Calibration of PMP Condensation Particle Number Counters - Effect of Material on Linearity and Counting Efficiency

Recently the particle number method was proposed to the light duty regulation, so the proper calibration of Particle Number Counters (PNCs) will be very important. Calibration includes the linearity measurement and the counting efficiency measurement. Labs will have to demonstrate compliance of their PNCs with a traceable standard within a 12 month period prior to the emissions test. Compliance can be demonstrated by: -Primary method: By comparison of the response of the PNC under calibration with that of a calibrated aerosol electrometer when simultaneously sampling electrostatically classified calibration particles, or -Secondary method: By comparison of the response of the PNC under calibration with that of a second PNC which has been directly calibrated by the above method. Compliance testing includes linearity and detection efficiency with particles of 23 nm electrical mobility diameter. A check of the counting efficiency with 41 nm particles is not required. A workshop was organised to investigate the effect of the material on the calibration procedures and the uncertainties of the suggested procedure. GRIMM and TSI provided PNCs and AEA, MATTER, GRIMM, TSI provided five particle generators. The experiments were conducted in the European¿s Commissions laboratories (JRC). Heavy duty diesel engine (w/o aftertreatment) particles were also produced (measurements downstream a thermodenuder) at idle and a medium load mode. The measured data were evaluated by JRC. The results showed that there was an effect of the material used and suggestions were given. In addition the uncertainties of the procedure were quantified. Theoretical calculations showed the corrections that should be applied.JRC.H.4-Transport and air qualit

Experimental assessment of pre-turbo aftertreatment configurations in a single stage turbocharged diesel engine. Part 1: Steady-state operation

Diesel oxidation catalysts and diesel particulate filters are standard aftertreatment systems in Diesel engines which are traditionally placed downstream of the turbine. However, pre-turbo aftertreatment configurations are being approached as a way to improve the aftertreatment performance in terms of light-off and passive regeneration. This exhaust line architecture can also benefit fuel economy. The objective of this work is to analyse experimentally how the pre-turbo aftertreatment placement impacts on the performance of a single stage turbocharged Diesel engine. The work has been divided into two parts focused on steady-state and transient engine operation separately. The first part comprises the analysis of the experimental results corresponding to steady-state operating conditions. The range of operation covers different engine loads and speeds. The engine response with pre-turbo aftertreatment placement is mainly affected by the change in the pumping work caused by the aftertreatment pressure drop reduction and its new location, which avoids the multiplicative effect of the turbine expansion ratio when setting the engine back-pressure. These effects become more significant as the engine load increases benefiting fuel consumption from low to high loads. Concerning aftertreatment performance, the results evidence noticeable benefits in DPF passive regeneration and CO/HC emissions reduction at low engine load.This work has been partially supported by the Vicerrectorado de Investigacion de la Universitat Politenica de Valencia through grant number SP20120340-UPPTE/2012/96 and by the Conselleria de Educacio, Cultura i Esport of the Generalitat Valenciana through grant number GV/2013/043.Luján, JM.; Bermúdez, V.; Piqueras, P.; García Afonso, Ó. (2015). Experimental assessment of pre-turbo aftertreatment configurations in a single stage turbocharged diesel engine. Part 1: Steady-state operation. Energy. 80:599-613. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2014.05.048S5996138

Edificio project: A neuro-fuzzy approach to building energy management systems

It is well known that building installations for indoor climate control, consume a substantial part of the total energy consumption and that at present these installations use much more energy than required due to inadequate settings and poor control and management strategies. European building energy management is diffuse since design, manufacture, engineering, installation, commissioning and maintenance processes are involved contemporary and the wide variety of climates, building types, spaces, control and management methods and national regulations. Addressing the complexity of optimisation, integration and self adaptation through smart building control systems potentially save substantial quantities of energy while improving the present standards for indoor comfort. The EDIFICIO project aims at developing an innovative, adaptive, integrated control systems for optimal energy management and indoor comfort in buildings based on the utilisation of Soft Computing Techniques (SCT), specially Fuzzy Logic (FL), Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) and Genetic Algorithms (GAs). The EDIFICO project is partly funded by the European Commission DGXII within the frame of the JOULE III Programm