VERT NPTI Focus Event, July 7 th 2021

Presentations

Alarming global mortality from fine particle pollution generated by fossil fuel combustion

Abstract: Particulate air pollution from combustion has been associated with increases in deaths, heart attacks, strokes, and respiratory illness. Recent human studies and abundant toxicology indicate these associations are causal. Traffic particles, including ultrafine particles, have also been associated with many adverse outcomes and biological mechanisms. They also are more likely to get into people’s lungs because of where they are emitted. Recent studies demonstrate the magnitude of the effect, with many millions of deaths per year from particles due to fossil fuel combustion. While traffic particles are only part of those particles, they are critical to control.

Prof. J. Schwarz; Harvard University; US

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NPTI started in 2016, now completed with the VERT-Standard TA-024, the availability of new instruments and the implementation in three countries

Abstract: VERT introduced the PN criterion in 1996 to define filtration effectiveness of DPF in the solid particle size range of 10-500 nm. NanoMet, the first in-use PN-instrument was ready 1997 when VERT started to certify DPF and published the filter list. The EU adopted the PN criterion and the VERT PN metrology with PMP in 2007 as basis for the introduction of DPF and GPF, thereby reducing the PN-emission by 2-3 orders of magnitude in one step of the legislation. In 2012 however the EU abandoned the requirement of emission testing during the regular PTI believing that OBD would be sufficient for onboard emission control. As a consequence many DPF were de-installed and manipulated. TNO teamed up with VERT, JRC, the emission control of the NL and others to start the NPTI task force in Nov. 2016 to solve this problem by a simple PN test at low idle with. Now new low cost instruments are on the market; the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany have implemented the new low idle test and VERT offers support for the implementation of this new method to catch the high polluters and clean the air from ultrafine particles highly polluted cities.
A. Mayer; VERT, Switzerland

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In Belgium Emissions due to DPF failure rates are far too, which required implementation of PTI with number count at low idle

Abstract: The first test campaign on PN-counters to introduce Particle Counting measurements in PTI was conducted in Belgium in 2018. The evaluated PN-counters were at that time not homologated against any specification. This is why we see differences between these PN counters used in the study. Nevertheless, the campaign highlighted a significant number of high polluting vehicles. The exhaust of the ultrafine particles of the Belgium fleet of all diesel vehicles will be reduced by 17% by eliminating these high polluting vehicles. Looking only to the euro 5 & 6 vehicles, and thus to the vehicles in the scope of PN-testing during PTI the reducing could be 98%. Hereafter Belgium started to prepare the implementation of the particle counter during PTI by 1/07/2022. The specifications of the equipment is, as in The Netherlands, based on the work of the NPTI workgroup. The Dutch NMi has this year homologated the first counters. So a second test campaign with homologated equipment is right now running in Belgium. The presentation will highlight the evolution of the exhaust of the ultrafine particles on diesel vehicles based on these 2 campaigns.

P. Beukenhoudt; GOCA, Belgium

High emitters dominate PN emissions of petrol Light Duty Vehicles in Mexico City – and probably also in most other large cities

Abstract: Mexico City Metropolitan Area is one of the biggest cities of the world, there are around 5.3 million vehicles. In this study more than 400,000 light gasoline vehicle datasets of PN measurements were analyzed taken from the results of Mexico City´s Vehicle Inspection Program from 2018 to 2019. Measurements were made according to national and international standards. The results showed that 8% of the fleet contributes to the 58% of the total PN contamination of Mexico City. In conclusion, PN-measurement is a very sensitive parameter to detect high polluters and gasoline vehicles can emit equal or more PN emissions than diesel vehicles.

C. Dominguez; GESSPA, Mexico

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PTI for the DPF-retrofitted public transport bus fleet in Chile

Abstract: Santiago/Chile has 1500 Euro VI buses and will continue to increase the number as part of their new “Red Movilidad” fleet, along with electric buses. To ensure a high quality of maintenance and prepare for a new inspection process, Purexhaust was requested to survey particle numbers of various fleets, including Euro III + DPF and Euro V (without DPF). This presentation summarizes the results and analysis.

N. Fraser; PUREXHAUST, Chile

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PTI by PN at high idle for the Swiss DPF-since 2012 regulated

Abstract: Together with the regulation to equip construction machines with DPF in 2002 the Swiss FOEN introduced a PTI regulation which required emission control every 24 month by free acceleration opacity (BauRLL 2002). 2012 replaced Swiss METAS the opacity measurement by number count at high idle and TSI NPET was the first instrument available for this measurement. Although not yet mandatory a large fleet of construction machines with DPF has been investigated and approximately 20% of DPF failed to fulfill the emission limit of 250’000 P/cc. No correlation with age or brand was confirmed. This observation clearly demonstrated that this regular emission control is required, maybe more frequently and a second instrument (DC by FHNW) became available. Today PTI is required for construction and as well for commercial lake ships and lokomotives.

J.Czerwinski / VERT, Switzerland

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Why is PTI for modern vehicles needed in addition to OBD, market surveillance and remote control

Abstract: The presentation will give an overview over certification and tests performed for emission control of vehicles at TÜV during the complete lifetime of a vehicle. In the phase of consumer operation of a vehicle proper maintenance and service as well as a periodic technical inspection (PTI) is of importance to control harmful vehicle tailpipe emissions. With the introducion of electronic engine control, the vehicle can perform its own diagnostics (OBD), to help maintenance with helping identifying defective items, that cause high emissions. In the presentation it will be shown, that the OBD system is not sensitive enough to detect for example cracked diesel particulate filters, that cause high emissions of ultra-fine particles, and therefore a new PTI tailpipe PN measurement is necessary.
K. Matthies / TÜV, Germany

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From development to effective implementation of a particulate filter check

Abstract: Several Dutch organisations have, since 2012, worked on the development of a new particle test to verify the correct functioning of diesel particulate filters. The test is conducted using an affordable, uncomplicated particle counter, capable of measuring high particle concentrations. It takes a mere 90 second, and is carried out with the engine idling. As a result of this development in 2022, the Dutch and Belgian authorities will introduce a compulsory particulate filter check in the periodic technical inspection based on the particle test. Germany will introduce a similar check in 2023. For a successful implementation of the particulate filter check in PTI workshops, a new nomenclature and additional communication are needed to inform policy makers and PTI inspectors.
G. Kadijk , ETS, Netherlands

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From the development of an instrument standard for VERT-NPTI to an internationalnew PTI standard with PN counting at low idle

Abstract: Particulate emissions from combustion engines are a great problem in ambient air pollution. The introduction of very efficient (>99%) diesel particle filters (DPF) reduced the particle emissions from diesel engines substantially. However, already small defects in the filter can increase the emissions by orders of magnitude. These defects (or manipulations) cannot be detected by the on-board diagnostic system. Therefore, a number of countries decided to reintroduce a periodic technical inspection (PTI). PTI is needed to identify such high polluters, which are responsible for a very significant fraction of the fleet emissions, 10% of the cars are responsible for more than 80% of all emissions. In the framework of the NPTI working group a concept for PTI, including requirements for the instruments, measurement cycle and limit value has been elaborated. Kadijk et al [1] showed that the emissions in the test cycle correlate quite well with particle concentration measured in low idle. This allows to compare the limit in type approval testing with a limit, set for a test at low idle. A low idle measurement can be performed in less than a minute. Particle measurement by number concentration can be done by condensation particle counters (CPC), or diffusion charging (DC) based devices. Whereas number concentration is the established metric, used in type approval testing, other metrics as surface concentration of black carbon concentration could be used as well for PTI. Based on this, a VERT standard has now been suggested.
H.Burtscher / FHNW, Switzerland

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Legislation breakthrough in the Netherlands for the introduction of Periodical Inspections of ultrafine particles, followed by Belgium and Germany

Abstract: Modern diesel cars are equipped with very good emission control systems, so that emissions are kept to a minimum. These systems are very effective when they work properly. However, if something is wrong with this system, problems arise: Repairing it is quite expensive. Vehicle owners look for solutions and are tempted to adopt cheap solutions. As a result, the emissions are again old-fashioned high. No problem, you think: there is still a periodic inspection. But... At the moment there is no suitable method to determine that the vehicle has been tampered with and it simply passes the inspection. This will soon change in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands: particle measurement will be introduced in these countries.
H.Peeters Weem /RDW, Netherlands