Description / Abstract:
This SAE Aerospace Information Report (AIR) addresses procedures
applicable to quantifying the emission of nonvolatile particulate
matter at the exit plane of aircraft gas turbine engines. While
both volatile and nonvolatile particulate matter (PM) are present
in aircraft gas turbine exhaust, the methods used to measure
nonvolatile particles are farther advanced and are addressed
here.
Existing PM measurement regulations employ the SAE Smoke Number
measurement (Reference 2.1.1), a stained filter technique used in
evaluating visible emissions. The environmental and human health
issues associated with submicronic PM emissions require more
detailed measurement of the mass, size and quantity of these
particle emissions.
Responding to regulatory agency requests, this AIR describes
measurement techniques that are well developed and could be applied
to the measurement of aircraft engine particulate matter. The
techniques discussed here are considered relevant for measuring
particle parameters identified with environmental and health
concerns.
The discussion that follows is based on research made while
developing measurement techniques and in scientific and engineering
experiments regarding PM emissions. The techniques are not yet used
in routine aircraft engine certification. Future use in regulatory
testing is likely to involve further refinements in methodology and
application. It is planned that these refinements will be included
in the subsequent publication of an Aerospace Recommended
Practice.
The distinction between nonvolatile and volatile particle types
is a critical task in the measurement of particles in aircraft
engine exhaust. Appendix A, SAE E-31 Position Paper on Particle
Matter Measurements, provides additional technical based for the
scope of this AIR. The measurement methods for volatile condensed
particles in turbine exhaust will be covered in a subsequent
report. Observations to date show that volatile particles occur
mainly at diameters less than 10 nanometers (10 nm) but may
dominate in particle number density (PND).