METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING DILUENT GAS TO EXHAUST EMISSION ANALYZER

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for diluting exhaust gas emissions by using a small fraction of a continuously extracted exhaust sample (12) combined with a pollutant-free diluent (36) through a system of devices such as critical flow orifices (22, 48) at a predetermined and precisely controlled flow ratio. A small quantity of gas is extracted from the diluted exhaust gas available with the purified air or nitrogen to produce a mixture having a dew point below ambient air temperature and satisfying the flow requirements of an analysis system.

Description: METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING DILUENT GAS TO EXHAUST EMISSION ANALYZER Technical Field This invention relates to a gas sampling device to measure the concentration of exhaust substanc¬ es (i.e., emissions of, for example, CO, C0 2 , hydrocar¬ bons HC, N0 X , S0 X and the like) contained in the exhaust gas of an automotive vehicle. Background Art A conventional method of measuring the mass of components in exhaust gases uses the CVS (Constant Volume Sampling) method. The CVS method continuously dilutes all of the exhaust gases from an engine with ambient air to a constant and known volume flow rate. The constant flow rate is controlled by drawing the diluted exhaust gases through a volumetric measuring device such as a critical flow venturi or a positive displacement pump. By continuously collecting a small fraction of the total diluted flow in a bag during a test cycle, the mass of a component can be determined by measuring the concentration of the component in the bag at the end of a test and multiplying by the total diluted volumetric flow measured during the test. The CVS method works well as long as the concentration of the component measured is large compared to the concen¬ tration of that component in the dilution air. As progress is being made in the reduction of mass pollut¬ ants emitted from an engine, the contribution made to the measurement by the diluent is no longer negligible. In fact, sometimes the concentration of a pollutant in the diluent air is larger than the concentration in the exhaust gas. An obvious solution to this situation is to use a purified diluent instead of ambient air. For the CVS technique, this is an expensive and impractical approach because of the large volumes of diluent re¬ quired. Typically, the minimum volume of diluent required is eight to ten times the maximum instantaneous exhaust gas flow rate. This large quantity of diluent is necessary in order to reduce the dew point of the gas mixture to below ambient temperature, thereby preventing condensation of the moisture present in the exhaust gas. An alternate technique to measure mass emis¬ sions and avoid measuring the pollutants in the dilution air is to measure the exhaust concentrations before CVS dilution and separately determine the exhaust mass flow. Additional flow measurements must be made to utilize the CVS method. To determine the instantaneous mass flow of an exhaust component using the CVS method, the following technique can be used. The instantaneous exhaust gas flow rate can be calculated by measuring the diluent flow rate into the CVS with a flow measurement device such as a smooth approach orifice and mathematically subtracting this from the CVS flow rate. By using the instantaneous exhaust flow rate and the undiluted exhaust concentrations, the instantaneous mass emissions of any component may be determined. In order to measure the concentration of exhaust gas components directly, analysis must either be done at elevated temperatures in specially designed instrumentation or the water which condenses when the exhaust gas is cooled must be removed before analysis. Both of these approaches have disadvantages. Instru¬ ments designed to operate at elevated temperatures are expensive and usually require considerable care and maintenance. Analysis on a "wet basis" is desirable to eliminate the errors introduced by removing the water from the sample. When the water vapor in the gas is condensed and removed, some of the pollutants are removed with the water. The concentrations indicated when analyzing a sample on a "dry basis" are higher than "wet basis" analysis due to the decrease in volume caused by removal of the water. The "wet basis" analy¬ sis can only be approximated from the "dry basis" analysis. The residual errors are undesirable. Summary Of The Invention An apparatus is provided for diluting an exhaust gas sample from the exhaust system of a engine for analysis by an exhaust emission analyzer. The apparatus includes an exhaust gas sample line having first and second ends. The first end is adapted to be fluidly connected to the exhaust system of the engine. The apparatus also includes an exhaust gas sampling line device fitted to the exhaust gas sampling line, a source of substantially pollutant-free diluting gas, and a diluent line having first and second ends. The first end of the diluent line is connected to the source of pollutant-free diluting gas. The apparatus further includes a diluent line device fitted to the diluent line. The exhaust gas sampling line device and the diluent line device are configured so as to produce substantially equal pressure drops thereacross and to assure a substantially constant ratio of sample gas to diluting gas volume through the exhaust gas sampling line and the diluent line. The apparatus includes a diluent gas outlet line having first and second ends. The first end of the diluted gas outlet line is adapted to be connected to the exhaust emission analyzer. The apparatus further includes a fluid junction wherein the second ends of the exhaust sampling line, the diluent line, and the diluted gas outlet line are connected to the fluid junction. Still further, the apparatus in¬ cludes a mechanism or apparatus for drawing a diluted gas through the exhaust sampling line, the diluent line, and the diluted gas outlet line. A method is also provided for preparing a sample of exhaust gas for analysis by an exhaust emis¬ sion analyzer. The method includes the steps of ex¬ tracting a sample of exhaust gas from the exhaust system of an engine and passing the exhaust gas sample through a sample line and extracting a diluent from a diluent source and passing the diluent through a diluent line while maintaining a volumetric ratio of the exhaust gas sample and the diluent at a substantially constant rate. Finally, the method includes the steps of introducing the diluent into the exhaust gas sample to obtain a diluted gas and directing the diluted gas to the exhaust emission analyzer. Preferably, this invention is adapted to be used for analyzing exhaust emissions by using a small fraction of a continuously-extracted exhaust sample combined with a pollutant-free diluent through a system of critical flow orifices at a predetermined and pre¬ cisely controlled flow ratio. The apparatus and method of the present invention includes the general steps of: (1) establish¬ ing the working dilution ratio; (2) introducing calibra¬ tion gases to establish the operating-dilution ratio; (3) extracting an aliquot of high dew point exhaust gas; (4) diluting the exhaust gas sample with a dry, pollut¬ ant-free diluent; (5) maintaining the exhaust gas at a temperature above the dew point of water through dilu¬ tion; and (6) delivering the diluted exhaust gas to the analysis system at a sufficient flow rate to satisfy the flow requirements of the gas analysis system. Once delivered to the analyzer, the diluted gas can then be analyzed and the undiluted pollutant concentrations obtained by multiplying the dilution ratio. According to the present invention, a small quantity of undiluted exhaust gas is extracted and diluted with contaminant-free air or nitrogen producing a mixture having a dew point below ambient temperature and satisfying the flow requirements of the analysis system. Analysis is performed at ambient temperature without water extraction or loss of any exhaust emis¬ sions components using a small quantity of diluent gas. The undiluted concentrations are readily obtained by multiplying the diluted sample concentrations by the dilution ratio. According to the present invention, sample and diluent flow devices have throat sizes that are properly sized to accurately control the dilution ratio of exhaust gas to diluent gas. The inlet pressure to the diluent device is controlled to a pressure equal to the sample device inlet pressure by a pneumatic relay. The sample and diluent devices exit into a common reduced pressure manifold. The manifold pressure is maintained at a reduced pressure sufficient to create critical flow through both devices. By situating the devices and related fluid lines within an oven, the temperature of the sample is maintained above the dew point of exhaust gas, thus eliminating condensation problems. This oven arrangement also maintains the devices at equal temper¬ atures, thus circumventing dilution ratio variations. The sample and diluent devices such as orific- es are preferably of the critical flow variety. Criti¬ cal flow Venturis, subsonic orifices, or subsonic Venturis may be substituted for critical flow orifices. The invention maintains constant dilution ratio with subsonic orifices or subsonic Venturis by maintaining equal pressure at the inlets and equal, reduced pressure at the outlets of the sample and dilution orifices or Venturis. The above objects and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best mode for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. Brief Description Of The Drawings FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a system for providing diluted gas to an exhaust emission analyzer constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of a preferred pneumatic relay of the present invention; and FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of a system for providing diluent gas similar to the system of Figure 1 constructed in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring now to Figure 1, a pneumatically- operated apparatus for providing diluted exhaust gas to an exhaust emission analyzer is depicted and is identi¬ fied generally by the reference numeral 10. The appara- tus 10 comprises a tail pipe adapter 12 for coupling to an internal combustion engine exhaust pipe 14. Exhaust from the exhaust pipe 14 is introduced through an exhaust sample inlet line 16. The sample inlet line 16 terminates at a prefilter 18. The inlet line 16, as well as all of the other fluid lines of the present invention, are preferably composed of stainless steel for corrosion resistance. The prefilter 18 is provided to eliminate particulates from the exhaust sample, the presence of which would otherwise build up on the critical flow surfaces of the apparatus 10. The pre¬ filter 18 is of any type known in the art that is capable of removing particulates. The exhaust sample exits the prefilter 18 into a prefilter outlet line 20 which forms a connector between the prefilter 18 and, according to the preferred embodiment of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1, a sample critical flow orifice or critical flow venturi 22. As is known, the venturi includes a convergent cone and a divergent cone with a throat therebetween. At the outlet side of the sample orifice 22 is a first bulk- stream line 24 which fluidly connects the sample orifice 22 with a pulsation da pener 26. The dampener 26 is located in the sample path downstream of the sample orifice 22 but upstream of the sample analyzer (not shown) . A second bulkstream line 28 connects the dampener 26 to a vacuum pump 30. The dampener 26 dampens or smooths pulsations produced by the pump 30. The exhaust sample inlet line 16, the prefil¬ ter 18, the prefilter outlet line 20, and the sample orifice 22 define a sample fluid path, generally illus- trated as 32. The first bulkstream line 24, the pulsa¬ tion dampener 26, and the second bulkstream line 28 define a bulkstream path generally illustrated as 33. A quantity of pollutant-free diluent gas (such as nitrogen or air) is introduced into the sample path 32 at a fluid junction 34, which is a point that is downstream of the sample orifice 22. A source of gas, generally illustrated as 36, provides the diluent necessary for proper operation of the apparatus 10. A key feature of the present invention is the ability to control the dilution ratio by utilizing a pressure relay or regulator on the diluent. An emission analyzer typically requires between four to ten cubic feet per hour to operate. Because the typical emissions analysis system may comprise seven or eight analyzers, the total flow rate requirements may reach 45 to 50 cubic feet per hour. For gasoline-fueled engines, the optimum dilution ratio is approximately 8:1, this being defined as eight parts diluent to one part exhaust gas. The diluent gas is delivered to a pressure regulator 38 via a first diluent connecting line 40. The diluent pressure regulator 38 reduces the nitrogen or air from the source of gas 36 to a working level of pressure. A second diluent connecting line 42 connects the diluent pressure regulator 38 to a diluent pneumatic relay 44. A pressure gauge 45 is provided on the line 42 to indicate diluent supply pressure. A third diluent connecting line 46 is fitted between the diluent pneu¬ matic relay 44 to a diluent critical flow orifice or critical flow venturi 48. A fourth diluent connecting line 50 fluidly connects the diluent orifice 48 to the first bulkstream line 24 at the fluid junction 34 . The first, second, third and fourth diluent connecting lines 40, 42, 46 and 50, respectively, combined with the pressure regulator 38 and the diluent pneumatic relay 44, respectively, the pressure gauge 45 and the diluent orifice or venturi 48 define a diluent path, generally illustrated as 54. A pressure reference line 56 connects the diluent pneumatic relay 44 with the pre¬ filter outlet line 20 at a fluid junction 58 at a point that is upstream of the sample orifice 22. The diluent pneumatic relay 44 senses the pressure at the inlet of the sample orifice 22 through line 56 and controls the pressure at the inlet side of the diluent orifice 48 such that it is equal to the sample pressure entering the sample orifice 22. The diluent pneumatic relay 44, illustrated in sectional view in Figure 2, is a modified version of a known pressure regulator, such as Model 63SD Flow Controller sold by Moore Products. This relay is critical in that it controls the diluent pressure at the inlet to the dilution orifice 48 so that it is at the same pressure as the exhaust sample. The relay 44 includes a body 58 having an upper body half 60 and a lower body half 61. The lower body half 61 has a diluent gas inlet 62 and a diluent gas outlet 64 formed therein. A diaphragm 68 includes a downward-depending stem 70 having a valve member 72. The member 72 is selectively movable off a seat 74, and, when so moved, allows gas to pass between the inlet 62 and the outlet 64. The pressure of the gas entering the reference inlet 66 controls movement of the diaphragm 68 and, consequently, flow of the diluent gas through the relay 44. (The above-mentioned Model 63SD has been modified by the removal of a spring [not shown] from between the diaphragm 68 and the inner wall of the upper half of the body 60.) The pump 30 provides appropriate vacuum to establish the flow of the sample gas through the sample path 32, the diluent path 54, and the bulkstream path 33. The throats of the sample and diluent orifices 22 and 48, respectively, are sized in order to properly control the flows of the exhaust gas and the diluent gas. Preferably, the throat diameter of these orifices range from 0.1 mm to 1.5 mm. Generally, the inlet and outlet pressures to and from the orifices 22 and 48 are controlled to force gas to flow at a sonic velocity (the critical flow) . The flow-through of the orifices 22 and 48 is determined according to the following formula: Cri tical flow- through - c x p where: C is a constant of proportionality; P is the absolute pressure at the inlet of the orifice; and T is the absolute temperature at the inlet. So long as the absolute pressures at the inlet and outlet of the critical flow orifices 22 and 48 satisfy the relationship defined by: critical flow (sonic velocity) is present through the orifices. P 2 is the absolute pressure at the outlet from a given orifice; x is the absolute pressure at the inlet to a given orifice; and K is the ratio of the specific heat at constant pressure to the specific heat at constant volume for the gases flowing through the orifices (K is termed "adiabatic exponent") . See John K. Vennard, Elementary Fluid Mechanics, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1961, pages 9, 10, 157. According to the preferred embodiment, the inlet pressure to the diluent orifice 48 is controlled to a pressure equal to the pressure at the inlet of the sample orifice 22. The pressure at the inlet of the orifice 22 may typically range between -1 p.s.i.g. and 4 p.s.i.g. Because the sample and diluent orifices 22 and 48, respectively, exit into the common bulkstream path 33, equal pressure drops are produced across the two orifices 22 and 48, even during transient sample pressure events. Accordingly, at all times the flow rates through the two orifices 22 and 48 are at a constant ratio, preferably in the range of approximately 8 parts diluent to 1 part exhaust sample. To assist in assuring constant volume ratios and to circumvent dilution ratio variations, the orific¬ es 22 and 48 are maintained at a constant elevated temperature (typically between 160-180 degrees F.), thus eliminating the possibility that the orifices 22 and 48 operate at different temperatures. An oven 80, illus¬ trated by broken lines, is provided for this purpose. The oven 80 includes an extension sleeve 82 and further includes a source of heat 84 (such as a heating coil) and an air bath stirrer 86 (such as a fan) for evenly circulating the warm air within the interior of the oven 80. In addition to maintaining the orifices 22 and 48 at substantially equal elevated temperatures, the provision of the oven 80 also assures that the tempera¬ ture of the exhaust gas sample is maintained at a level which is above the dew point of exhaust gas. In engine exhaust, water is present in the exhaust as a combustion product of fuel. The water vapor in the exhaust would ordinarily condense if the exhaust gas were simply cooled to ambient air temperature before analysis, an undesirable condition in that the condensed water interferes with the analysis and, in addition, would undesirably remove some of the pollutants (such as N0 2 ) before analysis. The present system of maintaining the sample at a temperature above the dew point until after dilution (the sample and diluent gases are combined at the junction 34 which is situated within the oven 80) coupled with using a dry diluent gas avoids this prob- lem. Dilution of the sample exhaust gas reduces the dew point to below ambient temperature. Once dilution is completed, the bulkstream gas exits the oven 80 and is allowed to cool to ambient temperature prior to analy¬ sis. To determine the working dilution ratio (the ratio of sample flow rate plus diluent flow rate divided by sample flow rate) established by the orifices 22 and 48, a calibration system, indicated generally as 90, is provided. The system 90 includes a calibration gas source 92, a pressure regulator 94 connected to the gas source 92 by a first line 96, a critical flow orifice 98 connected to the pressure regulator 94 by a second line 100, and a solenoid valve 102 connected with the criti¬ cal flow orifice 98 by a third line 104. The solenoid valve 102 is connected to the sample inlet line 16 at a junction 106 by a fourth calibration line 108 at a point upstream from the prefilter 18. A pressure indicator 109 is fitted to the second line 100. A direct line 110 is provided between the source 92 and the analyzer (not shown) . By opening the solenoid valve 102 and with an excess flow rate of calibrating gas (in excess of what the apparatus 10 actually draws from the exhaust pipe 14) , the calibrating gas flows into the sample orifice 22 and excess calibrating gas "overflows" through the sample inlet line 16 and into the exhaust pipe 14. This floods the inlet side of the sample orifice 22 with calibration gas and assures that a 100% concentration of calibrating gas is passing through the orifice 22. Thereafter, the calibrating gas concentration is diluted by the set ratio created by the two orifices 22 and 48. The diluted calibrating gas can then be analyzed. By allowing a quantity of undiluted calibrating gas to flow directly from the source 92 through the calibration line 110 to the analyzer for analysis, the undiluted concen¬ tration is determined. The ratio of these two concen¬ trations establishes the operating-dilution ratio of the system. An alternate embodiment of the present inven¬ tion is set forth in Figure 3, where an apparatus for providing diluent gas to an exhaust emission analyzer is depicted and is identified generally by the reference number 10' . The apparatus 10' is substantially identi- cal to the apparatus 10 shown in Figure 1 and described in relation thereto, but includes a sample flow control valve 112 in lieu of the sample orifice 22 of Figure 1 and a diluent flow control valve 114 in lieu of the diluent critical flow orifice 48. The flow control valve may be adjusted manually or electronically. Calibration and operation of the apparatus 10' is substantially identical with that of the apparatus 10. The arrangement of the present invention provides reliable, controllable, and accurate sample- diluent ratio control. In addition, the system de¬ scribed above is effective within a wide range of exhaust pressures. Tests conducted have demonstrated that the exhaust pressure may be quickly varied from near-atmospheric pressure with the dilution ratio being accurately maintained. Those skilled in the art can now appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad teachings of the present invention can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this invention has been described in connection with particular examples there¬ of, the true scope of the invention should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the draw¬ ings, specification and following claims.

Claims: What Is Claimed Is: 1. An apparatus for diluting an exhaust gas sample from the exhaust system of an engine for analysis by an exhaust emission analyzer, the apparatus compris- ing: an exhaust gas sampling line having first and second ends, said first end adapted to be fluidly connected to the exhaust system of the engine; an exhaust gas sampling line device fitted to said exhaust gas sampling line; a source of substantially pollutant-free diluting gas; a diluent line having first and second ends, said first end being connected to said source of pollu- tant-free diluting gas; a diluent line device fitted to said diluent line, said exhaust gas sampling line device and said diluent line device being configured so as to produce equal pressure drops thereacross and to assure a sub- stantially constant ratio of sample gas-to-diluting gas volume through said exhaust gas sampling line and said diluent line; a diluted gas outlet line having first and second ends, said first end adapted to be connected to the exhaust emission analyzer; a fluid junction, said second ends of said exhaust sampling line, said diluent line, and said diluent gas outlet line being connected to said fluid junction; and means for drawing diluted gas through said exhaust sampling line, said diluent line, and said diluted gas outlet line. 2. The apparatus for diluting an exhaust gas sample of Claim 1, wherein said exhaust sampling line device includes an inlet and said diluent line device includes an inlet, said apparatus further including a diluent pneumatic device fitted to said diluent line for controlling diluent device inlet pressure to be substan¬ tially equal to sample device inlet pressure. 3. The apparatus for diluting an exhaust gas sample of Claim 1, wherein each of said devices is a critical flow orifice. 4. The apparatus for diluting an exhaust gas sample of Claim 1, wherein each of said devices is a critical flow venturi. 5. The apparatus for diluting an exhaust gas sample of Claim 1, wherein each of said devices is a subsonic venturi. 6. The apparatus for diluting an exhaust gas sample of Claim 1, wherein each of said devices is a subsonic orifice. 7. The apparatus for diluting an exhaust gas sample of Claim 1, wherein each of said devices is a flow control valve. 8. The apparatus for diluting an exhaust gas sample of Claim 1, further including a heating oven at least partially enclosing said sampling line, said diluent line, said fluid junction, and said devices. 9. The apparatus for diluting an exhaust gas sample of Claim 1, further including a calibration line for establishing the operating-dilution ratio of said diluting gas to the sample exhaust gas. 10. The apparatus for diluting an exhaust gas sample of Claim 9, further including a source of cali¬ brating gas and wherein said calibration line includes a first line connecting said source of calibrating gas to said sampling line. 11. A method for preparing a sample of exhaust gas for analysis by an exhaust emission analyz¬ er, said method including the steps of: extracting a sample of exhaust gas from the exhaust system of an engine and passing the exhaust gas sample through a sample line and extracting a diluent from a diluent source and passing said diluent through a diluent line while maintaining a volumetric ratio of said exhaust gas sample and said diluent at a substan¬ tially constant rate; introducing said diluent into said exhaust gas sample to obtain a diluted gas; and directing the diluted gas to the exhaust emission analyzer. 12. The method for preparing a sample of exhaust gas according to Claim 11, further including the step of passing the sample of exhaust gas and the diluent through devices which substantially fix a dilution ratio of sample gas-to-diluting gas volume. 13. The method for preparing a sample of exhaust gas according to Claim 11, further including the step of passing the sample of exhaust gas and the diluent through critical flow orifices. 1 . The method for preparing a sample of exhaust gas according to Claim 11, further including the step of passing the sample of exhaust gas and the diluent through critical flow Venturis. 15. The method for preparing a sample of exhaust gas according to Claim 11, further including the step of passing the sample of exhaust gas and the diluent through subsonic flow orifices. 16. The method for preparing a sample of exhaust gas according to Claim 11, further including the step of passing the sample of exhaust gas and the diluent through subsonic flow Venturis. 17. The method for preparing a sample of exhaust gas according to Claim 11, further including the step of passing the sample of exhaust gas and the diluent through flow control valves. 18. The method for preparing a sample of exhaust gas according to Claim 11, further including the step of establishing the volumetric ratio between said diluent and said sample of exhaust gas. 19. The method for preparing a sample of exhaust gas according to Claim 18, further including the step of calibrating the exhaust emission analyzer in response to said established volumetric ratio. 20. The method for preparing a sample of exhaust gas according to Claim 11, further including the step of heating said diluent and said sample of exhaust gas prior to and during dilution. 21. The method for preparing a sample of exhaust gas according to Claim 11, further including the step of controlling the pressure of said diluting so that it is substantially at the same pressure as said exhaust sample.

Inventors: DAGEFORDE ALLEN F, HARVEY R NEAL, DAGEFORDE, ALLEN, F., HARVEY, R., NEAL
Applicants: HORIBA INSTR INC, HORIBA INSTRUMENTS, INC.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: G01N1
IPC codes: G01N1, G01N33