New Bosch BEA 090 particle counter to complement testing of exhaust emissions from modern diesel vehicles

Plochingen, Germany – From January 1, 2023, exhaust emissions testing of all Euro 6/VI diesel vehicles, whether passenger cars or heavy trucks, must also measure the number of particles in the exhaust. To satisfy this requirement, Bosch has developed the BEA 090 particle counter as an add-on to existing emissions analyzers such as the BEA 550. The new BEA 090 uses condensation particle counting (CPC), an especially accurate method that is also suitable for future, and possibly stricter, particulate measurement methods. This means that workshops and testing organizations can be sure that they will still be able to use the Bosch particle counter in the future. Via Bluetooth, the device uses the proven BEA PC software to connect with the emissions analyzer, from where it is operated. The measurement itself is done by simply inserting the BEA 090’s probe together with the heated exhaust-gas sampling tube into the vehicle tailpipe. In a very short time, the result of the particle count is available.

Following a short warm-up phase, the BEA 090 is ready for use. The BEA PC software then guides the user through the test procedure. After each measurement, the particle counter is purged. In addition, automatic cleansing clears particles from the entire gas duct when the system is switched off. Mandatory annual calibration by a wholesaler or Bosch Service workshop ensures that the level of measuring accuracy of the BEA 090 is high. Apart from exterior filters that can simply be replaced, the BEA 090 does not have any wear parts that need replacing outside of annual servicing. The measuring technology inside the counter does not have to be cleaned. Only the bottle containing isopropyl alcohol, the fluid used for measurements, has to be replaced as necessary. No tools are required for this procedure, in which the user does not come into contact with the isopropyl alcohol. This makes the device very low-maintenance. For the legally required functional text, ambient air is sufficient. In other words, there is no need for any additional agent. Like all the devices in the Bosch BEA series, the housing of the new particle counter is very robust, and well suited to the occasionally rough workshop environment. Thanks to its relatively light weight and practical handle, the BEA 090 can easily be transported.

Futureproof and suitable for the stricter limits of the future

Using the CPC principle to count particles is an established measurement method. In vehicle type approvals, for example, it has been in use since 2014. In medicine, laboratories, and universities, it is used to check that filters are working properly. The BEA 090 counts particulate matter in exhaust gas by suspending it – and thus making it visible – in isopropyl alcohol. A sensor then performs an accurate count. Even charged particles in the exhaust, such as those created during exhaust-gas treatment, do not falsify the reading. The CPC method allows particles to be counted highly accurately regardless of particle size and distribution. This means that it will still be possible to use the BEA 090 in the event that particulate limits are reduced further. The tiny particles of gasoline that occur in the exhaust gas from gasoline direct injection engines can also be measured. For testing the exhaust emissions of Euro 1 to 5 vehicles, the conventional Bosch emissions analyzers, such as the BEA 550, can continue to be used.