Exhaust volume measurement device

• US 20050061054A1
• Filed: 11/04/2004
• Published: 03/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AVL Test Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gerald Marek, James Williamson, Norbert Kreft, William Martin Silvis
• Inventors: Silvis, William Martin, Williamson, James, Marek, Gerald, Kreft, Norbert
• Granted Patent: US 7,000,449 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/1.60
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/102 by monitoring exhaust gases

Abstract

A vehicle exhaust measurement system is provided includes that a conduit having a conduit inlet and a conduit outlet. A make-up air tube is connected to and is in fluid communication with the conduit inlet. The make-up air tube provides make-up air for mixing an exhaust gas. A mixed gas tube is connected to and is in fluid communication with the conduit outlet. The mixed gas tube conveys a mixture of make-up air and exhaust gas to analysis equipment. In the preferred embodiment, the exhaust gas tube extends through an outer wall of the conduit. A mixing plate is arranged in either the conduit or the mixed gas tube with the exhaust gas tube extending to a position adjacent to the mixing plate. The exhaust gas tube conveys the exhaust gas to the mixing plate to mix the exhaust gas and the make-up air at the mixing plate. A correction factor may be applied to the measurements taken by a differential pressure based fluid flow measurement device such as a smooth approach orifice (SAO) to provide an adjusted flow of measurement at the flow measurement device to correct for the pressure pulsations. The correction factor is calculated based upon the intensity of the pulsations of the differential pressure signal, which indicates the flow through the SAO.

Claims

1. A vehicle exhaust measurement system comprising:

a conduit defined by an outer wall and having an conduit inlet and a conduit outlet;

an make-up air tube connected to and in fluid communication with said conduit inlet, said make-up air tube providing make-up air for mixing with an exhaust gas;

a mixed gas tube connected to and in fluid communication with said conduit outlet, said mixed gas tube conveying a mixture of the make-up air and the exhaust gas to analysis equipment; and

an exhaust gas tube extending through said outer wall of said conduit, and a mixing plate disposed in at least one of said conduit and said mixed gas tube with said exhaust gas tube extending to a position adjacent to said mixing plate, said exhaust gas tube conveying the exhaust gas to said mixing plate to mix the exhaust gas and the make-up air at said mixing plate.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said mixing plate is disposed within said mixed gas conduit.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said conduit is curved and a portion of said exhaust gas tube is curved within said conduit.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said exhaust gas tube enters said conduit at an outer radius.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said conduit has an apex and said exhaust gas tube enters said conduit prior to said apex on a make-up air tube side.

6. The system according to claim 3, wherein said exhaust gas tube has a perforated section inside said conduit.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein a critical flow venturi is in fluid communication with said mixed gas tube downstream from said exhaust gas tube regulating and measuring the flow of the mixture of the make-up air and the exhaust gas.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein a heater is arranged about a portion of said exhaust gas tube, a portion of said conduit from said exhaust gas tube to said mixed gas tube, and said mixed gas tube to said critical flow venturi.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said make-up air tube includes an inlet, and a smooth approach orifice is arranged between said inlet and said exhaust gas tube.

10-29. -29. (Canceled)