Research of Exhaust Emissions from a Harvester Diesel Engine with the Use of Portable Emission Measurement System

Nacrtak This paper presents the test results of exhaust emissions from the engine of a wheeled harvester. On the basis of the present analysis, the ranges of most frequently used engine loads and speeds were determined. The obtained time density characteristics (distribution of engine speeds and loads in time) of the engines were referred to the measuring points of the exhaust emission homologation test. During the measurement of the exhaust emissions, the machine was in the forest engaged in tree cutting. Exhaust emission tests from non-road vehicle engines are currently performed on engine test beds in the NRSC and NRTC tests. The present methodology is a new solution that could be used in the future as a basis for the development of harvesting technology aimed at reducing exhaust emissions from engines. During the tests, the authors also measured the amount of timber harvested during the felling process in order to be able to relate the emission results to the amount of the generated product. Harvesters are more and more often used in forest operations but they still have to compete with handheld (gasoline powered) chainsaws and that is why in this paper the authors included a comparison of the exhaust emissions from a chainsaw with the emissions from the engine of a harvester. The authors used a portable analyzers (SEMTECH DS and LAM manufactured by SENSORS) for the measurement of the exhaust emissions. The said analyzer can measure the concentrations of exhaust gas components in an on-line mode, while the engine is running under field conditions.