Estimating gaseous emissions production of an entire flight of a commercial aircraft based on emission measurements and actual flight data records

Abstract

In this study, engine emissions measurement results and actual flight data records are used to obtain an emissions production profile of gate-To-gate flight activity. The platform and pow- erplant selected arc B737-800 and CFM56-7B26, while the emissions measured are carbon monox-ide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). By installing a sample probe inside the engine, the emissions are measured during a test matrix between idle and the highest power of an engine, in a test-cell environment. By establishing empirical relationships between the engine power and the amount of certain regular emissions species, emissions are not only identified for a landing and takeoff (LTO) envelope, but also for climb, descent and cruise flights, which take place above 3000 ft, the theoretical mixing height altitude. According to the analyses, the total CO emissions of 52 minute flight was found to be 28.1 kg, with 37.1% of this value being produced during the LTO activity, below an altitude of 3000 ft. The total NO* emissions were found to be 27.4 kg, with the LTO activity emissions constituting 21.2% of the total NOx emissions of the entire flight. In addition, since CO emissions are strong functions of fuel flow at low power settings, in real world operating conditions, the CO emissions during a taxi run may be considerably different from the standard values, due to variation in engine power based on a number of factors, such as, ambient air temperature, bleed air utilization or engine state.