Engine Qualification Testing
In the transportation sector, innovative technologies have first been introduced to curb the emissions of greenhouse gas (GHG) or ozone depleting gas. Now, at a time when the demand of energy for transport is still growing, governing authorities are setting new goals to the automotive industry and new pollutants are added to the scope of emission standards in multiple markets over the world. LumaSense offers advanced gas measurement solutions which answer some of the new and challenging analytical needs resulting from the new regulation targets.
The Challenge
The introduction of biofuel-gasoline blends or of catalytic converter on diesel exhausts have had positive impacts on emission levels of respectively GHG and NOx (Nitrogen Oxides). However, they raised new challenges due to some “side effects”.
New fuel blends can result in higher ethanol emissions through permeation/evaporative processes, or in higher aldehyde content in the exhaust. In both cases, there are legitimate concerns with the increase of those toxic organic substances in the environment. Catalytic converters can also generate undesired emissions: ammonia and nitrous oxides (a potent GHG).
New emission regulations and the subsequent industry standards have included those additional pollutants in their scope. Because they have to be quantified at trace levels (ppm is typical), new test methods have been developed in the R&D department of the main industry stakeholders. These tests are required in the certification and registration process before the commercialization of new vehicles on a given market.
Our Solution
Photoacoustic IR spectroscopy – as implemented in our multi-gas monitor INNOVA 1314i or INNOVA 3433i – is one innovative measurement technique that has been successfully benchmarked to perform quantitative measurement of the trace pollutants.
For example, the photoacoustic technique was approved in the US by the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resource Board (CARB) for the direct measurement of ethanol in SHED evaporative tests.
Detection limits for trace pollutants of interest:
Ethanol | C2H5OH | 0.03 ppm |
Formaldehyde | CH2O | 0.04 ppm |
Acetaldehyde | C2H4O | 0.07 ppm |
Ammonia | NH3 | 0.2 ppm |
Nitrous oxide | N2O | 0.02 ppm |
Your Benefits
- Easiest integration: direct sampling, not requiring complex impinger benches
- Operational advantages: In-situ & real time measurements, calibration “free”, no consumable nor carrier gas needed, no need of highly qualified labor
- Stable, reliable, and repeatable measurements
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Key Products for this Application

Unlike measurement methods requiring impinge benches and remote laboratory analysis, the 3433i performs direct reading inside the chamber. It can be integrated in a cabinet along with the control system which regulates the environment inside the SHED chamber.
