Accurate Measurement Of Diesel Exhaust Gases Is Critical

Governments worldwide set strict quantitative limits on permissible carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions, with a view to achieving air quality standards. Precise determination of the content of these gases in undiluted (raw) diesel exhaust gases is critical for regulatory compliance, public health protection, engine development and tuning, and performance evaluation of after-treatment systems.

According to Warren Kraak, Product Marketing Manager at Dräger South Africa, Both CO and NOx are harmful air pollutants, and these are the dominant gaseous hazards from diesel engines. Therefore, accurate, real-time measurement of undiluted exhausts is essential for a number of reasons.

“It is vital to verify compliance with legal limits that drive ventilation requirements in underground mines, while it is imperative to protect worker health by keeping concentrations below Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs),” he explains.

“Precise measurement in undiluted exhaust during certification and periodic inspections ensures vehicles and engines meet legal requirements, and helps detect tampering with emission control systems.”

To this end, he indicates that the Dräger EM200-E device provides real-time measurement of CO and NOx, using long-lasting electrochemical sensors. A device purpose-built for mines, it is portable, handheld, compact, and highly shock-resistant – making it ideal for underground/above ground workshops.

“The device provides altitude-compensated accuracy via an integrated absolute pressure sensor – something vital for deep or high-altitude mines – and can be used throughout the mine, reducing the need to bring engines back to the workshop. It also assists with predictive maintenance, by turning compliance data into engine health trends and providing a pre-indicator of defects, better scheduling, spares planning, and potential fuel efficiency improvements.”

“As OELs for both diesel particulate matter and NO2 tighten, exhaust treatment grows more complex; having trustworthy, undiluted measurements is central to balancing NOx reduction without worsening DPM. The EM200-E’s structured logging by engine state and scrubber efficiency enables traceability and continuous improvement of maintenance and ventilation strategies,” he concludes.