Development of a new mobile laboratory for characterization of the fine particulate emissions from heavy-duty diesel trucks

This paper describes the development of a new mobile laboratory for the determination of the fine particle and gaseous emissions from a class 8 diesel tractor-trailer research vehicle. The new laboratory [Diesel Emissions Aerosol Laboratory (DEAL)] incorporates plume-sampling capabilities which were based on a detailed flow field analysis using a combination of computational fluid dynamics modelling, flow visualization using smoke, streamers, and oil spots, and tracer gas measurements the results of which are described in the paper. The DEAL incorporates the unique ability to measure concurrently both the plume and the vehicular background which is generally not found in other on-road facilities.