Exhaust emissions analysis apparatus and method

• US 5,621,166 A
• Filed: 04/06/1995
• Issued: 04/15/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Butler, James W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chilcot, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCCALL, ERIC SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US08/417,523
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 73/116, 73/23.31, 73/23.32, 250/338.5, 250/339.08, 250/339.13, 250/343, 250/345, 250/339.1, 356/51, 356/229, 356/438
• US Class Current: 73/114.71
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/108 using optical methods
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/3513 Open path with an instrumental source
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3504 for analysing gases, e.g. multi-gas analysis

Abstract

Apparatus and method are provided for testing of exhaust gas emissions from an internal combustion engine, and determining the engine'"'"'s operating condition. An inferred value for the ratio of hydrogen to carbon in the exhaust, based on measured values for the H₂ O, CO₂ and CO components of the exhaust gas, is used to determine whether the engine and associated exhaust componentry have reached normal operating conditions. The emissions testing apparatus and method are suitable for remote testing of exhaust gas emissions from an internal combustion engine of an on-road motor vehicle. A light source emits preferably near to mid-infrared light to impinge upon the exhaust gas emissions. The emitted light includes wavelengths absorbed by exhaust species to be measured, including at least H₂ O, CO₂ and CO. Following impingement on the exhaust gas emissions, the light is received by a sensor which generates an output signal corresponding to the amount of light received at each of such wavelengths. A signal processor determines a value corresponding to the amount or relative amount of each measured specie in the exhaust gas, based at least in part on the corresponding output signals from the sensor. The processor also determines the engine'"'"'s operating condition based at least in part on the output signals corresponding to H₂ O, CO₂ and CO. In particular, the processor determines whether the engine is in normal operating condition, rather than in cold-start or warm-up condition.

Claims

1. An apparatus for testing of exhaust gas emissions from an internal combustion engine and for determination of an operating condition of the engine, comprising:

sensor means for receiving light from the exhaust gas emissions at wavelengths corresponding to emission species to be detected, including at least H₂ O, CO₂ and CO, and for generating an output signal corresponding to an amount of light received at each of said wavelengths;

signal processor means for receiving the output signals and determining an amount value for each of said emission species based at least in part on the corresponding output signal, and for determining the operating condition based at least in part on the output signals corresponding to H₂ O, CO₂ and CO; and

emitter means for emitting light toward the exhaust gas emissions, having wavelengths absorbed by emission species to be detected, including at least H₂ O, CO₂ and CO;

wherein the signal processor means comprises a microprocessor for determining a value corresponding to exhaust H/C ratio equal to;

##EQU4## where;

#H₂ O is the amount value determined by the signal processor means for H₂ O,

#CO₂ is the amount value determined by the signal processor means for CO₂, and

#CO is the amount value determined by the signal processor means for CO,

and for determining the operating condition at least in part by comparing the exhaust H/C ratio value to a preselected value range corresponding to normal engine operating conditions, and for manifesting whether the exhaust H/C ratio is within said preselected value range.

2. The apparatus for testing of exhaust gas emissions from an internal combustion engine, and for determination of an operating condition of the engine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the preselected value range is stored in ROM memory of the microprocessor.

3. An emissions testing system for remote testing of exhaust gas emissions from an internal combustion engine of an on-road motor vehicle and for remote determination of an operating condition of the engine, comprising:

a tunable diode laser for emitting near to mid-infrared light through the vehicle emissions, at a sequence of wavelengths absorbed by corresponding emissions species to be measured, including at least H₂ O, CO₂ and CO;

sensor means for receiving the light after passing through the vehicle emissions at least once, comprising a detector means for generating an output signal for each of said emission species at a voltage proportional to an amount received of said light at the corresponding wavelength; and

microprocessor means for receiving output signals from the sensor means and determining at least a relative amount value for each of said emission species, based at least in part on the output signal for that species, and for determining a value corresponding to exhaust H/C ratio equal to;

##EQU5## where;

#H₂ O is the amount value determined by the signal process means for H₂ O,

#CO₂ is the amount value determined by the signal processor means for CO₂, and

#CO is the amount value determined by the signal processor means for CO,

and for determining the operating condition at least in part by comparing the exhaust H/C ratio value to a preselected value range stored in ROM memory of the microprocessor means corresponding to normal engine operating conditions.