Mobile measuring laboratory
How good is the air in our cities and in the region? How can we improve our air quality and thus our quality of life?
These questions are of great social importance. At the same time, there is often a lack of sufficient data. With its mobile laboratory for air and exhaust gas measurement, the DLR Institute of Combustion Technology contributes to an improved database on particle and nitrogen oxide pollution through targeted scientific investigations.
The basis for the discussion of air quality in politics and the media is the long-term stationary environmental monitoring in Germany. The important parameter PM10 (mass of all particles < 10 µm) is continuously measured at more than 340 locations. In contrast, however, the much-discussed ultrafine particles (UFP, d < 100 nm) are only recorded locally at 17 stations in Germany. Here, supplementary mobile research projects can contribute to a much more comprehensive picture and a better basis for mitigation measures. In addition to a general mapping of pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) or UFP, mobile investigations enable the identification and characterisation of local hot-spot areas and sources. The great potential of mobile air quality measurement results from the high local resolution coupled with real-time data acquisition.
The mobile laboratory for air and exhaust gas measurement at DLR Stuttgart offers a modern infrastructure for mobile and stationary analyses for this purpose. This is made possible by an optimised energy concept, which ensures that the measuring devices are supplied with power throughout the measurement period. In addition, the vehicle is compact and can also be used in areas with emission-related entry restrictions (e.g. in large cities or low emission zones). Modern laboratory equipment is used to record gaseous and particulate emissions, which is not normally used in regular environmental monitoring.
Various measuring devices with different analytical focuses (e.g. high time resolution, precise size resolution) and a modular design allow different scientific questions to be answered. The continuous determination of particulate emissions takes place in the size range between 5.6 nm and 10 µm. The mobile laboratory for air and exhaust gas measurement is therefore a valuable platform for a wide range of research projects and issues. These include:
- Emissions from aircraft engines, car traffic and shipping
- Air quality in cities and around airports
- Emissions from industry (e.g. from power plants)
- Emission studies on the use of alternative fuels