Exhaust Gas Analysis System with Temperature Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional exhaust gas analysis systems fail to accurately measure particulate matter, particularly soot and soluble organic fraction (SOF), due to condensation issues and the need for large-scale, expensive systems that cannot measure the total amount of particulate matter including sulfate.

Innovation Solution

An exhaust gas analysis system with a temperature control mechanism that keeps the first analyzer at a high temperature to prevent condensation of volatile components, allowing accurate measurement of nonvolatile components like soot, and a second analyzer at a lower temperature to measure both nonvolatile and volatile components, including sulfate, without requiring separate soot and SOF measurement systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If exhaust gas is cooled in the pipe to the DCS and in the DCS, then the SOF contained in the exhaust gas is condensed, but this causes inaccurate soot analysis

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexhaust gas temperatureVSAvoidsoot analysis accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The exhaust gas analysis is divided into two separate measurement paths: one for measuring total particulate matter (including SOF and soot) and another for measuring only non-volatile particulate matter (soot). By segmenting the measurement functions, the system can accurately measure soot in one path while capturing total particulates in the other, then calculate SOF by difference without suffering from condensation interference in a single measurement system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the temperature parameter of the exhaust gas stream by providing heating means to maintain the exhaust gas temperature above the dew point temperature throughout the measurement path. This parameter change prevents condensation of volatile organic fractions, ensuring accurate total particulate matter measurement without loss of volatile components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If both SOF measuring system and soot measuring system are included, then both SOF and soot can be measured, but the system becomes large-scale and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement capabilityVSAvoidsystem scale
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single diffusion charger sensor is designed to perform multiple measurement functions by utilizing different exhaust gas streams: one stream measures total particulate matter (SOF + soot) while another stream measures only non-volatile particulate matter (soot). This multi-functional approach allows the same hardware component to provide both measurement capabilities, eliminating the need for separate dedicated systems for SOF and soot measurement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a duplicate exhaust gas sampling path that branches from the main sampling line. One copy of the exhaust gas stream is heated and directed to measure total particulates, while another copy is cooled or maintained at lower temperature to measure only non-volatile particulates. This copying approach allows simultaneous measurement of different particulate fractions using identical sensor technology.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Measurement precision

If conventional configuration is used, then SOF and soot can be measured, but the total amount of particulate matter including sulfate cannot be measured

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparticulate matter analysis accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement scope
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the temperature conditions of different exhaust gas streams to enable measurement of different particulate matter components. By controlling the temperature of the first exhaust gas stream to remain above the dew point, the system can capture and measure all particulate matter including volatile components and sulfate, providing comprehensive measurement capability that adapts to different measurement requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables accurate analysis of various particulate matter in exhaust gas without increasing system size or cost, allowing for real-time measurement of nonvolatile and volatile components, including sulfate, by synchronizing analysis results from both analyzers.

Implementation Method 1

a temperature control mechanism 10 that controls the first analyzer 20a to a high temperature

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

the exhaust gas guided to the first analyzer is not cooled, and a volatile component such as SOF contained in the exhaust gas is not condensed but remains vaporized

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentEP3499214B1Exhaust gas analysis system and exhaust gas analysis method
Publication Date: 2020.09.30 HORIBA LTD
  • EP3499214B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3499214B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3499214B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In order to make it possible to accurately analyze particulate matter contained in exhaust gas without making a system large-scale or expensive, the present invention is adapted to include: an exhaust gas flow path L1 through which exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine is introduced; a branch flow path L2 that branches from the exhaust gas flow path L1; a first analyzer 30a that is provided downstream of a branch point X of the branch flow path L2 in the exhaust gas flow path L1 and measures particulate matter contained in the exhaust gas; a second analyzer 30b that is provided in the branch flow path L2 and measures the particulate matter contained in the exhaust gas; and a temperature control mechanism 10 that controls the temperature of the first analyzer 30a.