A research and development program is proposed that would produce an instrument capable of providing real time measurements of both NO and soot concentrations in internal combustion engine exhaust. This instrument would be capable of monitoring transients in emission with a resolution approximately equivalent to one engine cycle. The necessity for this instrument is clear: federal and international air quality standards are becoming stringent enough to mandate a significant increase of emission production as a function of the specifics of engine operation. Information derived from the proposed measurement system would allow engine manufacturers to critically assess their engines performance over their engine operating envelope. The key to the technical approach is to measure concentrations of both NO and soot with absorption/extinction diagnostics in the infrared and package the instrument in a fashion that facilitates its application to engine test stands. This research is of direct interest to the internal combustion engine manufacturing community. The outgrowth of the proposed effort would be an instrument capable of monitoring transient emission behavior in engines.
