Monitoring Real Driving Emissions (RDE)

Greek researchers are using a Gasmet FTIR multiparameter gas analyzer, deployed in a mobile van (MOBILAB), to undertake exhaust gas analysis for comparison with ambient air quality. “This enables us to undertake temporal and spatial measurements from within traffic, measuring emissions during different traffic conditions,” says Apostolos Tsakis, from a laboratory at the Centre for Research and Technology-Hellas (CERTH) in Greece.

The ‘real-world’ monitoring of emissions from diesel engines is believed to provide a more accurate measurement of important pollutants and recent announcements indicate that a requirement for Real Driving Emissions (RDE) testing is likely during 2017.

As an FTIR analyzer, the Gasmet CR2000 simultaneously measures multiple analytes in a complex gas matrix. Data are analyzed by Calcmet™ software which identifies and quantifies up to 50 different gas components simultaneously. Measured spectra are stored, providing an opportunity for retrospective analysis to identify unknowns.

The CR2000 is also utilised in the laboratory, and CERTH has another Gasmet FTIR for the evaluation of catalytic activity of powder samples; analysing the remaining reactants as well as the produced gases (CO, CO2, NO, NO2, H2O, HCs).

Apostolos Tsakis says: “We deployed the Mobilab in a variety of locations and it has proved to be an extremely useful tool in the concurrent analysis of both vehicle emissions and ambient air quality. The results showed that the emission reduction system was effective for some pollutants but caused a significant increase in NO2 under RDE.

“The Gasmet FTIR was extremely important, because it enabled us to monitor all of the toxic gases that have the potential to be significant; not just the main pollutants, but also non-regulated compounds such as ammonia.

“The CR2000 was very reliable, working under RDE testing conditions, so with the upcoming changes in EU testing regulations and with the right modifications on the analyser, we foresee a high demand for this capability.

“Our studies have shown that Mobilab can effectively monitor pollution, delivering both spatial and temporal data. Furthermore, on-road pollutant concentrations can be significantly different to those obtained from fixed stations so the results of our work are helping to create a better understanding of the relationship between vehicle emissions and the air that people are breathing.”