Engine emission analyzer

• US 20020156568A1
• Filed: 01/28/2002
• Published: 10/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oasis Emission Consultants Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Oasis Emission Consultants Incorporated
• Inventors: Knott, Christopher Norman, Knott, Norman Sydney
• Granted Patent: US 6,721,649 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/114
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/102 by monitoring exhaust gases

Abstract

A method for analyzing the exhaust emissions of large industrial engines that: produces emission information in real time and permits the generation of test results immediately after an emission test is conducted, is disclosed. The method includes the real time calculation of exhaust volumetric flow rate from fuel gas flowrate and the use of real time intake manifold conditions to determine engine load from an engine load curve. A portable apparatus for performing the method, comprising a programmed computer, data collection buffer, computer readable database and display device is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for determining the emission rate of a selected test gas emitted in the exhaust gas of a gas-fueled engine, the method comprising the steps of:

(A) measuring the relative concentration of a test gas in the exhaust gas;

(B) measuring each of fuel-gas flowrate, fuel-gas temperature and fuel-gas pressure;

(C) computing a volumetric flowrate of the exhaust gas from the fuel-gas flowrate, temperature and pressure measurements; and

(D) computing a test gas emission rate from the calculated volumetric flowrate of the exhaust gas and measurement of relative concentration of the test gas;

wherein steps C and D, are performed in real time by a suitably-programmed digital computer.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of sending the computed test gas emission rate to a display device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of the method are repeated at a selected time interval a selected number of times so as to calculate a series of test gas emission test data.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of sending the measurements to a computer-readable database for subsequent preparation of a formal emission report.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(A) obtaining from a computer-readable database;

(i) a measurement of the ambient pressure;

(ii) an instantaneous compressibility factor for the fuel gas;

(iii) a gross calorific value for the fuel gas; and

(iv) a dry fuel F factor for the fuel gas; and

(B) measuring the relative concentration of O₂ in the exhaust gas;

wherein, the step of computing a volumetric flowrate of the exhaust gas from the fuel-gas flowrate, temperature and pressure measurements, includes using the measurements of ambient pressure;

instantaneous compressibility factor for the fuel gas;

gross calorific value for the fuel gas;

dry fuel F factor for the fuel gas; and

relative concentration O₂ in the exhaust gas, to calculate the volumetric flowrate of the exhaust gas.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of obtaining a fuel-gas flowrate measurement conversion factor;

and wherein the step of computing a volumetric flowrate of the exhaust gas from the fuel-gas flowrate, temperature and pressure measurements, includes using the fuel-gas flowrate measurement conversion factor to calculate the volumetric flowrate of the exhaust gas.

7. The method of claim 1 for use with an engine having an intake manifold, the method further comprising the steps of:

(A) measuring in real time each of intake manifold temperature and intake manifold pressure;

(B) determining the engine load from the measurements of intake manifold temperature and intake manifold pressure, and an engine load curve; and

(C) calculating in real time an emission rate per engine load using the computed test gas emission rate and the engine load.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

(A) obtaining engine data from a computer-readable database; and

(B) selecting an appropriate engine load curve from a plurality of engine load curves based on the engine data.

9. A method for determining the emission rate of a selected test gas emitted in the exhaust gas of a gas-fueled engine, the method comprising the steps of:

(A) obtaining;

(i) a measurement of the ambient pressure;

(ii) an instantaneous compressibility factor for the fuel gas;

(iii) a gross calorific value for the fuel gas; and

(iv) a dry fuel F factor for the fuel gas;

(B) receiving real-time measurements of the;

(i) relative concentration of the test gas in the exhaust gas;

(ii) relative concentration of O₂ in the exhaust gas;

(iii) flow rate of the fuel gas;

(iv) temperature of the fuel gas; and

(v) pressure of the fuel gas;

(C) calculating in real time a dry volumetric flow rate of the fuel gas from the flow rate of the fuel gas, the fuel-gas temperature, the fuel-gas pressure, the ambient pressure and the instantaneous compressibility factor of the fuel gas;

(D) calculating in real time the volumetric flow rate of the exhaust gas from the dry volumetric flow rate of the fuel gas, the dry fuel F factor, the gross calorific value of the fuel gas and the relative concentration O₂ in the exhaust gas;

(E) calculating in real time the emission rate of the test gas from the relative concentration of the test gas in the exhaust gas and the volumetric flow rate of the exhaust gas; and

(F) sending, in real time, the calculated emission rate of the test gas to a display device;

wherein the steps are performed by a suitably-programmed digital computer.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the computer obtains the measurement of ambient pressure;

instantaneous compressibility factor for the fuel gas;

gross calorific value for the fuel gas; and

dry fuel F factor for the fuel gas, from a computer-readable database.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the computer receives the measurements of relative concentration of the test gas in the exhaust gas;

relative concentration of O₂ in the exhaust gas;

flowrate of the fuel gas;

temperature of the fuel gas; and

pressure of the fuel gas, from a data collection buffer that collects the relative concentrations of the test gas and O₂ from a gas analyzer;

collects the flow rate of the fuel gas from a fuel gas flowmeter;

collects the fuel gas temperature from a temperature sensor located proximate to the fuel gas flowmeter;

collects the fuel gas pressure from a pressure sensor located proximate to the fuel gas flowmeter;

formats this collected data into a form suitable for the computer, and sends this formatted data to the computer.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

(A) obtaining engine data from a computer-readable database; and

(B) selecting an appropriate engine load curve from a plurality of engine load curves based on the engine data.

16. The engine emission analyzer of claim 15, wherein the data collection buffer is configured to connect to, and receive data from, a second gas analyzer, such that the engine emission analyzer may be used to test the effectiveness of in-line catalyst elements (catalytic converters) for treating exhaust, by analyzing the exhaust gas from upstream and downstream of an in-line catalyst element.

17. The engine emission analyzer of claim 16, wherein the data collection buffer is configured to connect to, and receive data from, two exhaust temperature sensors, such that the engine emission analyzer may be used to determine the temperature differential between upstream and downstream of an in-line catalyst element.

19. The method of claim 18, performed by a suitably-programmed digital computer.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the output test gas emission rate data are in a form suitable for recording or for conversion to a selected recording.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the output test gas emission rate data are in a form suitable for driving a selected monitor display.

22. The method of claim 19, additionally comprising saving and storing the output test data.

23. A method as defined in claim 22, additionally comprising repeating steps (A), (B) and (C) at selected intervals for a selected number of repetitions, so as to generate as a stored output data representing a series of test results.

25. The method of claim 24, performed by a suitably-programmed digital computer.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the output test gas emission rate data are in a form suitable for recording or for conversion to a selected recording.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the output test gas emission rate data are in a form suitable for driving a selected monitor display.

28. The method of claim 25, additionally comprising saving and storing the output test data.

29. A method as defined in claim 28, additionally comprising repeating steps (A), (B) and (C) at selected intervals for a selected number of repetitions, so as to generate as a stored output data representing a series of test results.

30. The method of claim 25, for use with an engine having an intake manifold, and wherein data representing intake manifold temperature and intake manifold pressure are available, comprising the additional step prior to step (C) of:

determining engine load and providing data representing engine load from the data representing the intake manifold temperature and intake manifold pressure;

wherein the output test data are correlated with the engine load data.

12. A method for determining the emission rate of a selected test gas emitted in the exhaust gas of a gas-fueled engine having an intake manifold, the method comprising the steps of:

(A) measuring the relative concentration of the test gas in the exhaust gas;

(B) measuring each of fuel-gas flowrate, fuel-gas temperature and fuel-gas pressure;

(C) measuring each of intake manifold temperature and intake manifold pressure;

(D) calculating a volumetric flowrate of the exhaust gas using the measurements of the fuel-gas flowrate, temperature and pressure;

(E) calculating a test gas emission rate using the calculated volumetric flowrate of the exhaust gas and the measurement of the relative concentration of the test gas;

(F) determining engine load from a load curve using the intake manifold temperature and intake manifold pressure measurements; and

(G) calculating an emission rate per engine load using the calculated emission rate of the test gas and the engine load;

wherein steps D, E, F and G, are performed in real time by a suitably-programmed digital computer.

14. A method for determining the emission rate of a selected test gas emitted in the exhaust gas of a gas-fueled engine having an intake manifold, the method comprising the steps of:

(A) obtaining;

(i) a measurement of the ambient pressure;

(ii) instantaneous compressibility factor for the fuel gas;

(iii) gross calorific value for the fuel gas; and

(iv) dry fuel F factor for the fuel gas;

(B) receiving a real-time measurement of;

(i) relative concentration of the test gas in the exhaust gas;

(ii) relative concentration O₂ in the exhaust gas;

(iii) flow rate of the fuel gas;

(iv) temperature of the fuel gas;

(v) pressure of the fuel gas;

(vi) intake manifold temperature; and

(vii) intake manifold pressure;

(C) calculating in real time a dry volumetric flow rate of the fuel gas from the flow rate of the fuel gas, the fuel-gas temperature, the fuel-gas pressure, the ambient pressure and the instantaneous compressibility factor of the fuel gas;

(D) calculating in real time the volumetric flow rate of the exhaust gas from the dry volumetric flow rate of the fuel gas, the dry fuel F factor, the gross calorific value of the fuel gas and the relative concentration O₂ in the exhaust gas;

(E) calculating in real time the emission rate of the test gas from the relative concentration of the test gas in the exhaust gas and the volumetric flow rate of the exhaust gas; and

(F) determining in real time engine load from a load curve using the intake manifold temperature and intake manifold pressure measurements;

(G) calculating in real time emission rate per engine load from the calculated emission rate and engine load;

wherein the steps are performed by a suitably-programmed digital computer.

15. An engine emission analyzer for use in determining the emission rate of a selected test gas emitted in the exhaust gas of a gas-fueled engine having an intake manifold, the engine emission analyzer comprising:

(A) a data collection buffer configured to connect to, and receive data from;

a gas analyzer for sensing the relative concentration of the specified test gas and O₂;

an intake manifold temperature sensor;

an intake manifold pressure sensor;

a fuel gas flowmeter, a fuel gas pressure sensor; and

a fuel gas temperature sensor;

(B) a computer-readable database configured for storing data used in performing the engine emission analysis, including;

the specifications of the engine being tested, the maximum emission limits for each of the test gases (pollutants) specified in the relevant permit;

the testing parameters; and

various calculation factors;

(C) a display device;

(D) a programmed computer connected to the data collection buffer, computer-readable database and display device;

wherein, when installed and in use, the data collection buffer digitizes the data it receives from the intake manifold temperature sensor, intake manifold pressure sensor, fuel gas flowmeter;

fuel gas pressure sensor; and

fuel gas temperature sensor;

organizes this data and the data received from the gas analyzer into batches that can be recognized by the programmed computer and sends the batches to the programmed computer; and

wherein the programmed computer receives the batches of data from the data collection buffer;

obtains data from the database as required, performs the engine emission analysis calculations to produce emission rates of the test gases or gas, and sends the calculated emission rates and to the display device.

18. A real-time method for determining the emission rate of a selected test gas emitted in the exhaust gas of a gas-fueled engine, from real-time data respectively representing fuel-gas flowrate, fuel-gas temperature and fuel-gas pressure and relative concentration of the test gas in the exhaust gas;

the method comprising the real-time steps of;

(A) calculating the volumetric flowrate of the exhaust gas using the data representing the fuel-gas flowrate, temperature and pressure;

(B) calculating the emission rate of the test gas using data representing the calculated volumetric flowrate of the exhaust gas and data representing the relative concentration of the test gas in the exhaust gas; and

(C) providing as an output test gas emission rate data representing the emission rate of the test gas.

24. A real-time method for determining the emission rate of a selected test gas emitted in the exhaust gas of a gas-fueled engine, from

(i) stored data respectively representing the ambient pressure, an instantaneous compressibility factor for the fuel gas, a gross calorific value for the fuel gas, and a dry fuel F factor for the fuel gas;

and

(ii) real-time data respectively representing fuel-gas flowrate, fuel-gas temperature, fuel-gas pressure, relative concentration of the test gas in the exhaust gas, and relative concentration of oxygen in the exhaust gas;

the method comprising the real-time steps of;

(A) calculating the volumetric flowrate of the exhaust gas from the data representing the ambient pressure, instantaneous compressibility factor for the fuel gas, gross calorific value for the fuel gas, dry fuel F factor for the fuel gas, relative concentration of oxygen in the exhaust gas, and the fuel-gas flowrate, temperature and pressure;

(B) calculating the emission rate of the test gas from data representing the calculated volumetric flowrate of the exhaust gas and data representing the relative concentration of the test gas in the exhaust gas; and

(C) providing as an output test gas emission rate data representing the emission rate of the test gas.