Emission characteristics of a heavy-duty diesel engine at simulated high altitudes

In order to evaluate the effects of altitude on the pollutant emissions of a diesel engine, an experimental research was carried out using an engine test bench with an altitude simulation system. The emissions of HC, CO, NOx, smoke, and particle number of a heavy-duty diesel engine were measured under steady state operating conditions at sea level and simulated altitudes of 1000 and 2000 m. The experimental results indicate that the high altitude increases the emissions of HC, CO and smoke of the diesel engine, the average increasing rates of which are 30%, 35% and 34% with addition of altitude of 1000 m, respectively. The effect of high altitudes on the NOx emission varies with the engine types and working conditions. At 1000 m the particles number emissions are 1.6 to 4.2 times the levels at the low altitude. The pattern of the particle size distributions at 1000 m is similar with that at sea-level, which is the mono-modal lognormal distribution with geometric mean diameter around 0.1 μm. However, the peak number concentrations of particles are bigger and the exhausted particles are smaller at the high altitude.

Research Highlights
► The effects of altitude on the particle number emissions of a diesel engine were firstly evaluated.
► We measured the emissions of diesel engine at sea level and simulated altitudes of 1000 and 2000 m.
► The average increasing rates of HC, CO and smoke are 30%, 35% and 34% with addition of altitude of 1000 m.
► The effect of high altitudes on the NOx emission varies with the engine types and working conditions.
► At 1000m the particles number emissions are 1.6 to 4.2 times the levels at the low altitude.