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Laboratory Validation of Four Black Carbon Measurement Methods for Determination of the Nonvolatile Particulate Matter (nvPM) Mass Emissions from Commercial Aircraft Engines
Citation:
Kinsey, J. AND J. Pavlovic. Laboratory Validation of Four Black Carbon Measurement Methods for Determination of the Nonvolatile Particulate Matter (nvPM) Mass Emissions from Commercial Aircraft Engines. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-17/190, 2017.
Impact/Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of four candidate black carbon (BC) measurement techniques as compared to the filter gravimetric technique using a laboratory soot generator. The results of the study will be used by the SAE International E-31 Committee for possible use in determining nonvolatile particulate matter (nvPM) mass emissions during commercial aircraft engine certification.
Description:
Four candidate black carbon (BC) measurement techniques have been identified by the SAE International E-31 Committee for possible use in determining nonvolatile particulate matter (nvPM) mass emissions during commercial aircraft engine certification. These techniques are carbon burn-off, multi-angle absorption photometry (MAAP), laser-induced incandescence (LII), and photoacoustic soot sensing (PASS). This study compared these techniques to the Teflon filter gravimetric method while sampling exhaust from a laboratory soot generator (Jing MiniCAST) at five target concentrations ranging from 10 to 1,000 µg/m3. At least six replicate tests were conducted at each target concentration using a specially designed flow tunnel system equipped with a single probe and series of sample splitters. The four BC measurement techniques were found to be highly correlated with the organic carbon–corrected Teflon reference filter values and with each other for target PM concentrations ranging from 10 to 1000 µg/m3. Correlation coefficients (R2 values) were generally 0.98 or greater depending on test conditions. Due to the high correlations observed among the various methods, there is reason to believe that laser induced incandescence (LII), photoacoustic soot sensing (PASS), and multi-angle absorption photometry (MAAP) can provide equivalent results if calibrated against a common BC source.