The Influence of Cycle-to-Cycle Hydrocarbon Emissions on Cyclic NO:NO2 Ratio From a HSDI Diesel Engine

Abstract

Knowledge of the NO:NO2 ratio emitted from a diesel engine is particularly important for ensuring the highest performance of SCR NOx aftertreatment systems. As real driving emissions from vehicles increase in importance, the need to understand the NO:NO2 ratio emitted from a diesel engine during transient operation similarly increases. In this study, crank-angle resolved NO and NO2 measurements using fast response CLD (for NO) and a new fast LIF instrument (for NO2) have been taken from a single cylinder diesel engine at three different speed and load points including a point with and without EGR. In addition, crank-angle resolved unburned hydrocarbon (UHC) measurements have been taken simultaneously using a fast FID. A variation of the NO:NO2 ratio through the engine's exhaust stroke is also observed indicative of in-cylinder stratification of NO and NO2. A new link between the NO:NO2 ratio and the UHC emissions from an individual engine cycle is observed - the results show that where there are higher levels of UHC emissions in the first part of the exhaust stroke (blowdown), the proportion of NO2 emitted from that cycle is increased. This effect is observed and analysed across all test points and with and without EGR. The performance of the new fast LIF analyser has also been evaluated, in comparison with the previous state-of-the-art and standard "slow" emissions measurement apparatus showing a reduction in the noise of the measurement by an order of magnitude.

A negative emission internal combustion engine vehicle?

“…For a given vehicle then, it is unknown what the NO:NO 2 ratio in the exhaust is. However, NO generally oxidises further to NO 2 in the atmosphere in a timescale of order hours (Leach et al, 2021b). Furthermore, atmospheric measurements of NO are rare, even at roadside, but measurements of NO 2 are widespread.…”