CVS system sample water vapor management

• US 9,097,623 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2012
• Issued: 08/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AVL Test Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AVL Test Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Silvis, William Martin, Williamson, James
• Primary Examiner(s): NOLAND, THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US13/463,226
• Publication Number:
  US 20120210803A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,188 Days
• Field of Search: 73/233.1, 7386302-86311, 738/635.8, 738/638.1, 738/638.3, 738/638.6, 738/646.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/102 by monitoring exhaust gases
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2252 in a vehicle exhaust
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/2255 with dilution of the sample
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/2264 with dilution

Abstract

An exhaust sampling system includes a pre-fill gas source having a pre-fill gas. A sampling conduit is configured to collect exhaust gas and make-up gas. A sample bag is fluidly connected to the sampling conduit and the pre-fill gas source. A controller is programmed to run a test procedure in which a sample of exhaust gas and make-up gas is collected in the sample bag. The controller sends a command that fills the sample bag with pre-fill gas prior to the test procedure. The pre-fill gas remains in the sample bag during the test procedure. In one example, the amount of pre-fill gas is selected to prevent the sample from condensing in the sample bag during the test procedure. In another example, the amount of pre-fill gas is selected to provide a sufficient volume of gases for analysis during the test procedure.

Claims

1. An engine emissions test system comprising:

a sampling conduit configured to receive a diluted exhaust gas comprising a mixture of make-up gas and exhaust from an engine;

at least one sample bag configured to store a sample of the diluted exhaust gas;

a fill circuit configured to communicate the sample of the diluted exhaust gas to the at least one sample bag, the fill circuit including a first gas line having a pump and a flow meter, and the fill circuit further including a second gas line in communication with a fill gas source, the second gas line configured to provide a fill gas to be mixed with the sample of diluted exhaust gas.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the flow meter of the first gas line is downstream of the pump of the first gas line.

3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the first gas line further includes at least one valve between the flow meter of the first gas line and the at least one sample bag.

4. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the first gas line further includes a valve upstream of the pump of the first gas line.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the second gas line includes a pump and a flow meter.

6. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein the flow meter of the second gas line is downstream of the pump of the second gas line.

7. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the second gas line includes a valve between the pump of the second gas line and the flow meter of the second gas line.

8. The system as recited in claim 5, further including a controller connected to the pump in the second gas line and programmed to send a command that provides the at least one sample bag with the fill gas.

9. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the controller is programmed to provide the at least one sample bag with the fill gas prior to a test procedure.

10. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the fill gas is ambient air.

11. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the second gas line is configured to provide the fill gas at a point between the flow meter of the first gas line and the at least one sample bag.

12. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first gas line is configured to communicate the sample of diluted exhaust gas between the sampling conduit and the at least one sample bag.

13. The system as recited in claim 12, including a controller, the controller configured to proportionally extract the sample.

14. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one sample bag is heated to prevent condensation from forming within the at last one sample bag.