Portable on-board mass emissions measuring system

• US 6,308,130 B1
• Filed: 07/23/1999
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Global GSC, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Clean Air Technologies International, Inc.
• Inventors: Vojtisek-Lom, Michal
• Primary Examiner(s): WOLFE JR, WILLIS RAY
• Application Number:
  US09/359,984
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 73/23.31, 73/23.32, 73/23.33, 73/1.06, 73/116, 73/117.2, 73/117.3, 73/118.1, 73/863.03, 73/863.01, 73/863.81, 701/114, 702/182, 702/187
• US Class Current: 701/114
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/10 by monitoring exhaust gases or combustion flame
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2252 in a vehicle exhaust

Abstract

The invention is directed to an improved portable on-board mass emissions measuring system for internal combustion engines. In the preferred embodiment, the system is comprised of an exhaust analyzer (16), at least one sensor (18, 22 or 29) which may be temporarily attached to the engine for sensing parameters of the engine, and a processor (19) programmed to collect and manipulate data from the analyzer and the sensor, whereby the mass emissions of the engine may be calculated. The system may further comprise a display (20) for displaying the mass emissions of the engine and an engine-control interface (21). The sensor may be capable of sensing engine RPM, engine oil temperature, or intake manifold pressure. The exhaust analyzer may be capable of measuring concentrations of the engine exhaust constituents, particulates, aerosols, and gases in the engine emissions. The present invention also discloses a portable mass emissions measuring system for an internal combustion engine comprising an exhaust analyzer (16), a trace-gas injector (23), and a processor (19) programmed to collect and manipulate data from the analyzer and the injector, whereby the mass emissions of the engine may be calculated. In addition, the present invention is directed to a method for determining the emission flow rate of an internal combustion engine with the trace-gas injector.

Claims

1. A portable mass emissions measuring system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

an exhaust analyzer,

a sensor array which may be temporarily attached to said engine for sensing parameters of said engine,

said sensor array comprising a first sensor capable of sensing engine rpm, a second sensor capable of sensing a parameter for determining intake air temperature, and a third sensor capable of sensing intake manifold pressure, and

a processor programmed to collect and manipulate data from said analyzer and said sensor array,

whereby the mass emissions of said engine may be calculated.

2. The emissions measuring system as set forth in claim 1, and further comprising a display for displaying the mass emissions of said engine.

3. The emissions measuring system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said third sensor is capable of sensing the intake charge pressure of said engine.

4. The emissions measuring system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second sensor is capable of sensing engine oil temperature.

5. The emissions measuring system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said exhaust analyzer measures concentrations of engine exhaust constituents.

6. The emissions measuring system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said exhaust analyzer is capable of determining concentrations of particulate matter in said engine emissions.

7. The emissions measuring system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said exhaust analyzer is capable of determining concentrations of aerosols in said engine emissions.

8. The emissions measuring system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said exhaust analyzer is capable of determining concentration of gases in said engine emissions.

9. The emissions measuring system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said exhaust analyzer, said sensor and said processor are adapted for use on-board a moving vehicle.

10. The emissions measuring system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second sensor is capable of sensing engine coolant temperature.

11. The emissions measuring system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second sensor is capable of sensing engine intake air temperature.

12. The emissions measuring system as set forth in claim 1, and further comprising an engine-control interface.

13. The emissions measuring system as set forth in claim 12, wherein said exhaust analyzer, said engine-control interface and said processor are adapted for use on-board a moving vehicle.

14. A method of calculating the mass emissions of an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of:

providing a sensor array,

connecting said sensor array to said engine,

providing a gas analyzer,

connecting said gas analyzer to the exhaust of said engine providing a processor,

programming said processor to;

read data from said sensor array and said gas analyzer

determine intake air temperature,

determine intake air mass flow,

determine exhaust mass flow,

determine mass emissions.

15. The method as set forth in claim 14, and further comprising the steps of:

determining the engine oil temperature,

determining the ambient air temperature, and

wherein said intake air temperature is determined by averaging said engine oil temperature and said ambient air temperature.

16. The method as set forth in claim 14, and further comprising the steps of:

determining engine coolant temperature,

determining ambient air temperature, and

wherein said intake air temperature is determined by averaging said engine coolant temperature and said ambient air temperature.

17. The method set forth in claim 14, and further comprising the step of calibrating said data based on the predetermined delay time of said sensor array and said gas analyzer.

18. The method set forth in claim 14, wherein said gas analyzer includes an insert probe and said gas analyzer is connected to said exhaust of said engine by inserting said probe in said exhaust of said engine.

19. The method as set forth in claim 14, wherein said processor is programmed to read gas concentration data from said gas analyzer and wherein said exhaust mass flow is determined from said intake air mass flow and said gas concentration data.

20. The method as set forth in claim 19, wherein said mass emissions are determined from said exhaust mass flow and said gas concentration data.