Title: Measuring of exhaust gas emissions using absorption spectroscopy

Authors: Eamonn Hawe, Gerard Dooly, Colin Fitzpatrick, Paul Chambers, Elfed Lewis, W.Z. Zhao, T. Sun, K.T.V. Grattan, M. Degner, H. Ewald, S. Lochmann, G. Bramman, C. Wei, D. Hitchen, J. Lucas, A. Al-Shamma'a, E. Merlone-Borla, P. Faraldi, M. Pidria

Addresses: Optical Fibre Sensors Group, Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Limerick, Ireland. ' Optical Fibre Sensors Group, Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Limerick, Ireland. ' Optical Fibre Sensors Group, Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Limerick, Ireland. ' Optical Fibre Sensors Group, Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Limerick, Ireland. ' Optical Fibre Sensors Group, Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Limerick, Ireland. ' School of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, City University, Northampton Square, London EC1V 0HB, UK. ' School of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, City University, Northampton Square, London EC1V 0HB, UK. ' School of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, City University, Northampton Square, London EC1V 0HB, UK. ' Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Institute of General Electrical Engineering, 2 Albert-Einstein-Street, Rostock D-18051, Germany. ' Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Institute of General Electrical Engineering, 2 Albert-Einstein-Street, Rostock D-18051, Germany. ' Hochschule Wismar, Postfach 1210, Wismar 23952, Germany. ' Hochschule Wismar, Postfach 1210, Wismar 23952, Germany. ' Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK. ' Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK. ' Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK. ' Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK. ' Emissions Aftertreatment Group, Advanced Process Technologies, Centro Ricerche Fiat, Strada Torino 50, Orbassano 10043, TO, Italy. ' Emissions Aftertreatment Group, Advanced Process Technologies, Centro Ricerche Fiat, Strada Torino 50, Orbassano 10043, TO, Italy. ' Emissions Aftertreatment Group, Advanced Process Technologies, Centro Ricerche Fiat, Strada Torino 50, Orbassano 10043, TO, Italy

Abstract: This paper describes an optical fibre sensor for the detection of NO_x (NO₂ and NO) and CO₂ in the exhaust system of a road vehicle. The measurement is based on a free path interaction zone which is interrogated using UV and NIR light guiding optical fibres and collimated lenses. Results are presented in the absorption spectra of the gases in the UV region for the NO_x gases and NIR region for CO₂. These demonstrate that using this method it is feasible to identify the individual CO₂, NO and NO₂ species as well as other gases in the exhaust system. Measurement of concentrations to the level of ten|s parts per million (ppm) have been demonstrated for the NOx_x gases.

Keywords: optical fibre sensors; gas sensors; ultraviolet; infrared; absorption spectroscopy; exhaust gas emissions; nitrogen dioxide; nitrogen oxide; carbon dioxide; vehicle emissions; air pollution; emissions measurement.

DOI: 10.1504/IJISTA.2007.014125

International Journal of Intelligent Systems Technologies and Applications, 2007 Vol.3 No.1/2, pp.33 - 51

Published online: 22 Jun 2007 *

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