www.DieselNet.com. Copyright © Ecopoint Inc. Revision 2013.07
This is a preview of the paper, limited to some initial content. Full access requires DieselNet subscription.
Please log in to view the complete version of this paper.
Smoke and smoke opacity meters are instruments measuring the optical properties of diesel exhaust. These instruments have been designed to quantify the visible black smoke emission utilizing such physical phenomena as the extinction of a light beam by scattering and absorption. In general, smoke and opacity meters are much simpler (some of them very simple) and less costly in comparison to most other instruments used for PM measurement. They are often used to evaluate smoke emissions in locations outside the laboratory, such as in maintenance shops or in the field. In fact, the smoke opacity measurement is the only relatively low-cost and widely available method to measure a PM-related emission parameter in the field. For this reason, opacity limits are used in most inspection and maintenance (I&M) or periodic technical inspection (PTI) programs for diesel engines. Smoke opacity limits may be also included as auxiliary limits in new engine emission standards.
In view of the demands of advanced, low emission diesel engines, the following areas of concern can be identified in conventional smoke opacity meter technology:
There have been various attempts to improve the sensitivity of diesel opacity meters, for instance by using multiple light path systems with mirrors . The NO2 cross-sensitivity could be eliminated by switching to a different light wavelength, e.g., to red light. Red, however, is less sensitive to small particles than green. A switch from green to ultraviolet, in turn, could improve the “visibility” of small particles . In view of these conflicting solutions, a simple switch to a different wavelength would not be sufficient.
However, as no satisfactory solution has yet been found, conventional opacity meters based on light extinction measurement may become replaced with devices utilizing other measurement principles. “Second generation” opacity meters based on laser light scattering are much more sensitive. They appear to hold promise for application to newer engines with much lower particulate emissions, including engines fitted with particulate filters.
Smoke opacity readings generally do not correlate well with other PM measurement parameters. Numerous correlations between opacity or smoke readings and PM mass that have been developed can provide only approximate results. Since opacity readings may be affected by sulfates, HCs, water vapor, as well as by PM composition (SOF) or physical conditions (e.g., coagulation), no accurate correlation is possible.