IES: Action 13202 - TransTech

8. November 2007

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» IES - Institute for Environment and Sustainability : The Institute : Units : Transport and Air Quality : Action 13202 - TransTech

Action 13202 - TransTech

Action 13202 - Transport Technologies and Emissions (TransTech)

How can techonologies reduce the impact of transport on our environment - and what can we do ourselves?

The Vehicle Emissions Laboratories (VELA), equipped with the most advanced facilities and instrumentation, allow the physical/chemical and toxicological characterization of the emissions from all types of transport means. Tests are conducted on engines, from small hand-held to large heavy-duty engines, and on full vehicles such as mopeds, motorbikes, passenger cars, 4WD cars, heavy-duty trucks and busses. Test bench and laboratory analysis of tailpipe emissions is accomplished by innovative research activities on combustion engines’ real world emissions.

The so called Portable Emission Measurement Systems (PEMS) are tested already since a while on heavy-duty trucks driving their normal working shift. Similar systems are also used with passenger cars, working machinery, ships and locomotives, to investigate the proper functioning of their engines and after-treatment systems under real world operation conditions.

The research lines of VELA cover all environmental aspects related to advanced technologies, new engines and after-treatment systems, on-board diagnostic systems, new or reformulated fuels, bio-fuels and gaseous fuels. It comprises also the chemical analysis of particulate matter and VOC speciation for transport means fingerprints used for source apportionment. Further to classical combustion engine emission testing the staff carries out cost-benefit analysis of cleaner transport technology options and technology foresight through Life-Cycle-Analysis of transport fuels, through testing of electrical, hybrid, H2 and FC vehicles’ energy efficiency.

Specific objectives of the Action

• Test and analysis of emissions from current transport platforms fuelled with conventional fuels, bio-fuels and additives, and equipped with emission control technologies and after-treatment systems.

• Collect and analyse real-world driving patterns, link them to related real-world emission patterns and fuel consumption. Study impact of traffic and individual driving on emissions and fuel consumption.

• Test and assess emissions from non-road mobile machinery, inland waterway transport and rail in support to European legislation (Directive 97/68/EC Review) and to the development of the global technical regulation for non-road mobile machinery.

• Investigate air transport and maritime shipping emissions with respect to their increasing importance to air quality.

• Study and assess technological options for the reduction of emissions from transport in support to the implementation of air quality policy in Europe (Case Study: Lombardy Region).

• Study the impact of transport on air quality (Case Study: Corridor V).

• Carry out research on backcasting methodologies and their applicability to transport issues.

• Carry out research on bio-fuels’ energy efficiency when used in internal combustion engines.

The Action operates different vehicle and engine emission testing facilities in its Vehicle Emission Laboratory (VELA). Currently available are:

• a roller bench (chassis dynamometer) for small passenger cars, motorbikes and mopeds;

• a roller bench for larger cars, small vans and 4-wheel driven vehicles;

• a VT Shed to test evaporative emissions from motorbikes, cars and small vans;

• an engine test bench for engines with a maximum power p < 4 kW and p < 40 kW;

• a heavy-duty engine test bench for engines with a maximum power p < 560 kWUnder construction since end of 2006 is a full truck and bus roller bench with highest flexibility for the environmental boundary conditions during testing.

Apart from the laboratory equipment the Action is in the position to measure on-line and under real-world operation conditions the emissions from heavy machinery, rail engines, ship engines and heavy-duty trucks and busses.