Emissions measuring system

• US 9,086,342 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2012
• Issued: 07/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global MRV Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Global MRV Incorporated
• Inventors: Miller, David W., Beckmann, Brian J., Alexander, Aaron G., Leatherland, William Earl Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui, Bryan
• Application Number:
  US13/420,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20120239308A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,224 Days
• Field of Search: 702/24
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2252 in a vehicle exhaust
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3504 for analysing gases, e.g. multi-gas analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0075 for multiple spatially distributed sensors, e.g. for environmental monitoring

Abstract

An improved apparatus for sensing exhaust emissions (15) comprising a passive induction sampler (50) configured to sample exhaust from a source (16), a processing unit (30) connected to the induction sampler and configured to be mounted in close proximity to exhaust from the source, the processing unit comprising an input port (31) adapted to receive flow from the passive induction sampler, an output port (32), a flow path (33) between the input port and the output port, a sensor (34) for sensing one or more pollutants in the flow path, a processor (37) configured to receive measurements from the sensor, a power source (39), and a wireless transmitter (36) connected to the processor.

Claims

1. An apparatus for sensing exhaust emissions comprising:

a passive induction sampler configured to sample exhaust from a source;

a processing unit connected to said induction sampler and configured to be mounted in close proximity to exhaust from said source;

said processing unit comprising;

(a) an input port adapted to receive flow from said passive induction sampler;

(b) an output port;

(c) a flow path between said input port and said output port;

(d) a sensor for sensing one or more pollutants in said flow path;

(e) a processor configured to receive measurements from said sensor;

(f) a power source; and

(g) a wireless transmitter connected to said processor.

2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said source comprises a combustion engine.

3. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said source comprises an exhaust pipe and said passive induction sampler comprises an induction tube extending from said input port of said processing unit into said exhaust pipe.

4. The apparatus set forth in claim 3, wherein said passive induction sampler further comprises a valve configured to control exhaust flow in said exhaust pipe.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 3, wherein said induction tube comprises a bypass.

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said source is a stationary source selected from a group consisting of generators, drainage and irrigation pumps, and compressors.

7. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said source is a mobile source selected from a group consisting of passenger cars, light trucks, large trucks, buses, motorcycles, off-road recreational vehicles, farm equipment, construction equipment, lawn and garden equipment, marine engines, aircraft, locomotives and water vessels.

8. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said source comprises an exhaust pipe and said processing unit is configured to be mounted to said exhaust pipe.

9. The apparatus set forth in claim 8, wherein said processing unit is configured to be temporarily mounted to said exhaust pipe.

10. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said sensor is selected from a group consisting of a non-dispersive infrared exhaust analyzer, a non-dispersive ultra-violet gas analyzer, and a chemical sensor.

11. The apparatus set forth claim 1, wherein said processing unit further comprises a flow meter configured to measure flow in said flow path.

12. The apparatus set forth in claim 11, wherein said flow meter is selected from a group consisting of a turbine flow meter, an optical flow meter, a pressure flow meter and a thermal flowmeter.

13. The apparatus set forth in claim 11, wherein said processor comprises a microprocessor programmed to provide emission data as a function of measurements from said sensor and said flow meter.

14. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said power source comprises a nickel-metal hydride battery.

15. The apparatus set forth in claim 14, wherein said power source further comprises a thermoelectric generator connected to said battery and configured to recharge said battery.

16. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said power source comprises a thermoelectric generator.

17. The apparatus set forth in claim 16, wherein said source comprises an exhaust pipe and said thermoelectric generator comprises a thermoelectric sleeve configured to attach to said exhaust pipe.

18. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said pollutant is selected from a group consisting of nitrogen oxides (NO_x), carbon monoxides (CO), carbon dioxides (CO₂), hydrocarbons (HC), sulfur oxides (SO_x), particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

19. The apparatus set forth in claim 2, and further comprising a data relay module comprising:

(a) a receiver configured to receive data transmitted wirelessly from said processing unit transmitter;

(b) an interface configured to receive performance data concerning said engine; and

(c) a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit data.

20. The apparatus set forth in claim 19, wherein said performance data is selected from a group consisting of engine rpm, intake manifold pressure, engine oil temperature, intake air temperature, vehicle speed, and intake air mass flow.

21. The apparatus set forth in claim 19, wherein said interface is connected to an engine control unit.

22. The apparatus set forth in claim 19, wherein said interface comprises an engine rpm sensor, an engine pressure sensor and an engine temperature sensor.

23. The apparatus set forth in claim 2, and further comprising a data relay module comprising:

(a) a receiver configured to receive data transmitted wirelessly from said processing unit transmitter;

(b) an interface configured to receive performance data concerning said engine; and

(c) a storage device configured to store data from said receiver and said interface.

24. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said source comprises an exhaust pipe and further comprising an exhaust flow meter configured to measure flow in said exhaust pipe.

25. The apparatus set forth in claim 24, wherein said flow meter is selected from a group consisting of an acoustic flow meter, an optical flow meter and a magnetic flow meter.

26. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said source comprises an exhaust pipe and further comprising an exhaust flow sensor system configured to measure flow in said exhaust pipe.

27. The apparatus set forth in claim 26, wherein and the flow sensor system is selected from a group consisting of an electrochemical, thermal generating or mechanically flow-motivated sensor system.

28. An apparatus for sensing exhaust emissions comprising:

a sampler configured to sample exhaust from a source;

a processing unit connected to said sampler and configured to be mounted in close proximity to exhaust from said source;

said processing unit comprising;

(a) an input port adapted to receive flow from said sampler;

(b) an output port;

(c) a flow path between said input port and said output port;

(d) a sensor for sensing one or more pollutants in said flow path;

(e) a processor configured to receive measurements from said sensor;

(f) a power storage device;

(g) a thermoelectric generator connected to said power storage device; and

(h) a wireless transmitter.

29. The apparatus set forth in claim 28, wherein said power storage device comprises a nickel-metal hydride battery.

30. The apparatus set forth in claim 28, wherein said source comprises an exhaust pipe and said thermoelectric generator comprises a thermoelectric sleeve configured to engage said exhaust pipe.