Mobile testing of school buses

Diesel Progress North American Edition, Feb, 2004

Rowan University, Glassboro, N.J., has been awarded a multi-year grant from the New Jersey Dept. of Transportation to evaluate the effectiveness of various strategies for reducing exhaust emissions from diesel-powered school buses. To perform these evaluations, Rowan bought SEMTECH-D and PM300 emissions measurement systems from Sensors Inc., Saline, Mich.

The project involves extensive testing using three school buses; a 1998 International with a T-444E engine and 73,471 mi.; a 1998 International with a T-466 engine and 47,862 mi.; and a 1997 Ford with a 5.9 L Cummins B-series engine and 85,516 mi.

Tests were performed on a 3-mi. track at the Aberdeen Test Center in Aberdeen, Md. The goal was to have controlled conditions, but conditions that more closely resembled real world driving than did hooking up the buses to dynamometers in an environmental test chamber.

The SEMTECH D system incorporates an NDUV (nondispersive ultraviolet) sensor for measuring N[O.sub.x] and interfaces with the vehicles' engine control module (ECM). The PM300 is used in tandem with the SEMTECH-D to measure particulate matter. When being used for the mobile testing of the buses, the units are held in place with the vehicle seat belts.

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