AAAR 32nd Annual Conference
September 30 - October 4, 2013
Oregon Convention Center
Portland, Oregon, USA
Abstract View
Characterization of PM Emissions from Aircraft Auxiliary Power Units
PREM LOBO, Donald Hagen, Philip Whitefield, Missouri University of Science and Technology
Abstract Number: 279 Working Group: Combustion
Abstract Airport operations have been shown to contribute to increased PM levels in surrounding communities. Aircraft engines and auxiliary power units (APUs) are significant sources of emissions at airports. A number of studies have characterized the PM emissions from different types of aircraft engines; however emissions from APUs are not as well defined. APUs are gas turbine engines which generally operate to provide power and air conditioning, while the aircraft is parked at the gate and sometimes during taxi in/taxi out. They are also used to start the main engine in some cases. This paper summarizes the PM emissions characterization of several APUs performed during three recent measurement campaigns. The following models of APUs were studied: GTCP85-98CK, a re-commissioned Artouste Mk113, GTCP 331-200, and GTCP 36-300. PM size distribution parameters and number- and mass-based emission indices were computed for each APU model at different engine operating loads. For PM number-based emission index, the range of values was 6x10e+13 – 7x10e+15 particles/kg fuel burned. The PM mass-based emission index values were in the range 10-600 mg/kg fuel burned. These ranges of values for APU PM number- and mass-based emission indices are of the same magnitude as those for main engine PM emissions. It was also observed that the more modern technology APU models were found to have the lowest PM number and mass-based emission indices. The data from these studies will assist in developing more accurate emissions inventories at airports and thereby contributing to understanding the potential impacts of airport operations on neighboring communities.