Subsequently, the Institute has provided domestic, European, Japanese, and other engine manufacturers with certification assistance, engine and emission control development, and determination of deterioration factors. Additional diesel and multiple-fuel transient testing facilities are under development. Engine break-in and durability test facilities are also available to maximize program efficiency. All SwRI transient emission test cells meet EPA and California specifications for heavy-duty diesel or gasoline engine certification. The EPA defines particulate as all material collected on a fluorocarbon-coated glass fiber filter at or below 125 degrees F. SwRI weighs filters before and after the transient test to assess particulate emissions.
Condensed water is excluded by using exhaust dilution techniques.
Because most HD studies require particulate emission measurement, SwRI developed the capability to obtain several particulate samples simultaneously. Double-dilution techniques, coupled with special filter holders, provide representative diesel particulate samples for characterization. Sequential sampling separates particulate by phase of operation. During transient tests, SwRI focuses on acquiring representative samples of engine exhaust. Although regulated emissions of total hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, total particulate, and smoke opacity are of prime concern, representative emission samples are analyzed for a variety of other compounds.