Testing and Research

Engine Emissions

Companies and researchers worldwide use TSI particle instruments to collect critical data for engine and vehicle emissions research and regulatory review. Our products help quantify and analyze particle emissions from light-duty and heavy-duty engines and vehicles, for on-road, off-road, and stationary applications.

You’ll find TSI products used in the research and development of advanced internal combustion engines and after-treatment systems, like Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF) or Gasoline Particulate Filters (GPF). Our particle counters quantify the number concentration of aerosol particles. TSI particle sizers measure the size distribution of exhaust particles.

Our instruments can allow measurements at the tailpipe, from a Constant Volume Sampler (CVS), or from other partial flow samplers.

Engine Emissions Research and Regulations

Current regulations in the European Union, China, and India (e.g., Euro 6/VI, China 6, BSES VI) require measuring solid (i.e. non-volatile) particles larger than 23nm. Studies show some engine technologies, like Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI), emit large numbers particles smaller than this range. In recogniction of these findings, the next phase of regulations such as Euro 7 may lower this limit to 10nm. To meet these evolving standards, advanced tools have been developed to measure solid exhaust particles and provide time-resolved particle size distribution. Detailed particle data helps optimize engine performance, ensuring compliance with stringent emission standards and supporting the development of low-emission vehicles.

Non-Road Engine Emissions Testing

Assessing emissions from construction machinery, marine engines, and other non-road machines and equipment under real-world conditions has become a growing focus in recent years. TSI has developed a solution that is compliant with Swiss regulation 941.242 for non-road mobile machinery (NRMM) testing for example. In cases with extremely high particle concentrations, such as diesel engines without particulate filters, new tools have been developed to monitor total solid particles, including from cold start and biomass combustion emissions, even in scenarios that surpass current regulatory limits.

Reputable History

For over 30 years, TSI has been a leader in developing cutting-edge instrumentation for measuring particulate matter from automotive engines, non-road mobile machinery, aircraft, and marine engines. These solutions support engine development and real-world emissions testing. Engine developers, aftertreatment manufacturers, and automotive suppliers use this data to design low-emission vehicles and optimize after-treatment equipment. As emission standards tighten for on-road vehicles, non-road sources like aircraft and marine engines are becoming a larger focus, and TSI’s tools help enable cleaner, more fuel-efficient technologies.

Advanced Solutions for Particle Measurements

Type Approval Particle Number (PN) Measurements
Time-Resolved Particle Size Distributions
Engine Particle Characterization

Type Approval Particle Number (PN) Measurements

For over 40 years, TSI has been the industry leader in manufacturing condensation particle counters (CPCs) for a wide range of applications. Notably, a TSI® CPC was the standard reference instrument during the development of the UN-ECE-sponsored Particle Measurement Programme (PMP) Informal Group, which played a key role in shaping current European number-based emissions regulations. Today, TSI’s Engine Exhaust Condensation Particle Counters (EECPC) are commonly used in type approval testing as part of the complete instrumentation solution for certifying engines and vehicles through dyno measurements.

Time-Resolved Particle Size Distributions

Time-resolved particle size distributions (PSD) are essential for understanding the rapid changes in particle emissions from engines. Engine emissions testing requires tools that can measure particle concentrations and size variations in real-time, capturing transient events and providing a detailed profile of exhaust particulates. With high-resolution measurements, researchers gain insight into emission behaviors under different operational conditions, aiding the development of cleaner technologies and compliance with stringent emission standards. TSI’s particle sizing instruments, like the Engine Exhaust Particle Sizers (EEPS™), deliver sub-second response times, allowing researchers to track dynamic changes in PSD, critical for evaluating control technologies and understanding the downwind impacts of combustion processes.

Engine Particle Characterization

Physico-chemical characterization of particles emitted by internal combustion engines allows researchers to understand their structure, morphology, and chemical composition, which significantly influence their behavior and properties. This critical information can help engine manufacturers reduce particle emissions, assist climatologists in developing atmospheric chemistry models, inform public health researchers as to the human health effects of exposure to these particles, and aid aftertreatment manufacturers in designing particle filters to protect heavy equipment operators. The particles have to be sampled in an intelligent way to gather this information, however. MSP, a Division of TSI®, has been an industry leader for over 30 years in developing and manufacturing unique and innovative cascade impactors for size-resolved particle sampling, with applications spanning environmental sources, pharmaceutical aerosols, engine particle emissions, and more.

Frequently asked questions

Q. What are the key emissions regulations for engines?

Key emissions regulations include Euro 6/VI for light and heavy-duty vehicles in Europe, and EPA Tier 4 in the U.S. These focus on limiting particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOx), hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and other compounds.

Q. Why is particle number (PN) measurement important for engine emissions testing?

Particle number measurement is crucial as it captures ultra-fine particles (UFPs), which are not accounted for by traditional mass-based measurements. There is rapidly growing evidence that these tiny particles have significant health and environmental impacts.

Q. What is the significance of sub-23 nm particle measurement?

Sub-23 nm particles are increasingly being recognized as necessary to measure, and future regulations (such as Euro 7/VII) will include these particles, requiring advanced tools like TSI's 10 nm Engine Exhaust CPC for compliance.

Q. What is the difference between exhaust and non-exhaust emissions?

Exhaust emissions come from the engine’s combustion process, while non-exhaust emissions come from sources like brake wear, tire wear, and road dust, which are increasingly being researched as engine emissions decrease with advancements in technology.

Q. Can TSI’s Engine Exhaust CPCs measure particles below 23 nm?

Yes, TSI offers a 10 nm Engine Exhaust CPC (EECPC) that allows precise measurement of sub-23 nm solid particles, helping meet future regulatory requirements.

Q. How does measuring particle size distribution improve emissions analysis?

Measuring PSD allows for a detailed understanding of the the range of sizes of particles emitted, beyond just the total particle number or mass. It helps identify the presence of harmful ultra-fine particles and understand the effectiveness of emission control technologies.

Q. How does PSD measurement contribute to regulatory compliance?

PSD measurement is critical for cutting-edge research that may contribute into future regulatory standards, and providing more comprehensive supplementary information during emissions testing. It also permits calibration and verification of the reference counting instruments currently prescribed for the standards.

Q. Why is it important to measure particles across a wide size range?

Different combustion sources, engine types, operating conditions, and fuels can produce particles across a broad size spectrum, from just a few nanometer to several microns. Measuring across a wide size range ensures that all significant particle sizes are captured, allowing for a complete analysis of emissions.

PMP and ISO 17025-Compliant Calibration for Accurate Engine Emissions Measurements

TSI's annual EECPC service ensures accurate emissions measurements with PMP and ISO 17025-compliant calibration, preventive maintenance, and regulatory compliance for optimal performance.

Sub-23 nm Solid Particle Emissions for Post Euro 6/VI Engines

Testing and Research

Engine Emissions

Advanced Solutions for Particle Measurements

Frequently asked questions

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