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, 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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system configured to be positioned at a site along a roadway, and to determine the concentration of one or more constituents present in a sample of exhaust emissions emitted by a vehicle traveling on the roadway from a first location on the roadway to a second location on the roadway, the system comprising:
 a component detection system configured to determine the concentration of one or more constituents present in vehicle exhaust emissions;   a collector operatively coupled to the component detection system, wherein the collector is positioned above the surface of the roadway and has one or more openings for receiving the exhaust emissions of the vehicle to be analyzed by the component detection system;   a gathering structure having one or more surfaces positioned to direct the exhaust emissions of the vehicle to be analyzed by the component detection system to the one or more openings of the collector prior to measurement by the component detection system;   wherein the component detection system is configured to receive a sample of the exhaust emissions of the vehicle via the collector, and to determine the concentration of one or more constituents present in the sample of exhaust emissions; and   wherein the collector is configured such that collection times for exhaust emissions emitted by the vehicle to be conveyed through the collector to the component detection system vary as a function of position of the one or more openings of the collector along the roadway between the first location and the second location to aggregate the exhaust emissions for detection within the component detection system.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the roadway comprises a test lane. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the gathering structure comprises a roof that is supported above the surface of the roadway by one or more supports such that the vehicle can pass under the roof while traveling along the roadway. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the roadway comprises a single vehicle travel lane, and wherein the roof of the gathering structure covers the single vehicle travel lane. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the collector comprises:
 an extraction portion which runs parallel to a direction of travel of the roadway, with the one or more openings being formed therein; and   a delivery portion configured to convey exhaust emissions extracted by the extraction portion through the one or more openings toward the component detection system, wherein the location at which the delivery portion interfaces with the extraction portion facilitates aggregation of the exhaust emissions at the interface.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the extraction portion interfaces with the delivery portion at or near an end of the extraction portion that is located nearest the second location. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the extraction portion comprises a perforated lumen. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein one or more of a size, shape, or distribution of the perforations permit freer flow into the extraction portion of the collector for locations that are closer to the first location. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the collector is fastened to an underside of the roof of the gathering structure such that the one or more openings of the collector face the surface of the roadway. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the gathering structure further comprises:
 a roof that is supported above the surface of the roadway by one or more supports such that the vehicle can pass under the roof while traveling along the roadway; and   an apron that extends from the roof toward the surface of the roadway on a first side of the roadway, and further extends parallel to a direction of travel on the roadway, wherein the apron is configured to direct exhaust emissions, emitted by a vehicle outward in a direction toward the first side of the roadway, toward the one or more openings of the collector.   
     
     
         11 . A method of determining the concentration of one or more constituents present in a sample of exhaust emissions emitted by a vehicle traveling on a roadway from a first location to a second location, the method comprising:
 directing the exhaust emissions of the vehicle to be analyzed by a component detection system to one or more openings of a collector, prior to measurement by the component detection system, via one or more surfaces of a gathering structure, wherein the collector is positioned above the surface of the roadway;   drawing exhaust emissions received in the one or more openings of the collector to the component detection system via suction, wherein the collector is configured such that collection times for exhaust emissions drawn through the one or more openings of the collector to the component detection system vary as a function of position of the one or more openings of the collector along the roadway between the first location and the second location to aggregate the exhaust emissions for detection within the component detection system.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the roadway comprises a test lane. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the gathering structure comprises a roof that is supported above the surface of the roadway by one or more supports such that the vehicle can pass under the roof while traveling along the roadway. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the roadway comprises a single vehicle travel lane, and wherein the roof of the gathering structure covers the single vehicle travel lane. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the collector comprises:
 an extraction portion which runs parallel to a direction of travel of the roadway, with the one or more openings being formed therein; and   a delivery portion configured to convey exhaust emissions extracted by the extraction portion through the one or more openings toward the component detection system, wherein the location at which the delivery portion interfaces with the extraction portion facilitates aggregation of the exhaust emissions at the interface.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the extraction portion interfaces with the delivery portion at or near an end of the extraction portion that is located nearest the second location. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the extraction portion comprises a perforated lumen. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein one or more of a size, shape, and/or distribution of the perforations permit freer flow into the extraction portion for locations that are closer to the first location. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the collector is fastened to an underside of the roof of the gathering structure such that the one or more openings of the collector face the surface of the roadway. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the gathering structure further comprises a roof that is supported above the surface of the roadway by one or more supports such that the vehicle can pass under the roof while traveling along the roadway; and an apron that extends from the roof toward the surface of the roadway on a first side of the roadway, and further extends parallel to a direction of travel on the roadway, wherein the apron is configured to direct exhaust emissions, emitted by a vehicle outward in a direction toward the first side of the roadway, toward the one or more openings of the collector. 
     
     
         21 . A system configured to be positioned at a site along a roadway, and to determine the concentration of one or more constituents present in a sample of exhaust emissions emitted by a vehicle traveling on the roadway, the system comprising:
 a gathering structure having a first end, a second end, and a roof having a length that extends from the first end of the gathering structure to the second of the gathering structure in a direction substantially parallel to a direction of travel of the roadway, wherein the roof of the gathering structure is supported above the surface of the roadway by one or more supports and pools exhaust emissions emitted by the vehicle as the vehicle passes under the roof while traveling on the roadway;   at least one radiation source disposed on a underside of the roof of the gathering structure proximate to the first end of the gathering structure, the radiation source configured to emit a radiation beam along an optical measurement path, wherein the optical measurement path extends in a direction substantially parallel to a direction of travel of the roadway and along an underside of the roof so as to pass through the exhaust emissions of the vehicle pooled by the gathering structure;   at least one radiation detector configured to receive the radiation beam and generate at least one signal indicative of the radiation absorption of first and second vehicle exhaust constituents in first and second wavelength bands; and   a computer configured to receive the at least one signal and calculate a ratio of the radiation absorption of the first vehicle exhaust constituent to the radiation absorption of the second vehicle exhaust constituent.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one radiation detector is disposed on a underside of the roof of the gathering structure proximate to the second end of the gathering structure such that the radiation beam makes a single pass along the optical measurement path from the at least one radiation source, through the exhaust emissions of the vehicle pooled by the gathering structure, to the at least one radiation detector. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one radiation detector is disposed on a underside of the roof of the gathering structure proximate to the first end of the gathering structure and adjacent to the at least one radiation source, the system further comprising:
 optics disposed on a underside of the roof of the gathering structure proximate to the second end of the gathering structure, the optics configured to reflect the radiation beam emitted by the at least one radiation source back along the optical measurement path to the at least one radiation detector such that the radiation beam makes at least two passes through the exhaust emissions of the vehicle pooled by the gathering structure.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the first vehicle exhaust constituent comprises one of CO, HC, or NO. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the second vehicle exhaust constituent comprises carbon dioxide (CO 2 ).