Real-time system for measuring gas turbine particle emission indices

The goal of the overall SBIR project is to enable fast, real-time measurements of the shape factor and density of particulate matter emitted by gas turbine engines in the size range of 20 to 600 nm using a modified version of the Aerodyne aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS). Such information is critical to evaluating data generated by existing instrumentation that measures only size and number density distributions. This work will further develop the AMS along two lines, first by adding the capability to detect refractory particles with a photoelectric effect particle detection scheme, and second by developing and integrating a nano-particle sampling lens. In combination with instruments to measure physical size and number count, the new technology will provide an alternative to EPA Method 5 currently used to report turbine particulate matter (PM) emission indices. Specific tasks in the Phase I project include, 1) laboratory measurements of shape factor and density for small soot particles, 2) feasibility tests of a new technique for measuring vacuum aerodynamic diameter using photo-electrons, 3) develop a model for converting mobility size measurements to mass emission indices, and 4) design of a prototype instrument to be built in Phase II.