Measurement of NO and NOy emission indices during SUCCESS

Exhaust measurements in the wake vortex regime of the NASA Boeing 757 aircraft were made during the SUbsonic aircraft: Contrails and Cloud Effects Special Study. Emission indices for NO and NOy were calculated from in situ measurements taken on board the NASA DC-8 for plumes aged 20 - 300 seconds. The average NO emission index is 7.5 g NO2/kg fuel for mean conditions of 37 kft altitude, 0.7 Mach and 0.34 kg/s fuel flow rate. Comparison is made between measured indices and predictions based on ground engine test data and a fuel flow model. Measurements are positively correlated but are on average 22% higher than predictions, with considerable scatter and systematic deviations in measurements made under low thrust conditions. These conditions are lower than typical in commercial cruise operation of the 757, for which the model was optimized. No statistically significant change in nitrogenous emissions is observed for an order of magnitude change in fuel sulfur content. Estimation of the NO2 from photochemical calculations implies a contribution to NOx of 5-19%. Examination of exhaust composition shows that 95% of the NOy is in the form of NOx.