A research team from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, developing an advanced Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) optical remote sensing system for real-time monitoring and analysis of aircraft emissions.
Their findings were published in Remote Sensing.
Aircraft exhaust, particularly emissions during ground taxiing, constitutes a complex pollution source that has long posed significant challenges to environmental quality and public health. Conventional ground-based monitoring methods struggle to capture real-time emission variations with high precision, thereby limiting the effectiveness of emission control and environmental management strategies. Consequently, utilizing advanced remote sensing technology for efficient monitoring has emerged as a critical solution in this field.
To address this challenge, the research team developed an open-path FTIR optical remote sensing system, designed for real-time monitoring and analysis of aircraft exhaust. By employing a nonlinear model to analyze the concentrations of CO, CO₂, and multiple volatile organic compounds in individual aircraft emissions, they identified significant correlations between the CO/CO₂ ratio and VOC levels.
A major breakthrough in this study is the use of a data-driven approach called the generalized additive model, which helps researchers analyze the complex, nonlinear relationships between aircraft emissions and the many factors that influence them. The analysis revealed that even within the same aircraft model, emissions can vary significantly between individual planes, challenging the traditional method of using fixed emission rates based on aircraft type.
These findings provide essential data to evaluate the dynamic relationship between aircraft engine combustion efficiency and pollutant emissions. The data could further guide fuel composition optimization and engine performance improvements, ultimately enhancing overall combustion efficiency, according to the team.
FTIR optical remote sensing system can be used for real-time monitoring and analysis of aircraft emissions. (Image by LI Xiangxian)