Kwanhee Choi

Effect of the mixture preparation on the nanoparticle characteristics of gasoline direct-injection vehicles

Time-resolved nanoparticle number concentrations and size distribution characteristics were investigated in gasoline direct-injection vehicles, according to fuel preparation methods. Particle number emissions were measured using the golden particle measurement system recommended by the Particle Measurement Programme, and the particle size spectrum was determined using a DMS500 spectrometer installed at the tailpipe of the vehicles. The wall-guided gasoline direct-injection vehicle exhibited the most temperature-dependent nanoparticulate matter exhaust characteristics, owing to direct accumulation of fuel on the piston head and cylinder liner and a high concentration of accumulation mode particles. The air-guided gasoline direct-injection vehicle emitted particle emissions mostly during cold transient driving conditions and high acceleration, which had a weak trimodal characteristic with evenly distributed nucleation and accumulation mode particles. The spray-guided gasoline direct-injection vehicle continuously discharged 105 particles/cm3 during constant-speed driving segments, because of the ultra-lean-burn operation and bulk quenching; particulate matter from the spray-guided gasoline direct-injection vehicle demonstrated a strong bimodal characteristic, spreading over 10–100 nm. The particle number emissions for the gasoline direct-injection vehicles for the New European Driving Cycle test mode were 1.48 × 1012 particles/km, 6.03 × 1011 particles/km and 3.17 × 1012 particles/km for the wall-guided type, the air-guided type and the spray-guided type respectively, and none of these were able to satisfy the proposed particle number regulations for the Euro 6 standard. For gasoline direct-injection vehicles, it should be considered that engine hardware modifications, as well as energy management system calibrations and even the application of the particle filter, may be needed to meet the upcoming particulate matter number regulation.

Experimental study of particle emission characteristics of a heavy-duty diesel engine and effects of after-treatment systems: Selective catalytic reduction, diesel particulate filter, and diesel particulate and NOx reduction

This investigation focused on the particle emission characteristics of a heavy-duty diesel engine and the effects of after-treatment systems such as diesel particulate filter and selective catalytic reduction. The test engine was operated on the worldwide harmonized transient cycle mode, which is a new transient cycle for Euro 6, and the conventional European transient cycle mode. Four combinations of after-treatment systems, engine-out, selective catalytic reduction, diesel particulate filter, and diesel particulate and nitrogen oxide reduction, were evaluated for the transient cycles, respectively. The whole test procedure, as part of the Korea particulate measurement programme and the inter laboratory correlation exercise for domestic heavy-duty diesel engines, complied with the recommended method of particulate measurement programme. The particles that were extracted through the golden particle measurement system the constant volume sampler tunnel consisted of solid particles like carbonaceous fraction, metal ash, etc. The particles emitted from the tail-pipe, as analyzed by the differential mobility spectrometer, included volatile or soluble particles like sulphate fraction, nitrate fraction, and organic fraction. The test results showed that the particle number and size distribution depended on the catalytic activity or filtration efficiency of the after-treatment system. Compared to the accumulation mode, the nucleation mode was easily caught or oxidized by the after-treatment system. Additionally, the nucleation mode was sharply increased by excessive ammonia injection because nitrogen dioxide-assisted diesel particulate filter regeneration resulted in reduced conversion efficiency of the selective catalytic reduction.

Study of regulated emissions and nanoparticle characteristics of light-duty direct-injection vehicles fuelled with gasoline and liquefied petroleum gas in the New European Driving Cycle and the Federal Test Procedure 75 driving cycle

This study evaluated the pollutants and nanoparticles, the fuel economy and the levels of carbon dioxide emissions of vehicles equipped with a 1.6 l direct-injection spark ignition engine fuelled by gasoline or by liquefied petroleum gas. The nanoparticles were analysed using a particle measurement system that is used in Europe for regulatory purposes. A fast-response particle size and number spectrometer (model DMS500) were used to characterize the size-resolved particle distributions. The vehicle was tested on a chassis dynamometer for the New European Driving Cycle and Federal Test Procedure 75 in its factory default state (gasoline version) and modified state (for liquefied petroleum gas fuel), and the results were compared. The liquefied-petroleum-gas direct-injection vehicle emitted significantly lower levels of total hydrocarbons than did the gasoline direct-injection vehicle. However, the levels of nitrogen oxide emissions from the liquefied-petroleum-gas direct-injection vehicle were equivalent to those from the gasoline direct-injection vehicle. Because of the higher combustion and exhaust temperatures and relatively higher loads imposed during the driving cycles, the liquefied-petroleum-gas direct-injection vehicle showed a slightly higher level of nitrogen oxide emissions. The particle emissions from the vehicles were mainly affected by the vehicle driving conditions of the test driving cycles. In particular, the particle emissions from the vehicle were pronounced in the cold-start and accelerating phases of the emission certification standards. The nanoparticles from the liquefied-petroleum-gas direct-injection vehicle were significantly fewer in number, exhibiting a reduction of over 99%.