System and method for quantifying the presence of components in the exhaust of commercial and/or heavy-duty vehicles

Abstract

A system and/or method for quantifying the presence of one or more components in vehicle exhaust, and more particularly to a non-contact, extractive sampling system and method for quantifying the presence of one or more components in exhaust emissions of commercial and/or heavy-duty vehicles that emit exhaust at an elevated level, under actual operating conditions.

1 . A system for quantifying the presence of one or more components in an exhaust plume of a vehicle traveling on a roadway, wherein the vehicle emits the exhaust plume in a generally vertical direction, the system comprising:
 a gathering structure having one or more surfaces that direct exhaust emitted by the vehicle to one or more openings of a collector disposed above the surface of the roadway; and   a flow generator in communication with the collector that is configured generate a flow of air that draws exhaust emitted by the vehicle in the generally vertical direction through the one or more openings of the collector to a component detection system that quantifies the presence of one or more components in the exhaust emitted by the vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the component detection system is configured such that quantifying the presence of the one or more components in the exhaust emitted by the vehicle comprises measuring the concentration of one or more gaseous constituents of the exhaust emitted by the vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the component detection system is configured such that quantifying the presence of the one or more components in the exhaust emitted by the vehicle comprises detecting fine particulate matter present in the exhaust emitted by the vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the collector comprises a plurality of openings arranged along a path that corresponds to the path of the vehicle along the roadway. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the path of the plurality of openings are arranged over a portion of the path of the vehicle along the roadway. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the gathering structure includes a roof positioned over the roadway, and wherein the one or more openings of the collector are disposed at or near an underside of the roof. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the gathering structure further includes one or more walls that are disposed alongside the roadway. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the roof provides at least one surface that directs the exhaust toward the collector and is impermeable to the exhaust. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the roof shields the one or more openings of the collector from precipitation. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the collector comprises a perforated pipe. 
     
     
         11 . A method of quantifying the presence of one or more components in an exhaust plume of a vehicle traveling on a roadway, the method comprising:
 positioning a gathering structure above the surface of the roadway such that one or more surfaces of the gathering structure directs exhaust emitted by the vehicle as it travels on the roadway to one or more openings of a collector disposed above the surface of the roadway; and   drawing exhaust through the one or more openings of the collector via suction; and   analyzing the exhaust drawn through the one or more openings of the collector to quantify the presence of one or more components in the exhaust.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein quantifying the presence of the one or more components in the exhaust comprises measuring the concentration of one or more gaseous constituents of the exhaust. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein quantifying the presence of the one or more components in the exhaust comprises detecting fine particulate matter present in the exhaust. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein positioning the one or more openings of the collector and the gathering structure comprises arranging a plurality of openings of the collector along a path that corresponds to the path of the vehicle along the roadway. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the path of the plurality of openings are arranged over a portion of the path of the vehicle along the roadway. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the gathering structure includes a roof positioned over the roadway, and wherein positioning the one or more openings of the collector comprises disposing the one or more openings at or near an underside of the roof. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the gathering structure further includes one or more walls that are disposed alongside the roadway. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the roof provides at least one surface that gathers the exhaust around the one or more openings of the collector and is impermeable to the exhaust. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the roof shields the one or more openings of the collector from precipitation.