Measurement Instrument
We are making measurements using a new portable on-board emission measurement
system, the "OEM-2100", from Clean Air Technologies
International, Inc. The OEM-2100 system can be installed in a
matter of approximately 15 minutes on most motor vehicles. It interfaces
with the vehicle in three ways: (1) it obtains power from the cigarette
lighter; (2) it obtains engine data from an on-board diagnostic link found
on most vehicles manufactured since the early 1990s; and (3) it obtains
a small sample of engine exhaust using a sampling probe. The device
simultaneously records engine data and measures the concentration of several
gases in the vehicle exhaust, including carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons,
nitric oxide, carbon dioxide, and oxygen. The instrument reports
engine and emissions data every second and the data are retrieved for later
analysis.
Figure 1. Graduate students Nassir Uddin and Alper Unal
examine and operate the portable on-board emissions
measurement device installed in a Toyota Camry with
manual 5 speed transmission.
Figure 2. View of the On-Board Emissions Measurement System
installed in a Toyota Camry, with the engine data link shown in
the lower left corner of the photo.
Figure 3. View of the tailpipe exhaust probe.
Figure 4. The On-Board Emissions Measurement system draws
power from a cigarette ligher or other power outlet, as shown
here.
Figure 5. A view of a fully instrumented car. All that
is apparent
from the exterior is the sampling hose and the information sign.
The sampling hose is easily secured to the car using clamps.
In this case, the hose is clamped to the license plate and radio
antenna, and is routed through the rear passenger window to
the instrument.
Figure 6. Emission measurements are obtained during
actual driving, as shown here for a passenger van
Figure 7. Collecting data from a passenger van
(white vehicle, center lane) while
driving on the Raleigh Beltline .
A distinguishing feature of this study is that we are focusing on collection
of data under actual driving conditions. This is in contrast to most
vehicle emissions studies, which have focused on laboratory measurements
under simulated driving conditions. Our laboratory is the open road,
and we collect data out in the real world. We face the same traffic
conditions as everyone else, including variations in traffic congestion,
the effect of construction sites and delays due to accidents, variation
in weather conditions (e.g., extreme heat of a very hot dry summer here
in North Carolina), etc.
This web page was designed by H.C. Frey
All items on this web site are Copyright (c) 1999 by
H.C. Frey and NC State University
If you wish to use any materials from this web site,
such as for publication or presentation, please contact Dr. H. C. Frey
at frey@eos.ncsu.edu.
