Real World Testing
Mobile DOES2 unit used for emissions testing under real-life conditions. Click to enlarge.
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Although most tests are performed at the facility, a portable test unit called the Dynamic Dilution On/Off-road Exhaust Emissions Sampling System (DOES2), allows scientists to measure exhaust emissions in a real setting. Dubbed the "real world" tests, the technology has proven in many cases to be as accurate as the controlled setting of a laboratory. The instrument is housed in a box, approximately one-meter square by a half-meter deep, and is mounted onto a test vehicle. The DOES2 can be applied to emissions testing of a variety of mobile sources from conventional vehicles to off-road and non-road vehicles. Its value lies in its application to vehicles that cannot be tested in conventional laboratories.
Alternative Fuels
In collaboration with Transport Canada and Natural Resources Canada, Environment Canada has also been looking at alternative and reformulated fuels. For example, the work includes measurement of emissions associated with ethanol fuels, both neat & blended, for use in light-duty vehicles and urban buses. Work is also undertaken on fuel emulsions (mixtures of fuel and water) for on-road vehicles and off-road equipment.
Off-Road Sources
Emissions from non-road sources, such as power boats, lawn and garden equipment, and construction vehicles, comprise approximately 20 per cent of all smog produced by mobile sources in Canada. Environment Canada has recently begun studies of two- and four-stroke engines used for lawnmowers, whipper-snippers, chainsaws, personal watercrafts, motorboats and snowmobiles. Because these engines have not been subject to emissions regulations, there is room for improvement. New technologies, such as direct-injection and the use of valves, are making these engines cleaner and more proficient.
Scientists at the ETC are also conducting research in the area of stationary emission sources including, stacks, incinerators, boilers and landfills. These sources play a key role in the pollution burden. ETC staff is determining how these sources measure up by collecting, analyzing, and monitoring emission sites across Canada.
Consumer Information
Emission testing carried out at the Environmental Technology Centre has a direct impact on consumers. Environment Canada, in conjunction with Transport Canada and the National Research Council, perform measurements on fuel consumption to validate figures quoted by manufacturers. Through vehicle emissions testing, scientists and engineers are able to determine fuel consumption, and therefore, ensure that manufacturers are held accountable for any claims they make about their products.
Testing performed at the ETC promotes a better understanding of the development of pollution-reducing technologies and alternative fuels. Plus, it improves strategies for operating and maintaining existing equipment. Increased public awareness about environmentally-friendly technologies and driving practices can help reduce emissions and, consequently, their impact on human health and the environment.
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