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An investigation has been carried out to examine the influence of up to 300 MPa injection pressure on engine performance and emissions. Experiments were performed on a 4 cylinder, 4 valve / cylinder, 4.5 liter John Deere diesel engine using the Ricardo Twin Vortex Combustion System (TVCS). The study was conducted by varying the injection pressure, Start of Injection (SOI), Variable Geometry Turbine (VGT) vane position and a wide range of EGR rates covering engine out NOx levels between 0.3 g/kWh to 2.5 g/kWh. A structured Design of Experiment approach was used to set up the experiments, develop empirical models and predict the optimum results for a range of different scenarios. Substantial fuel consumption benefits were found at the lowest NOx levels using 300 MPa injection pressure. At higher NOx levels the impact was nonexistent. In a separate investigation a Cambustion DMS-500 fast particle spectrometer, was used to sample and analyze the exhaust gas.

This paper describes the results of a series of tests on a heavy-duty truck diesel engine using conventional and low viscosity lubricants. The objectives were to explore the impact of reducing lubricant viscosity on wear, friction and fuel consumption. The radiotracing Thin Layer Activation method was used to make on-line measurements of wear at the cylinder liner, top piston ring, connecting rod small end bush and intake cam lobe. The engine was operated under a wide range of conditions (load, speed and temperature) and with lubricants of several different viscosity grades. Results indicate the relationship between lubricant viscosity and wear at four critical locations. Wear at other locations was assessed by analysis of wear metals and post test inspection. The fuel consumption was then measured on the same engine with the same lubricants. Results indicate the relationship between oil viscosity and fuel consumption under a wide range of operating conditions.

By early 2007, all major manufacturers of light-duty diesel vehicles are marketing models equipped with diesel particulate filters (DPFs). However, there is still a lack of understanding of the particles emitted when the DPF undergoes regeneration. This paper focuses on measuring particle emissions of a representative light-duty diesel vehicle equipped with DPF and employing a fuel-borne catalyst (FBC) to aid regeneration. Particulate Matter (PM) and non-volatile particle number emissions are measured throughout testing according to the Particle Measurement Programme (PMP) proposals. In addition, an Engine Exhaust Particle Sizer (EEPS) connected directly to the CVS is used to give real time size distributions of both volatile and non-volatile particles. The paper focuses on particle emissions during regenerating New European Driving Cycles (NEDCs).

The market share of Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) vehicles has been increasing, promoted by its positive contribution to the overall fleet fuel economy improvement. It has however been reported that this type of engine is emitting more ultrafine particles than the Euro 6c Particle Number (PN) limit of 6·1011 particles/km that will be introduced in Europe as of September 2017 in parallel with the Real Driving Emission (RDE) procedure. The emissions performance of a Euro 6b GDI passenger car was measured, first in the OEM build without a Gasoline Particulate Filter (GPF) and then as a demonstrator with a coated GPF in the underfloor position. Regulated emissions were measured on the European regulatory test cycles NEDC and WLTC and in real-world conditions with Portable Emissions Measurement Systems (PEMS) according to the published European RDE procedure (Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/427 and 2016/646).

The impact of lubricant sulphur and phosphorus levels on the formation of nucleation mode particles was explored in a light duty diesel vehicle operating over the New European Drive Cycle (NEDC). All measurements were undertaken using a Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS), sampling from a conventional Constant Volume Sampler (CVS) system. Rigorous sampling system and vehicle conditioning procedures were applied to eliminate oil carry-over and nanoparticle artifact formation. An initial vehicle selection process was undertaken on vehicles representing three fuel injection strategies, namely; distributor pump, common rail and unit injector. The vehicles met Euro III specifications and were all equipped with oxidation catalysts. Idle and low load stability were key requirements, since these conditions are the most significant in terms of their propensity to generate nucleation mode particles.

This paper describes a practical approach used within the UK contribution to the UNECE PMP study in adopting some of the recommendations stated in the draft 2007 regulations for the measurement of particulate mass emissions from heavy-duty diesel engines in the US. This approach was named “2007PM” but the intention was to align rather than fully comply with the draft requirements for the US. In the PMP test work, four main changes were made to the standard European method of particulate emissions measurement (SPM). These were adopted as the 2007PM method. These were the application of a cyclone pre-classifier to 2007PM - with a 50% cut-size at 2.5μm, the use of a single 47mm filter rather than primary and back-up filters, close control of the filter face temperature to 47°C +/-5°C by heating of the dilution air and an increased filter face velocity. Measurements were predominantly made from aerosols generated by engines equipped with Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs).

An Iveco Cursor 8 heavy-duty Diesel engine (7.8L, 6 cylinder) meeting Euro III emission regulations and equipped with a catalyst based passively regenerating Diesel particulate filter (CB-DPF) system, was used to investigate the impact of lubricant formulation on exhaust emissions. Measurements of both regulated and unregulated emissions were made during ESC and ETC cycles undertaken during a strictly controlled experimental protocol. Testing was carried out using ultra low sulphur, Swedish Class 1 Diesel fuel and a range of lubricant formulations. No significant effects of lubricant composition were observed on regulated gaseous emissions. However, the number of nucleation mode particles appeared to be both drive cycle and lubricant formulation dependent. Test methodology proved to be key; with engine, exhaust and dilution tunnel preconditioning and test order a major influence on ESC particle emissions.

In Europe, the development and implementation of new regulatory test procedures including the chassis dynamometer (CD) based World Harmonised Light Duty Test Procedure (WLTP) and the Real Driving Emissions (RDE) procedure, has been driven by the close scrutiny that real driving emissions and fuel consumption from passenger cars have come under in recent times. This is due to a divergence between stated certification performance and measured on-road performance, and has been most pointed in the case of NOx (oxides of nitrogen) emissions from diesel cars. The RDE test is certainly more relevant than CD test cycles, but currently certification RDE cycles will not necessarily include the most extreme low speed congested or low temperature conditions which are likely to be more challenging for NOx after-treatment systems.

The latest generation of internal combustion engines may emit significant levels of sub-23 nm particles. The main objective of the Horizon 2020 “DownToTen” project was to develop a robust methodology and provide policy recommendations towards the particle number (PN) emissions measurements in the sub-23 nm region. In order to achieve this target, a new portable exhaust particle sampling system (PEPS) was developed, being capable of measuring exhaust particles down to at least 10 nm under real-world conditions. The main design target was to build a system that is compatible with current PMP requirements and is characterized by minimized losses in the sub-23 nm region, high robustness against artefacts and high flexibility in terms of different PN modes investigation, i.e. non-volatile, volatile and secondary particles.