EMISSION OF NITROUS-OXIDE AND METHANE FROM AERO ENGINES - MONITORING BY TUNABLE DIODE-LASER SPECTROSCOPY

The emissions of nitrous oxide and methane from a Pratt & Whitney Cana da PW 305 and a Rolls Royce RB211 jet engine were measured under vario us flight conditions either on a ground level stationary test stand or in altitude test cells by using an off-line sampling technique. The c oncentrations of the gases were determined by long path infrared diode laser absorption spectroscopy in the laboratory. The calculated emiss ion indices indicate that, at present, air traffic does not contribute significantly to the global budgets of methane and nitrous oxide.