Real-time exhaust diagnostics for tighter emissions rules

The market opportunity

Legacy diagnostic tools, including thermocouples and point-sampling Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analysers, are too slow to capture transient exhaust dynamics and cannot provide the spatial data needed to map complex chemical reactions.

Industry requires a rugged, non-intrusive diagnostic tool that visualises temperature and gas-species distribution simultaneously and in real time, to de-risk development and support regulatory compliance.

Technology overview

LaserSpectra integrates laser absorption tomography (LAT) with a proprietary, scalable multi-channel data acquisition (DAQ) framework and real-time spectroscopic signal processing.

The system uses a patent-pending, dynamically reconfigurable DAQ architecture to achieve ultra-high-speed, synchronised data capture across multiple optical channels. This allows operators to map complex, turbulent exhaust plumes instantly, without disrupting fluid dynamics or gas flow.

Applications and validation

LaserSpectra is validated at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6, with industrial validation complete and field-proven performance on commercial gas-turbine engines and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) test cells. Current and potential applications include:

• Heavy-duty engine research and development, and SCR optimisation

• Real-world roadside emissions monitoring in Low Emission Zones

• Gas-turbine development and structural health monitoring

IP and licensing status

Edinburgh Innovations is offering LaserSpectra for licensing, with three further routes to partnership: industrial pilot projects, joint development partnerships, and venture investment or spinout participation.

Benefits

Accelerated R&D and calibration

• Faster development cycles: drastically reduces time to market by accelerating engine calibration and thermal verification

• High-fidelity validation: provides high-resolution spatial mapping to validate and refine 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) combustion models

Powertrain and after-treatment optimisation

• Precision combustion tuning: enables precise air-fuel ratio, valve timing and fuel injection mapping to maximise brake thermal efficiency

• Simultaneous fuel and emissions cuts: balances the engineering trade-offs required to reduce greenhouse gases and soot without sacrificing fuel economy

Operational compliance and maintenance

• Real-world verification: delivers non-intrusive, field-proven measurements that support real driving emissions (RDE) compliance

• Predictive asset health: identifies localised thermal hotspots and abnormal combustion states early, helping to prevent structural engine wear and failure

• After-treatment diagnostics: monitors catalyst loading and thermal degradation profiles dynamically, helping to forecast maintenance intervals

Publications

Liu, C. et al, A Modularized Chemical Species Tomography Sensor for Dynamic Imaging of Gas-Turbine Exhaust, Sensor. Actuator. B-Chem. 444, 138459 (2025).

Quote : TEC1104748