Apparatus and process for measuring gaseous emissions from an engine

• US 10,176,696 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2015
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard Harper
• Original Assignee: Richard Harper
• Inventors: Harper, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hung Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): Monahon, Brian P
• Application Number:
  US14/942,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20160146142A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,149 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/02 peculiar to engines working with gaseous fuels
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/228 Warning displays
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0027 the fuel being gaseous non-electrical control F02D19/02
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1444 characterised by the characteristics of the combustion gases
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/102 by monitoring exhaust gases
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/104 using oxygen or lambda-sensors testing catalytic converters F01N3/18, F01N11/007
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0036 specially adapted to detect a particular component physical analysis of gaseous biological material G01N33/497
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/14 Toxic gas alarms G08B21/16 takes precedence

Abstract

A process for measuring methane emissions by an internal combustion engine includes connecting a methane sensor to an exhaust line of the internal combustion engine such that a portion of the gas in the exhaust line can enter the methane sensor, operating the internal combustion engine so as to produce the exhaust, measuring a methane concentration of the gas from the portion of the gas from the exhaust line with the methane sensor, and producing an output from the methane sensor corresponding to the methane concentration. The methane sensor is plumbed to the exhaust line. The methane concentration is continuously sampled by the methane sensor. The methane sensor can be an electrochemical cell, a catalytic methane sensor, or an infrared methane sensor.

Claims

1. A process for measuring methane emissions by an internal combustion engine, the process comprising:

positioning a methane sensor at an upper location within a housing, a portion of the gas in an exhaust line of the internal combustion engine entering said by said methane sensor, said housing being connected to the exhaust line of the internal combustion engine;

forming a baffle within said housing in a location such that the portion of the gas encounters said baffle prior to measurement by said methane sensor such that only gas flows through said housing to said methane sensor;

connecting the methane sensor to the exhaust line of the internal combustion engine such that the portion of a gas in said exhaust line can enter said housing;

operating the internal combustion engine so as to produce the exhaust;

measuring a methane content of the gas with said methane sensor from the portion of the gas from the exhaust line;

producing an output from said measurement sensor corresponding to the methane concentration;

separating water from the portion of the gas by said baffle prior to the measurement by said methane sensor; and

discharging the water outwardly from an interior of said housing.

2. A process for measuring methane emissions by an internal combustion engine, the process comprising:

positioning a methane sensor at an upper location within a housing, a portion of the gas in an exhaust line of the internal combustion engine entering said housing prior to measurement by said methane sensor, said housing being connected to the exhaust line of the internal combustion engine;

forming a baffle within said housing in a location such that the portion of the gas encounters said baffle prior to measurement by said methane sensor such that only gas flows through said housing to said methane sensor comprising;

connecting the methane sensor to the exhaust line of the internal combustion engine such that the portion of a gas in said exhaust line can enter said housing;

operating the internal combustion engine so as to produce the exhaust;

measuring a methane content of the gas with said methane sensor from the portion of the gas from the exhaust line; and

producing an output from said measurement sensor corresponding to the methane concentration, the step of connecting comprising extending the line from an inlet of said housing to the exhaust line, the step of forming the baffle comprising;

positioning said baffle within said housing adjacent to said inlet; and

forming an outlet of said housing in a location below said baffle.