Characteristics of sub-10 nm particle emissions from in-use commercial aircraft observed at Narita International Airport

Abstract

Abstract. The characterization of ultrafine particle emissions from jet aircraft equipped with turbofan engines, which are commonly used in civil aviation, is an important issue in the assessment of the impacts of aviation on climate and human health. We conducted field observations of aerosols and carbon dioxide (CO2) near a runway at Narita International Airport, Japan, in February 2018. We used an ultrafine condensation particle counter (UCPC) and a condensation particle counter (CPC) with unheated and 350 ∘C heated operation modes to investigate the contributions of sub-10 nm size ranges to the total and the non-volatile particle number concentrations. The performance of the 350 ∘C heated mode was tested in the laboratory to verify the consistency with existing methods for non-volatile particle measurements. We also used a scanning mobility particle sizer with unheated and 350 ∘C heated modes and an engine exhaust particle sizer for the measurements of particle number size distributions. Spiked increases in the particle number concentrations and CO2 mixing ratios were observed to be associated with the directions of wind from the runway, which can be attributed to diluted aircraft exhaust plumes. We estimated the particle number emission indices (EIs) for discrete take-off plumes using the UCPC, CPC, and CO2 data. The median values of the total and the non-volatile particle number EIs for diameters larger than 2.5 nm as derived from the UCPC data were found to be 1.1×1017 and 5.7×1015 kg per fuel, respectively. More than half the particle number EIs were in the size range smaller than 10 nm for both the total and the non-volatile particles in most of the cases analyzed in this study. The significance of sub-10 nm size ranges for the total particles in the diluted plumes was qualitatively consistent with previous studies, but that for the non-volatile particles was unexpected. Possible factors affecting the similarities and differences compared with the previous findings are discussed.

Comparison of Particle Sizers and Counters with Soot-like, Salt, and Silver Particles

“…Instruments that provide real-time size distributions are the electrical low-pressure Atmosphere 2022, 13, 1675 2 of 20 impactor (ELPI) (Dekati Ltd., Kangasala, Finland) [17], the differential mobility sizer (DMS) (DMS500, Cambustion Ltd., Cambridge, UK) [18], and the engine exhaust particle sizer (EEPS) (model 3090, TSI Inc., Shoreview, MN, USA) [19]. Vehicle or aircraft exhaust, indoor or outdoor ambient air, or workplace environment measurements with such instruments are very common [20][21][22][23]. Many studies, however, raised concerns regarding the accuracy of such instruments measuring aerosol with not-well-defined properties, such as from vehicles or ambient air [24][25][26][27].…”

Elemental analysis of aircraft engine smoke number filter samples with micro-PIXE

“…This is thought to lead to the evaluation of jet engine. Also, the elemental composition data of the SN filter will be useful for analyzing the physicochemical data of atmospheric particles near the runway [11][12][13][14][15] . In this study, we analyzed the elemental composition of individual particles of jet engine exhaust PM using micro PIXE, but there are only about 10 micro PIXE analysis facilities in the world, and the analysis cost is extremely high compared to other multi-element analysis.…”

Properties and Processing of Aviation Exhaust Aerosol at Cruise Altitude Observed from the IAGOS-CARIBIC Flying Laboratory

“…All available studies on the aerosol particle properties within the aircraft exhaust plume are based on measurements in engine testing facilities at ground level, , at airports − or on a few specialized research aircraft missions at cruise altitude. , All of these types of measurements are important for the analysis of aircraft exhaust aerosol chemical and physical properties and have their individual advantages and disadvantages. When measuring the exhaust aerosol at ground testing facilities or at airports, the aircraft engines are running under very different environmental conditions (e.g., air pressure and temperature) compared to cruising altitude.…”

“…All available studies on the aerosol particle properties within the aircraft exhaust plume are based on measurements in engine testing facilities at ground level, 20 , 21 at airports 22 − 24 or on a few specialized research aircraft missions at cruise altitude. 14 , 13 All of these types of measurements are important for the analysis of aircraft exhaust aerosol chemical and physical properties and have their individual advantages and disadvantages.…”