring exhaust gases
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2252 in a vehicle exhaust
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/2255 with dilution of the sample
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/2264 with dilution

Abstract

An engine emissions test system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a sampling conduit, at least one sample bag, a read circuit, and a fill circuit. The sampling conduit is configured to receive exhaust from an engine. The at least one sample bag is configured to store a sample of exhaust. The read circuit is configured to communicate the stored sample of exhaust between the at least one sample bag and an analyzer. The fill circuit includes a fill gas line configured to provide a fill gas to be mixed with the sample of exhaust. The fill gas line extends between a fill gas source and the read circuit.

Claims

1. An engine emissions test system comprising:

a sampling conduit configured to receive exhaust from an engine;

at least one sample bag configured to store a sample of exhaust;

a read circuit including a read line configured to communicate the stored sample of exhaust from the at least one sample bag to an analyzer, wherein the analyzer is configured to analyze the sample of exhaust to determine an amount of combustion byproducts therein;

a sample gas line extending from the sampling conduit to the read line for communicating the sample of exhaust from the sampling conduit to the at least one sample bag; and

a fill circuit including;

a fill gas line configured to provide a fill gas to be mixed with the sample of exhaust, the fill gas line extending from a fill gas source to the read line; and

at least one of a pump and a flow meter disposed in the fill gas line.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the read line includes a first read line section that doubles as a portion of the fill circuit configured to provide the fill gas the at least one sample bag.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the fill circuit includes both the pump and the flow meter disposed in the fill gas line.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the read line further includes a second read line section, and the read circuit includes a pump and a flow meter disposed in the second read line section, the pump of the second read line section and the flow meter of the second read line section each being provided between the first read line section and the analyzer.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the second read line section includes a valve between the pump of the second read line section and the flow meter of the second read line section.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the sample gas line extends between the sampling conduit and the first read line section for communicating the sample of exhaust from the sampling conduit to the at least one sample bag.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the fill gas is nitrogen.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the combustion byproducts include at least one of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon, and a nitrogen oxide.

9. An engine emissions test system comprising:

a sampling conduit in which exhaust from an engine is diluted with a dilution gas;

at least one sample bag configured to store a sample of the diluted exhaust;

a first gas line configured to communicate the sample of the diluted exhaust from the at least one sample bag to an analyzer, wherein the analyzer is configured to analyze the sample of diluted exhaust to determine an amount of combustion byproducts therein;

a second gas line extending from a fill gas source to the first gas line for providing a fill gas to be mixed with the sample of diluted exhaust, wherein at least one of a pump and a flow meter is disposed in the second gas line; and

a third gas line extending from the sampling conduit to the first gas line for providing the sample of the diluted exhaust to the at least one sample bag.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first gas line includes first and second sections, the first section being configured to (i) communicate the sample of the diluted exhaust from the third gas line to the at least one sample bag, and (ii) communicate the stored sample of the diluted exhaust from the at least one sample bag to the second section, the second section being configured to communicate the sample of the diluted exhaust from the first section to the analyzer.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the first and third gas lines are configured to communicate a portion of the diluted exhaust from the sampling conduit to the at least one sample bag.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the dilution gas is different than the fill gas.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein both the pump and the flow meter are disposed in the second gas line.

14. An engine emissions test system comprising:

a sampling conduit configured to receive exhaust from an engine;

at least one sample bag configured to store a sample of exhaust;

a first gas line configured to communicate exhaust from the sampling conduit to the at least one sample bag, wherein the first gas line includes a first pump and a first flow meter;

a second gas line extending from a fill gas source to the first gas line for providing a fill gas to the at least one sample bag, wherein the second gas line includes a second pump and a second flow meter; and

a third gas line extending between the first gas line and an analyzer for communicating the stored sample of exhaust from the at least one sample bag to the analyzer, wherein the analyzer is configured to analyze the sample of exhaust to determine an amount of combustion byproducts therein.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the third gas line includes a third pump and a third flow meter.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein exhaust from the engine is diluted with a dilution gas in the sampling conduit, and the first gas line is configured to communicate the diluted exhaust from the sampling conduit to the at least one sample bag.