Panagiota Dilara

Measurement of Automotive Nonvolatile Particle Number Emissions within the European Legislative Framework: A Review

In 2011, the European Commission introduced a limit for nonvolatile particle number (PN) emissions >23 nm from light-duty (LD) vehicles and the stated intent is to implement similar legislation for on-road heavy-duty (HD) engines at the next legislative stage. This paper reviews the recent literature regarding the operation-dependent emission of PN from LD vehicles and HD engines, and the measurement procedure used for regulatory purposes. The repeatability of the PN method is of the order of 5% and higher scatter of the results can easily be explained by the effect of the vehicles or the aftertreatment devices on the PN emissions (e.g., the fill state of the diesel particulate filters). Reproducibility remains an issue since it may exceed 30%. These high-variability levels are mainly associated with calibration uncertainties of the PN instruments. Correlation measurements between the full-flow dilution tunnels (constant-volume samplers, CVS) and the proportional partial-flow dilution systems (PFDS) showed agreement within 15% for the PN method down to 1 × 1011 p/kWh. At lower concentrations, the PN background of the CVS and/or the PFDS can result in larger inconsistencies. The filter-based particulate matter (PM) mass and the PN emissions correlate well down to 1–2 mg/km for LD vehicles and to 2–3 mg/kWh for HD applications. The correlation improves when only elemental carbon mass is considered: it is relatively good down to 0.1–0.3 mg/km or mg/kWh. Copyright 2012 American Association for Aerosol Research

DEVELOPMENT AND REVIEW OF EURO 5 PASSENGER CAR EMISSION FACTORS BASED ON EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS OVER VARIOUS DRIVING CYCLES

The emissions of CO2 and regulated pollutants (NOx, HC, CO, PM) of thirteen Euro 5 compliant passenger cars (seven gasoline, six Diesel) were measured on a chassis dynamometer. The vehicles were driven repeatedly over the European type-approval driving cycle (NEDC) and the more dynamic WMTC and CADC driving cycles. Distance-specific emission factors were derived for each pollutant and sub-cycle, and these were subsequently compared to the corresponding emission factors provided by the reference European models used for vehicle emission inventory compilation (COPERT and HBEFA) and put in context with the applicable European emission limits. The measured emissions stayed below the legal emission limits when the type-approval cycle (NEDC) was used. Over the more dynamic cycles (considered more representative of real-world driving) the emissions were consistently higher but in most cases remained below the type-approval limit. The high NOx emissions of Diesel vehicles under real-world driving conditions remain the main cause for environmental concern regarding the emission profile of Euro 5 passenger cars. Measured emissions of NOx exceeded the type-approval limits (up to 5 times in extreme cases) and presented significantly increased average values (0.35 g/km for urban driving and 0.56 g/km for motorway driving). The comparison with the reference models showed good correlation in all cases, a positive finding considering the importance of these tools in emission monitoring and policy-making processes.

An integrated approach to asses the PCDD/F emissions of the coal fired stoves combining emission measurements and ambient air levels modelling

Very high emissions of PCDD/Fs up to 1300 microg TEQ per ton of coal were measured during combustion of commercial high chlorine content coal in a stove. A pronounced effect of the temperature profile in the chimney on PCDD/F emissions was identified, suggesting formation in the chimney. Emissions of PCDD/Fs were one order of magnitude higher with an insulated chimney than with a non-insulated one. Insulation of the chimney did not influence the emissions of regulated pollutants and PAHs. Under laboratory conditions, the thermal properties of the chimney usually differ from those in residential dwellings. For that reason it is concluded that PCDD/F emission measurements performed under laboratory conditions may not be representative for derivation of emission factors in emission inventory compilations. Thus the emission factor of 1300 microg TEQ per ton of coal (40000 microg TEQ/TJ) represents the maximum value for individual stove emissions. Complementary air dispersion modelling and congener profile based receptor modelling performed in the Krakow area, Poland confirm a high contribution of the residential combustion to the ambient air PCDD/F levels in that area and indicate an emission factor for coal combustion in stoves in the order of 100 microg TEQ per ton (3000 microg TEQ/TJ).

Framework for the assessment of PEMS (Portable Emissions Measurement Systems) uncertainty

ABSTRACT European regulation 2016/427 (the first package of the so‐called Real‐Driving Emissions (RDE) regulation) introduced on‐road testing with Portable Emissions Measurement Systems (PEMS) to complement the chassis dynamometer laboratory (Type I) test for the type approval of light‐duty vehicles in the European Union since September 2017. The Not‐To‐Exceed (NTE) limit for a pollutant is the Type I test limit multiplied by a conformity factor that includes a margin for the additional measurement uncertainty of PEMS relative to standard laboratory equipment. The variability of measured results related to RDE trip design, vehicle operating conditions, and data evaluation remain outside of the uncertainty margin. The margins have to be reviewed annually (recital 10 of regulation 2016/646). This paper lays out the framework used for the first review of the NOx margin, which is also applicable to future margin reviews. Based on experimental data received from the stakeholders of the RDE technical working group in 2017, two NOx margin scenarios of 0.24–0.43 were calculated, accounting for different assumptions of possible zero drift behaviour of the PEMS during the tests. The reduced uncertainty margin compared to the one foreseen for 2020 (0.5) reflects the technical improvement of PEMS over the past few years. Graphical abstract: Figure. No caption available. HighlightsPortable Emissions Measurement Systems (PEMS) are used to measure Real‐Driving Emissions (RDE) of vehicles.The uncertainty of PEMS was evaluated based on experimental data and technical requirements prescribed in the European regulation.The 2017 uncertainty estimation was 43%.