Type Approval Research Articles

Analysis of the exhaust emissions from hybrid vehicle during RDE test

The introduction of the Euro 6c emission norm in 2017 resulted in a change of the type approval procedures. The most important of these was the replacement of the NEDC test with WLTC test with different procedures. In addition, the research was extended to include emission tests in real operating conditions (RDE). Such tests are enforced for heavy vehicles since 2014. PEMS apparatus was used for the measurements, which has been used by many research and development centers to carry out exhaust emissions measurements long before the applicable procedures were introduced. The article presents the methodology of conducting RDE measurements in accordance with the requirements defined by the Euro 6c norm. The focus in this case was primarily on the selection of the test route in the Poznań agglomeration. After determining its course, RDE measurements were made for a vehicle with a hybrid drive. The test route parameters have complied with the applicable requirements. All requirements were met and it was possible to analyze the exhaust emissions. The main focus being the determination of exhaust emissions from the entire test and in accordance with the EMROAD method. The CF (Comformity Factor) coefficients were also determined for both methods and compared with the applicable legal values. An analysis of the hybrid drive system operation was carried out, defining the degree of hybridization, which is the portion of the vehicle travel using only the electric motor of the drive system throughout the whole test. All analyzes were carried out in individual sections of the test: urban, rural and motorway.

Fuel consumption and emissions performance under real driving: Comparison between hybrid and conventional vehicles

Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) are perceived to be more energy efficient and less polluting than conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. However, increasing evidence has shown that real-driving emissions (RDE) could be much higher than laboratory type approval limits and the advantages of HEVs over their conventional ICE counterparts under real-driving conditions have not been studied extensively. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the real-driving fuel consumption and pollutant emissions performance of HEVs against their conventional ICE counterparts. Two pairs of hybrid and conventional gasoline vehicles of the same model were tested simultaneously in a novel convoy mode using two portable emission measurement systems (PEMSs), thus eliminating the effect of vehicle configurations, driving behaviour, road conditions and ambient environment on the performance comparison. The results showed that although real-driving fuel consumption for both hybrid and conventional vehicles were 44%–100% and 30%–82% higher than their laboratory results respectively, HEVs saved 23%–49% fuel relative to their conventional ICE counterparts. Pollutant emissions of all the tested vehicles were lower than the regulation limits. However, HEVs showed no reduction in HC emissions and consistently higher CO emissions compared to the conventional ICE vehicles. This could be caused by the frequent stops and restarts of the HEV engines, as well as the lowered exhaust gas temperature and reduced effectiveness of the oxidation catalyst. The findings therefore show that while achieving the fuel reduction target, hybridisation did not bring the expected benefits to urban air quality.

Inter-Laboratory Correlation Exercise with Portable Emissions Measurement Systems (PEMS) on Chassis Dynamometers

The recently introduced Real Driving Emissions (RDE) light-duty vehicle emissions regulation requires testing with Portable Emissions Measurement Systems (PEMS) during type approval and in-service conformity. The studies on the accuracy of PEMS today are limited. An inter-laboratory correlation exercise with PEMS took place in Italy in 2017. Eight laboratories measured exhaust emissions from a Golden Euro 6 gasoline vehicle with a Golden PEMS installed in it, along with the individual lab’s own PEMS, following the regulated laboratory method (bags from the dilution tunnel). The data of the exercise were used to estimate the repeatability and reproducibility of the methodology with PEMS. The statistical analysis estimated reproducibility of 2.9% (bags) to 5.5% (lab PEMS) for CO2, 20–25% for CO (all methods), 23–31% for NOx (all methods), and 29% (tunnel, Golden PEMS) to 39% (lab PEMS) for particle number. The mean differences of the PEMS to the regulated method were ±1.5 g/km (or ±1%) for CO2, <16 mg/km (or <5%) for CO, <4 mg/km (or <11%) for NOx and 1 × 1011 particles/km (40%) for particle number. The results of this study confirm the satisfactory performance of PEMS and the permissible tolerances introduced in RDE regulation.

Impacts of ambient temperature, DPF regeneration, and traffic congestion on NOx emissions from a Euro 6-compliant diesel vehicle equipped with an LNT under real-world driving conditions

A real driving emissions test procedure was introduced as a supplement to the chassis dynamometer test to diminish the discrepancy between on-road emissions and type approval certification emissions. In this study, on-road NOx emissions from a 2.2 L diesel vehicle equipped with a lean NOx trap were measured not by a portable emissions measurement system but by NOx sensors and an exhaust flow meter. This method provides a strategy for analyzing on-road NOx emissions with a measurement system that is relatively cheap, light and simple. The effects of ambient temperature, diesel particulate filter regeneration, traffic congestion, NOx conversion efficiency and uphill/downhill sections on NOx emissions were evaluated by comparing the NOx emissions characteristics using engine-out and lean NOx trap-out NOx sensors. NOx emissions in congested traffic conditions were 29% higher than those in smooth traffic conditions. NOx emissions at 33 °C were 55% higher than those at 27 °C. Additionally, NOx emissions under specific conditions with diesel particulate filter regeneration were 30% higher than those under normal conditions. The average on-road NOx emission factor for all test cases was 7.35, but this value decreased to 5.7 when an ambient temperature corrective factor (1.6) was applied for extended test conditions.

Service experiences Maglev vehicles Shanghai

In the late 1990s thyssenkrupp Transrapid GmbH successfully qualified the Maglev Vehicle TR08 and obtained the type approval certificate. Based on that design, in 2001-2003 three five-car vehicles for the first commercial high speed Maglev Line in Shanghai have been manufactured and set into operation. The VIP-Run took place over 15 years ago and the commercial operation has been running for almost 15 years at great availability.
 The Transrapid system concept of small autonomous redundant electronics based modules facilitates significantly smooth maintenance - diagnosis, testing and system inspection.
 Thanks to intelligent diagnostics, the use of easily interchangeable plug-in units, the dimensioning of the spare parts inventory according to the expected failure rates and the replenishment lead time, the maintenance efforts are still within the forecast range at the beginning of the project. Furthermore, the maintenance concept is essentially unchanged since the beginning.
 There are no special materials that are subject to a potential shortage or price leap, but all according to normal industrial base.
 Thanks to the low level of stress to components on board, most electrical and electronic units are still on-board as original equipment, which are 15 years old and at no end of life is visible.
 But in case of repair or replacement, the challenge is the adaptation to the volatile market of electronic components. This includes the necessary lead-time for adaptive development and qualification, which has to be considered.
 On the side of the vehicle supplier, a small smart team of electronics experts is managing obsolescence and compensates discontinuation.
 The paper tells how it works and appreciates trustful cooperation of the supplier in Europe with the operator in China.

Impact of road grade on real driving emissions from two Euro 5 diesel vehicles

On-road real driving emissions (RDE) testing was used to study the effects of many parameters not taken into account by laboratory testing but which can greatly influence vehicle pollutant emissions. Among these, road grade plays a key role. This paper investigates the effects of positive and negative road grades on the exhaust emissions of two Euro 5 diesel vehicles. Both vehicles were tested in the laboratory on the chassis dynamometer and on the road along a mixed route in Naples (Italy). The circuit includes urban, extra-urban and motorway driving in order to comply with Euro 6 RDE requirements. Laboratory testing aimed to assess emissions during current type approval driving cycles; on-road tests using portable analysers were used to determine real emissions as a function of road gradient. Vehicle Specific Power (VSP) analysis revealed that with respect to positive road grades, negative ones explain a higher share of total VSP. For −4% to +5% road gradients, the percentage variation of carbon dioxide emissions is linearly correlated with variations in slope. The same correlation for nitrogen oxides is vehicle dependent and well explained by a second-order polynomial function.

Comparison of Portable Emissions Measurement Systems (PEMS) with Laboratory Grade Equipment

Real-driving emissions (RDE) testing with portable emissions measurement systems (PEMS) during the type approval and in-service conformity of light-duty vehicles was recently introduced in the European Union legislation. In this paper, three PEMS were compared with laboratory analyzers connected to the tailpipe and the dilution tunnel. The tests were conducted with two Euro 6 vehicles (one gasoline and one diesel) performing the World harmonized Light vehicles Test Cycle (WLTC) and a pre-recorded RDE cycle on a chassis dynamometer. The results showed that the differences of the PEMS gas analyzers compared to the laboratory references were typically within 2% for CO2 and 5% for NOx. The CO2 and NOx mass emissions were within 10% and 15%, respectively, with only a few exceptions. The exhaust flow rate measurements were within 10% at low speeds (urban conditions), and 5% at higher speeds. These results confirm the legislated permitted tolerances and the 2017 PEMS uncertainty estimates.

Comparison of Real Driving Emissions tests

The article presents the issues concerning the specific distance emission test results comparison of the exhaust gases from vehicles with Diesel engines. The tests in real driving conditions included: (in the first stage) the test on the proposed test route, based on the type approval test parameters and (in the second stage) testing in accordance with the European Union guidelines, where the research route was divided into urban, rural and motorway sections. The obtained results – in various test conditions – were used to compare the measured values of specific distance emissions, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides and the particle number. Not performing the road conditions measurements of particulate mass is in line with the requirements of the RDE tests, in which the focus was placed mainly on the assessment of nitrogen oxides and the particle number. The performed tests allowed making a comparison between the specific distance emission test results of exhaust components and the values obtained in the type approval test. These tests were also used to verify the legitimacy of performing full RDE tests and validating the specific distance emission results obtained in the proposed tests.

Pollutant emissions analysis of a hybrid drive bus in a SORT 2 test

The paper presents the results of emission tests of a city bus equipped with a series hybrid drive. The measurements were performed in accordance with the current guidelines of the standardized SORT 2 test (Standardized On-Road Test Cycles 2) reflecting the typical urban driving conditions. The analysis includes gaseous compounds (CO2, CO, THC and NOx). SEMTECH DS mobile device categorized as portable emissions measurement systems was used in the research. The test vehicle operating conditions were evaluated in relation to the operating parameters variability and the drive system. In addition, a comparison of the fuel consumption and travel velocity recorded during the test cycle have been shown. The research object was an 18-meter long city bus with a 6.7 dm3 displacement engine, meeting the current emission standards. The article discusses the issue related to the type approval of buses, which belong to the heavy vehicles group, but they are characterized by very specific operating conditions. Based on the obtained data, the ecological indicators of the tested vehicle were determined and compared with the limits in force in the current Euro VI standard.

Estimating Real-World Emissions of PHEVs in Norway by Combining Laboratory Measurement with User Surveys

The paper presents the results of experimental testing of the exhaust emission and energy consumption of two gasoline plug-in hybrid vehicles in an emission testing laboratory with different drive cycles and drive modes and at summer and winter temperatures. One was a compact vehicle with a type approval electric mode range of 50 km, the other a mid-sized vehicle with an electric mode range of 31 km. Additionally, an online survey of 2065 private plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV) owners investigated the usage pattern of the vehicles. Combining the laboratory tests with the user survey results provided an estimate for the reduction of CO2-emission of PHEVs in use in Norway. The main conclusion is that the PHEV is a vehicle type that needs to match well with the use pattern to produce low CO2- and local emissions. The achievable CO2-emission reduction was proportional to the range in electric drive-mode (E-mode), i.e., 50 km range resulted in about 50% reduction.

Ballast water treatment and bacteria: Analysis of bacterial activity and diversity after treatment of simulated ballast water by electrochlorination and UV exposure

Effects of ballast water (BW) treatment by ultra-violet (UV) light and electrochlorination (EC) on survival, activity and diversity of marine bacterioplankton and release of organic matter from cell damage were examined at discharge in a large-scale BW test facility (250 m3 tanks) at Hundested harbour, Denmark. The tests were performed in accordance with the requirements for type approval testing by International Maritime Organization (IMO) and US Coast Guard. After treatment, the water was held in the tanks for one day (EC) before discharge, or 6 days (UV, including also a final UV re-treatment) before discharge. In the discharged and treated water, numbers of viable bacteria and bacterial growth rate had decreased significantly relative to the untreated water, but the total number of bacteria only was reduced in the EC-treated water. After additional storage for up to 10 days in small-scale laboratory incubations, significant regrowth of bacteria was observed after either treatment. Sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons demonstrated that α-Proteobacteria initially were dominant, but γ-Proteobacteria dominated after regrowth. Bacteria used to document BW treatment efficiency (E. coli, Vibrio spp., enterococci) survived both treatments; neither treatment reduced the risk of pathogen dispersal. Concentrations of amino acids in the water were used as indicators of treatment-induced cell damage and demonstrated higher concentrations at discharge, but only after the EC treatments. Our results indicate that activity of bacteria, rather than their abundances, should be used when examining effects by ballast water treatment on microorganisms and that none of the examined treatment technologies could eliminate pathogenic bacteria.

The real driving emission characteristics of light-duty diesel vehicle at various altitudes

High altitude shows a great influence on vehicle emissions because of lower pressure and shortage of oxygen concentrations. In addition, type approval test of light duty vehicle is usually carried out below the elevation of 1000 m. In order to address the effect of high altitude on vehicle emissions, real driving emission (RDE) test procedure has been introduced in China VI emission regulation. Thus, the effects of altitude on the emissions from a China IV certificated light-duty diesel vehicle under real road driving conditions were investigated in this work. Research results show that CO emissions increased with the elevated altitude. At the altitude of 2990 m, the CO emissions increased by 209% in comparison with that of near sea level in whole test cycle. At specific test modes, CO emissions follow the sequence of urban > rural > motorway. Both PN and NOx emissions also rose with altitude while NOx emissions at 2990 m showed a decreasing tendency. In addition, different tendency between high altitudes and relative low altitudes was observed under specific test modes, which was probably related to the function of after-treatment device.

Balancing market needs and environmental protection: Vehicle approval in the European Union

Road transport today is responsible for almost a quarter of Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions, and poses a set of challenges. Traditional regulatory instruments, adopted by the European Union to reduce vehicle emissions, are increasingly accompanied by measures that promote the use of alternative fuels and propulsion systems that would drastically reduce, if not reset, CO2 emissions. Some EU Member States are even planning to adopt more drastic measures: banning future sales of petrol and diesel cars. The article will attempt to highlight the special relationship that can be drawn between common market needs on the one hand, and protecting human health and the environment on the other, and then between EU and broader international standards. Both intertwine when enacting and then assessing the normative framework applicable to vehicles, culminating in the complex assessment of EU norms that regulate the approval of types of vehicles. The objective is to consider the current law framework, pointing out its weaknesses and making some de iure condendo proposals.

The European Research Project on Metrology for Hydrogen Vehicles - MetroHyVe

A large hydrogen infrastructure is currently in development across Europe. However, the industry faces the dilemma that they are required to meet certain measurement requirements set by European legislation that cannot currently be followed due to the lack of available methods and standards. The EMPIR Metrology for Hydrogen Vehicles project will be the first large scale project of its kind that will tackle the four measurement challenges that currently prevent the industry from meeting requirements set by International Standards such as flow metering, quality control, quality assurance and sampling. This paper presents a brief overview of the specific objectives of the project and focuses on the flow metering work package and the presentation of its planned tasks, which comprise laboratory and measurements in the field. Laboratory work will assess the use of substitute fluids to hydrogen to provide a safer and more cost effective method for the type approval of Hydrogen Refuelling Stations (HRS). To be able to link laboratory work to field testing, mobile primary standards will be developed and the design of a field testing primary standard will be addressed. The aim is to inform what the European national metrology institutes are currently developing in the field of hydrogen flow metering and quality control of HRS.

선박안전법상 선박용물건 형식승인제도의 한계에 관한 단상

선박안전법상 선박용물건 형식승인제도의 한계에 관한 단상

Inter-laboratory validation of the serial dilution culture\u2014most probable number method for enumerating viable phytoplankton

The most probable number (MPN) assay is used to enumerate viable phytoplankton in the 10–50 μm size range for Type Approval of ballast water management systems. However, its validation has been questioned by the United States Coast Guard, which does not accept it as an alternative to its required method. To address key elements of method validation, three research laboratories used the same experimental protocols to enumerate viable organisms from uniformly viable and heat-killed cultures of three species of phytoplankton. Statistical analysis of the ratio of MPN estimates of viable organisms to measurements from flow cytometry was consistent with predictions based on perfect adherence to the method’s assumptions. These include reliable detection of all viable organisms and no false-positive results. The validation confirmed established estimates of the MPN method’s precision and demonstrated reproducibility, having been transferred to and implemented by two of the laboratories for the first time.

Particle number measurements in the European legislation and future JRC activities

The solid particle number method was introduced in the European Union (EU) light-duty legislation for diesel vehicles to ensure the installation of the best-available technology for particles (i.e., wall-flow diesel particulate filters) without the uncertainties of the volatile nucleation mode and without the need of large investment for purchasing the equipment. Later it was extended to gasoline vehicles with direct injection engines, heavy-duty engines (both compression ignition and positive ignitions) and non-road mobile machinery engines. Real Driving Emissions (RDE) testing on the road with Portable Emissions Measurement Systems (PEMS) for particle number (and NOx) during type approval and in-service conformity testing was recently (in 2017) introduced for light-duty vehicles, and is under discussion for heavy-duty vehicles in-service conformity testing. This paper will summarize the existing legislation regarding solid particle number and discuss the on-going activities at EU level. The main focus at the moment is on improving the calibration procedures, and extending the lower detection size below 23 nm with inter-laboratory exercises. In parallel, discussions are on-going to introduce testing at low ambient temperature, regeneration emissions in the light-duty regulation, a particle limit for other technologies such as gasoline port-fuel injection vehicles, and the feasibility of particle measurements to L-category vehicles (mopeds, motorcycles, tricycles and minicars). A short overview of periodical technical inspection investigations and the situation regarding non-exhaust traffic related sources with special focus on brakes and tyres will be described.

Testing and evaluating real driving emissions with PEMS

Testing of real driving emissions (RDE) with portable emission measuring system (PEMS) in an appropriate road circuit became an obligatory element of new type approval of passenger cars since September 2017. In several projects the Laboratory for Exhaust Emissions Control (AFHB) of the Berne University of Applied Sciences (BFH) performed comparisons on passenger cars with different PEMS’s on chassis dynamometer and on road, considering the quality and the correlations of results. Particle number measuring systems (PN PEMS) were also included in the tests. The present paper informs about influences of E85 on RDE on two flex-fuel-vehicles, discusses some aspects of different ways of evaluation with different programs, shows comparison of different types of PN PEMS and represents the effects of simulation of slope on the chassis dynamometer.

Tests of modern vacuum gauges for type approval for the last 10 years

The article presents data on modern vacuum gauges designed to measure absolute pressure. The gauges have been tested for type approval after 2008. The principle of operation and the main metrological characteristics of the following types of vacuum meters are analyzed: membrane-capacitive, capacitive, wide-range, inverse-magnetron, deformation, electronic with integrated display, thermal, ionization and magnetic discharge. Information on these gauges is included in the Federal Information Fund for ensuring the uniformity of measurements and possibility to be applied for state regulation of measurements.

A Study on the Evaluation of Simulation and Performance Test for the Development of High Pressure Hose

In case of high rise building and tunnel fires, it is difficult for the fire truck to access the site due to road conditions and other barriers with the difficult access to the fire source owing to the heat of fire. This reason requires the long-distance water release for the fire fighting from the outside with the necessity for deployment of dozens of hoses accordingly. For that kind of fire fighting, the water release with high pressure in the fire fighting pump truck is required, and the development of the high pressure hose is imminent. In this thesis, simulation was done to decide the roughness and weaving types of the internal skin of the hose to develop the high pressure hose with the mathematical calculations done to compute the pressure drop occurring from the friction loss in case of the long-distance water release. Moreover, the connection position of the relay pump was analyzed for the use below the standard pressure. The computation in the analysis shows that the relay pump is needed if the fire fighting truck supplies the fire fighting water with 0.7 MPa beyond the distance of about 1.3 km. Additionally, the target test standards, which are not available in the domestic regulations, on the type approval and product inspection of a fire hose were prepared for performance verification with the performance test done to meet all the standards such as the rupture pressure test. Keywords: Longitudinal Tunnel, High Pressure Hose, Performance Criteria of Hose, Fire Fighting Pump Truck