This paper describes experimental research aimed at developing an on-board smoke sensor for diesel engines. The sensor element was similar to a conventional spark plug. Electrical heating of the insulator was used to prevent carbon fouling from the diesel soot. The sensing element created sparks within the exhaust pipe and changes in smoke levels were detected through analysis of the voltage levels of the sparks. The system was tested in a heavy duty diesel engine equipped with exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and compared with reference measurements of the filter smoke number (FSN). The experiments showed good sensitivity to step changes in smoke levels (accomplished by varying EGR levels) at smoke levels below 0.5 FSN. However, the sensor suffered from temperature induced signal drift and was unstable under some circumstances. The use of a spark plug with a smaller electrode tip diameter improved the signal stability. It is proposed that measurement and control of the electrode temperature will be necessary to control the signal drift.
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e-mail: billy.allan@rmc.ca
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March 2009
Research Papers
Further Development of a Smoke Sensor for Diesel Engines
D. Gould,
D. Gould
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Royal Military College of Canada
, Kingston, ON K7K 7B4, Canada
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D. P. Gardiner,
D. P. Gardiner
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Royal Military College of Canada
, Kingston, ON K7K 7B4, Canada
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M. LaViolette,
M. LaViolette
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Royal Military College of Canada
, Kingston, ON K7K 7B4, Canada
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W. D. Allan
W. D. Allan
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
e-mail: billy.allan@rmc.ca
Royal Military College of Canada
, Kingston, ON K7K 7B4, Canada
Search for other works by this author on:
D. Gould
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Royal Military College of Canada
, Kingston, ON K7K 7B4, Canada
D. P. Gardiner
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Royal Military College of Canada
, Kingston, ON K7K 7B4, Canada
M. LaViolette
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Royal Military College of Canada
, Kingston, ON K7K 7B4, Canada
W. D. Allan
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Royal Military College of Canada
, Kingston, ON K7K 7B4, Canada
e-mail: billy.allan@rmc.ca
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. Mar 2009, 131(2): 022801 (6 pages)
Published Online: December 18, 2008
Article history
Received:
December 1, 2006
Revised:
May 5, 2008
Published:
December 18, 2008
Citation
Gould, D., Gardiner, D. P., LaViolette, M., and Allan, W. D. (December 18, 2008). "Further Development of a Smoke Sensor for Diesel Engines." ASME. J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. March 2009; 131(2): 022801. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2978995
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