EPONIMOS · Exhaust Particle Number and Mass Measurement and Sampling System

Exhaust particle number and mass measurement and sampling system

Project overview EPONIMOS is a Marie Curie industry-academia partnerships and pathways (IAPP) action that was envisaged through the collaboration between Dekati Ltd., Finland, Tampere and Laboratory of Applied Thermodynamics (LAT), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. It was launched on 1 September 2008 and lasted 48 months (until 31 August 2012). The aim of the project was to design and manufacture a compact sampling and measurement system for aerosol particles in the exhaust of vehicles and engines. The characteristic of the sampling system was its insensitivity to pressure built-up and pressure fluctuations in the exhaust flow. EPONIMOS is divided in five different work packages (WPs), which are sententiously listed below: 1. WP1: Development of the sampling instrumentation 2. WP2: Development of the measurement instrumentation 3. WP3: System integration 4. WP4: System validation 5. WP5: Dissemination of the project outputs. Main results The main results that have been achieved during the project can be summarised as follows: 1. Launch of the EPONIMOS website. The public website of the project has been launched and provides plenty of information about the project. It provides the capability of files uploading, both for public use or confidential ones. 2. Sampling system. The first prototype of the diluter has been manufactured. It was designed by means of three-dimensional (3D) cad software, while various simulations were performed in order to optimize the final design. The initial basic testing regarding impermeability, ease of use and general function has been successfully performed. Finally, special software has been developed that is calculating the dilution ratio of the system based on various signals that are monitored by the integrated electronic subsystems. 3. Integration. The sampling system has been successfully integrated with the DMM. Moreover, a first version of the electronics has been built for validating and testing reasons. It includes all the subsystems that are required for the calculation and adjustment of the dilution ratio, i.e. pressure sensors, thermocouples, flow-meters and throttling valves. Filters for the purification of the dilution air and heaters are also included. 4. Validation. The prototype has been tested in various conditions, i.e., during measurement campaigns that took place in LAT and in the Joint Research Centre (JRC), while it was also tested on-board in a circuit located in Thessalonica. The target of this testing campaign was to check the basic function of both the hardware and the software of the diluter. No problem was observed during the campaigns. The diluter worked as expected. The agreement between the calculation and the actual dilution ratio was well within ± 6 %. The system was able to monitor the particle number concentration without any significant problems in all cases. In specific, the results of the on-board measurements were very promising, since the system was very stable and the results quite repeatable. Conclusions The EPONIMOS project can be labelled as successful, since the initial targets have been fully addressed. The sampling system was manufactured and tested in various conditions. No functional problems have been reported, while the design is generally characterised by its compactness and ease of use. Moreover, the basic aim of the sampling, i.e. to retain stable dilution ratio regardless the pressure variations of the exhaust flow, has been also successfully met. Moreover, the EPONIMOS project was widely promoted in public and in scientific community. It was exposed in two European Aerosol Conferences (EACs) in 2011 and 2012 and also it took part in a JRC portable emissions measurement system (PEMS) evaluation exercise. In addition, a publication is under submission in an international journal (Measurement Science and Technology). Finally, the patent application that is pending and regards the sampling system principle of operation combined with the successful employment of the final integrated system in various measurements, ensures the potential of the system to become a commercial system. Socioeconomic impact of the project The socioeconomic impact of the EPONIMOS project is many-sided. First of all, the project supported financially and human resources-wise a small and medium sized enterprise (SME), namely Dekati Ltd., during 2011, which was a very tough year regarding economy throughout Europe. This financial support is very crucial and vital for the survival of SMEs, which are the backbone of the European economy. Moreover, the project promoted the innovation in European Union (EU) and the transfer of knowledge between university and industry. This is a future asset for both parties of the project, since future collaboration or the evolution of the manufactured sampling system may lead in new job positions, new doctoral positions etc. Generally, EPONIMOS promotes innovation and novelty within Europe. In addition, the advanced knowledge that arise through projects like EPONIMOS ensures that Europe will keep its leading role regarding the initiatives in the aerosol field, i.e. policy and decision making, etc. To this direction, the project outcome is of special interest for policy and decision makers in Europe regarding diesel exhaust legislation limits and measurement techniques. Last but not least, international projects like EPONIMOS promote cultural expansion between the European countries. These projects enable young researchers to live and work in foreign countries, learn other cultures and extend their knowledge and special skills. This mixing of culture and knowledge takes the EU a step further to a real political and economical union, which is the ultimate target of the European vision.

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