A New Method for Quantification of Aircraft Emission Factors
The potential impact of airport operations on air quality is, to a large degree, due to the emission of pollutants from aircraft exhaust. Due to the scientific and technical complexities associated with aircraft emission measurement and interpretation, very little research has been done in this area. The data available is largely focused on gaseous emissions, with almost no data on particle emissions. In addition, most of the current estimates for airport emission inventories are based on data from a very limited number of newly manufactured aircraft engines, measured in test rigs (ICAO - International Civil Aviation Organization, 1995). Hence, there is not sufficient data on aircraft emission factors and emission rates during various phases of aircraft operation in real world situations, especially in relation to submicrometer particles.
In this research, a novel mobile measurement system, using a bag sampling technique, was developed and applied for aircraft emission characterisation at Brisbane Airport, Australia. The mobile laboratory consisted of the air sampler, as well as particle and gaseous measurement instruments connected to the sampler, which provided real-time measurements of aircraft emissions simultaneously. Air pollutants from aircraft exhaust emissions were measured downwind and in a very close proximity to approximately 100 individual aircraft, during different modes of ground aircraft operation, including idling, taxiing and takeoff. The CO2 and NOx emitted from the aircraft exhaust were measured, along with emitted particles (in terms of both particle mass and number, including PM10 and PM2.5 in the range of 8 nm to 1 µm) and the elemental composition of emitted particles was also analysed. In this presentation, the sampling method, along with quantified emission factors and rates, elemental composition and the size distribution of emitted particles for the naturally diluted aircraft plumes will be presented and discussed.