DPM-RT 2

Measure Where It Can Be Fixed

Diesel particulate matter can be managed two ways: ventilate harder, or produce less of it.

Ventilation is expensive, it’s limited by the airflow a mine can physically move, and it dilutes the problem rather than removing it. Reducing the DPM leaving the engine deals with it at the source, and that needs measuring at the source.

That’s what separates the DPM-RT 2 from workplace and personal exposure monitoring. Ambient monitoring tells you the atmosphere is bad. Tailpipe measurement tells you which machine is making it bad, which is the information that leads to a fix.

Finding the Engines to Fix

Targeted engine maintenance can drastically reduce DPM emissions. The DPM-RT 2 is built as an everyday workshop tool for environmental, compliance, ventilation, maintenance and service technicians, so engines producing high DPM can be found and repaired as part of routine maintenance.

Laser Light Scattering

The DPM-RT 2 uses well established laser light scattering technology, widely accepted for measuring particle concentrations in laboratory and industrial applications. It measures elemental carbon from 0 to 420 mg/m³, with readings traceable to NIOSH 5040.

A HEPA grade filter removes over 99.9% of particles before the sample is released, and a second HEPA filter keeps a stream of clean ambient air over the optics, protecting them from soot and moisture.

An Answer Before the Machine Leaves

This is the workflow argument, and it’s the strongest thing about the instrument.

Many DPM measurement methods need off line analysis or manual interpretation, so the result arrives after the machine is already back in service. The DPM-RT 2 continuously displays DPM concentration during the test, and gives an immediate result at completion. A maintenance decision can be made without delay, and the effect of any repair can be confirmed before the equipment is released back to the workplace. Test, repair, test again, and know it worked, in one workshop visit.

Three Test Modes

The DPM-RT 2 has three automated test modes: the Stall Test, the Free Acceleration Test and Continuous Measurement. The tests were developed in joint government and mining industry projects, and the manual includes the test procedures from NSW MDG 29, the guideline for managing diesel engine pollutants in underground environments.

The stall and free acceleration tests take as little as one minute. The operator watches the screen and controls the engine load, while the instrument handles the test.

Having standardised tests built in matters more than it sounds. A test done to a defined, recognised procedure gives a result you can compare: against a previous test on the same machine, against the rest of the fleet, and against what the guideline expects.

Building a Record

Vehicle and section details are recorded alongside each DPM result, building a repository of historical test data rather than a series of isolated readings.

That data is downloaded over USB, or through a web browser over WiFi. Moving away from manual note taking saves time and reduces the data integrity risk of copying results from a screen to a notebook to a spreadsheet.

The historical record is what turns individual tests into a programme. Trends on a single machine show a developing problem. Trends across a fleet show whether the maintenance strategy is working.

Simple to Use and Maintain

The DPM-RT 2 is highly automated, with a touch screen and simple one button operation, designed for maintenance staff to use after minimal training. It auto zeros before each test, and its calibration can be checked in the field in 5 minutes using the supplied calibration check plug. Routine maintenance is limited to checking and replacing one disposable filter, with no tools needed.

At about 5 kg including its internal battery, it’s self contained and designed for stand alone use. Around 3 hours of continuous testing per charge covers most operators for a shift. It can also run from a 12 to 36 V supply, with a vehicle charger lead available.

The DPM-RT 2 is built for the harsh conditions around mobile and stationary diesel engines. It must not be installed or operated in hazardous locations or wash bays.

Where It’s Used

Underground mining fleets. Surface mining and quarrying. Heavy vehicle workshops and maintenance facilities. Marine diesel engines. Industrial generators. Locomotives. Logistics fleets. Forklifts and heavy vehicles. Tunnelling and civil construction. Any operation running diesel plant where exposure has to be managed and the engines are the source.