E.O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
APPLICATION OF TECHNOLOGY:
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20080921215848im_/http://lbl.gov/Tech-Transfer/images/tech_images/1626_inventors.jpg) |
Arlon Hunt and Ian Shepherd of the Environmental
Energy Technologies Division measure particles in exhaust from
a diesel-powered electrical generator (under hood at left) running
under various loads. They developed the Diesel Particle Scatterometer
with their colleague Mary Quinby-Hunt. |
- Rapid, in situ measurements of the real-time size distribution
and optical properties of exhaust from both new, cleaner and older
diesel engines
- For use by engine manufacturers, service facilities, and possibly
for state and federal emissions compliance.
ADVANTAGES:
- Rapid response allows for the measurement of particle characteristics
during changing loads and provides data on real-time particle
loading during individual firing events.
- Detector output is digitized and analyzed by the software developed
for the instrument
ABSTRACT:
There is a growing body of evidence for the deterious health effects
of diesel exhaust emissions. Airborne particulates are known to
constitute a major human health risk. Recent epidemiological studies
report that particles with diameters of less than 2.5 µm are
most dangerous a fact of particular relevance to diesel emissions
that are principally in this range. Further, these particles are
known to have a profound effect on visibility, and constitute a
major source of carbonaceous particulates in populated areas.
Arlon Hunt of Berkeley Lab has developed a dedicated instrument
for real-time sizing of diesel exhaust particles to study particle
characteristics as a function of engine type, load, RPM, fuel composition,
and post-combustion processes (aftertreatment, dilution, etc.)
Berkeley Labs new approach to particle characterization,
the Diesel Particle Scatterometer (DPS), is based on simultaneous
fitting of three angle-dependent Mueller matrix elements for polarized
light scattering. The DPS performs rapid, in situ measurements of
the size distribution and optical properties of exhaust from both
new, cleaner and older diesel engines. The new instrument shows
good sensitivity and discrimination of the diesel exhaust for various
running conditions and using different dilution ratios.
An important advantage of the instrument is the rapid response
time; it has been tested at greater than 1 Hz data acquisition rate.
This rapid response allows for the measurement of particle characteristics
during changing loads and provides data on real-time particle loading
during individual firing events.
The detector output is digitized and analyzed by the software developed
for the instrument. The three angle-dependent matrix elements are
plotted on the computer monitor and are fit by modeled calculations
using a Levenburg-Marquardt optimization program. The result is
plotted as a size distribution and the refractive and absorptive
optical properties of the particles. The absorptive component of
the index of refraction gives a measure of the graphitic carbon
content of the exhaust particles.
Berkeley Lab seeks partners to further develop and commercialize
the new DPS to provide the means for particle characterization for
engine manufacturers, service facilities, and possibly for state
and federal emissions compliance.
STATUS: Available for licensing
REFERENCE NUMBER: CR-1626
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CONTACT:
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Technology
Transfer Department
E.O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
MS 90-1070
Berkeley, CA 94720
(510) 486-6467 FAX: (510) 486-6457
TTD@lbl.gov |
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