Method and system for remote exhaust emission measurement

• US 7,544,943 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2007
• Issued: 06/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mutual-Pak Technology Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Mutual-Pak Technology Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Luk, Wai Ming
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta; David P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim; Kiho
• Application Number:
  US11/651,587
• Publication Number:
  US 20070164220A1
• Time in Patent Office: 881 Days
• Field of Search: 2503381-3385
• US Class Current: 250/338.5
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/1793 Remote sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/33 using ultraviolet light G01N21/39 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3504 for analysing gases, e.g. multi-gas analysis

Abstract

A remote vehicle emissions measurement system including a radiation source, an adaptable radiation detection unit and a processing unit, characterized in that the radiation source includes an infrared source, an ultraviolet source or a combination thereof; the radiation detection unit includes one or more detachable and expandable detecting elements for receiving the set of predetermined wavelength bands and producing a plurality of corresponding responses concurrently at any one time instant; and the processing unit includes one or more specific software and hardware for calculating the concentrations of various gas components thereof, the relative ratio of one gas component to the others, or the absolute emission values of each of the gas components thereof in an accurate and practicable manner.

Claims

1. A remote vehicle emissions measurement system comprising:

a radiation source for emitting a light beam of a set of predetermined wavelength bands through an emission plume of a vehicle;

an adaptable radiation detection unit comprising a plurality of detachable and expandable detecting elements, the plurality of detecting elements adapted to simultaneously receive the set of predetermined wavelength bands passing through the emission plume and produce a plurality of corresponding responses concurrently at any one time instant as required, the plurality of detachable and expandable detecting elements being grouped together in a compact manner;

a processing unit interconnects with the radiation detection unit for analyzing and processing the data collected by the radiation detection unit, the processing unit comprising one or more specific software and hardware for calculating the concentrations of various gas components thereof, the relative ratio of one gas component to the others, or the absolute emission values of each of the gas components thereof; and

means for checking whether there is any transient change between CO and NO_x to determine if the vehicle is in transient mode for the elimination of unwanted erroneous data points.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein it further comprises an embedded power supply unit.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein it further comprises an embedded wireless communication unit employing a wireless network communication.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein it further comprises a small calibration gas chamber disposed within the radiation path wherein the calibration gas chamber comprises a front and a rear window made of transparent material by which the radiation can be passed through, a gas inlet with a first solenoid valve connected to a gas supply, a gas outlet with a second solenoid valve connected to an air pump.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the calibration gas chamber further comprises a pressure sustaining valve for maintaining the pressure therein.

6. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the calibration gas chamber further comprises a gas concentration regulator for regulating the concentration of the gas contained therein.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the calibration gas chamber comprises one or more side walls capable of back and forth movement whereby forming the gas concentration regulator.

8. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the gas concentration regulator comprises an adjustable pressure regulator or a temperature regulator.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein it further comprises one or more reflectors mounted in a manner to allow the radiation from the source to be directed to the plurality of detecting elements thereof.

10. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of detachable and expandable detecting elements further comprises one or more alternative photodetectors enclosed therein in a compact manner for respective wavelength band detection, thereby forming an array of photodetectors for producing concurrently a plurality of responses thereto.

11. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein a band pass filter is provided before each of the one or more alternative photodetectors for respective wavelength band detection.

12. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radiation detection unit alternatively comprises a spectrometer or a photomultiplier tube.

13. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein it further comprises an image capture unit being interconnected with the processing unit for capturing or recording an image of the vehicle.

14. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein it further comprises a speed and acceleration detection unit being interconnected with the processing unit for detecting the speed and acceleration of the vehicle.

15. The system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the speed and acceleration detection unit alternatively comprises at least two microwave or ultrasonic transceiver.

16. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radiation source comprises a green light or green laser source with its wavelength ranging from 515 nm to 540 nm for the measurement of smoke emission and particulate matter of a diesel engine vehicle.

17. A method of remote sensing the emissions of a vehicle without being affected by the transient operation of the ECU, comprising the steps of:

gathering a predetermined number of data points relative to an emission plume of the vehicle with one or more remote vehicle emissions measurement system;

checking whether there is any transient change between CO and NO_X to determine if the vehicle is in transient mode for the elimination of unwanted erroneous data points; and

calculating and presenting the concentrations of various gas components thereof, the relative ratio of one gas component to the others, or the absolute emission values of each of the gas components thereof.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the redetermined number of data points ranges from 5-100.

19. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the redetermined number of data points ranges from 20-30.