Number size distributions (NSDs, 10―487 nm) and composition of nanoparticle emitted from an engine fueled with ordinary diesel (OD) and low sulfur diesel (LSD) fuel were comparatively studied. The results indicate that, compared with the OD, the LSD was found to slightly decrease the mass concentration, and significantly reduce the number concentration of the total particles (10―487 nm), and the reduction of number increased with the speed and load of engine. The NSD for the two fuels showed a similar bimodal structure under all test engine conditions. Under the same engine conditions, the nucleation mode for LSD fuel was significantly lower than that of ordinary diesel. However, the accumulation mode for the two fuels showed little difference. The elements composition of exhaust particles included C, O, Cl, S, Si, Ca, Na, Al and K. The S element was not detected in LSD fuel case. The main component of soluble organic fraction (SOF) of exhaust particles for the two fuels included saturated alkane (C15―C26), ester and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). However, PAHs were not found in LSD fuel case.
A classic H 2 SO 4-H 2 O binary homogeneous nucleation model coupled to an aerosol dynamics model,suitable for studying the formation and transformation of volatile nanoparticles (VNPs) during diesel engine exhaust dilution,has been developed.Using the H 2 SO 4-H 2 O binary homogeneous nucleation model,the nucleation ratio and molecular cluster size were calculated.The effect of aerosol dynamic processes on VNP number size distributions was studied.The effects of fuel sulfur content (FSC) and sampling conditions in the laboratory on VNP number size distributions were also calculated.Our simulations demonstrated that nucleation increased the cluster number concentration and that FSC,temperature and humidity significantly affected the nucleation ratio and molecular cluster size.Coagulation promoted the evolution of cluster-particle size distributions from monodisperse to polydisperse.Soot present in the exhaust can suppress the formation of VNPs.FSC and sampling conditions,like the primary dilution temperature,the primary dilution relative humidity,residence time and the primary dilution ratio have significant effects on VNP number size distributions.
