Emissions monitoring as a maintenance tool? - Test Equipment 2002 - ECOM America creates universal gas analysis system - Brief Article

Diesel Progress North American Edition, Feb, 2002

Developed in cooperation with an off-highway vehicle fleet that uses diesel engine emissions monitoring as a maintenance tool, ECOM America has introduced its universal gas analysis system (UGAS).

According to Drew Wilson, president of ECOM America, which has recently relocated to Gainesville, Ga., the new UGAS system is designed to measure vehicle emissions, store historical data for each vehicle, and generate reports of the test results.

"The off-highway fleet with which we developed the first UGAS, uses measured and tracked engine emissions data as an integral part of their planned and preventative maintenance program," said Wilson. "Employed to its fullest capability the UGAS system is a tool maintenance personnel can use to identify problems with air intake systems, exhaust systems, and fuel systems."

"After developing baseline data for each vehicle in the fleet, the service personnel have been able to identify engine performance problems before they cause catastrophic failures," he added. "With the UGAS system, the fleet has been able to extend engine life, improve overall fuel economy and really reduce maintenance costs by significantly reducing unplanned service and overhauls."

While fleet service and maintenance are seen as major uses for the system, Wilson also noted that with local air quality agencies focusing on compliance mandates for mobile diesel sources, he expects UGAS will grow into a compliance assurance and monitoring tool for a wide range of applications.

The UGAS system, which can measure emissions from diesel, natural gas or dual fuel engines, includes an ECOM model AC 4 gas analyzer. The ECOM AC is a briefcase style gas analyzer capable of monitoring a variety of exhaust gas parameters. The standard UGAS AC measures [O.sub.2], CO, NO, N[O.sub.2] and smoke density, plus stack temperatures and exhaust backpressure. The AC analyzer also calculates [CO.sub.2] efficiency, losses, and excess air. Additional sensors for [SO.sub.2] and combustibles are optional.

To the AC system, the UGAS system adds specially developed testing software, a personal computer that serves as a central processingunit, monitor, keyboard, mouse and printer. All are housed in a specially designed mobile workstation or can be built into a stationary cabinet in the shop.

To test emissions, a probe is inserted in the vehicle's exhaust, and an automated testing procedure, menu driven from the PC, begins drawing the exhaust gas through the analyzer. Once the predetermined test time is complete, emissions data is displayed to the user on the monitor. Another unique feature of the system is the automated smoke density test. This procedure draws a standardized quantity of exhaust through a soot filter. The filter is then given a density value between zero and nine. These two simple tests provide service personnel with data on engine performance and soot trap/catalytic converter efficiency, ECOM said.

Another of the keys to the UGAS system is that the test procedure can be specifically developed for individual applications. Preset target points can be customized with alerts for parameters moving outside the set points.

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