Chapter eight
Emission control systems
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Introduction
The atmospheric air is made up of 78% nitrogen, 21%
oxygen, by volume and the remaining other gases and
particulates like argon, carbon-dioxide dust particles etc.
Air is required for breathing and contents of pure air as
such are healthy.
However, certain toxic gases and substance which are
emitted by various machinery, plants, equipment etc.
When these gases are mixed with atmospheric air they
become very harmful to human beings, animals and
plant.
These undesirable gases and substance in the air are called
air pollutant.
Some of the pollutant are carbon monoxide (CO), oxide of
nitrogen(Nox), sulphur dioxide(SO2), Hydrocarbon(HC),
soot, suspended particulate matter(SPM), Aldehydes,
compound of sulphur and lead etc.
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Major air pollutants and their harmful effect on human beings and
plant
1. Carbon monoxide(CO)
CO is produced by incomplete combustion of
fuel, generally caused by insufficient oxygen
CO causes headache, nausea and breathing
problem.
2. Hydrocarbons(HC)
HC is raw/unburnt fuel escaping to
atmosphere
HC causes irritation in respiratory system.
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Major air pollutants and their harmful effect on human
beings and plant cont….
3. Oxides of Nitrogen (NOX)
NOX is produced by the nitrogen and oxygen in
the air of the air-fuel mixture, which combine if
the temperature inside the combustion
chamber rises above about 1100C
NOx causes irritation of eyes, nose and
throat, headache, coughing, and damage to
lungs
4. Soot
Soot are solid particles of pure carbon.
Causes lung cancer
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Air pollutant produced by I.C engines
There are four possible sources of atmospheric pollution
from the automobile fuel related systems.
1. Fuel Tank: Gasoline is evaporated from the fuel tank and
escaped into the atmosphere as hydrocarbon gas (HC).
2. Carburetor: Carburetor emits hydrocarbon gas (HC),
which has evaporated mainly from the float bowl.
3. Crankcase: Blowby gas refers to the burnt and unburnt
gases that pass between the piston and the cylinder wall
during the compression and ignition cycles and escape into
the atmosphere via the crankcase.
4. Exhaust Tailpipe: When gasoline burns completely,
harmless gases will be the result. But complete combustion
never occurs in engine. Harmful byproducts such as Carbon
monoxide (CO), Unburned hydrocarbon (HC), Oxides of
nitrogen (NOX), etc are produced.
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Air pollutant produced by I.C engines cont..
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Emission Control system
Each car now has three major systems for
controlling pollutants from these sources:
1. Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV)
2. Evaporative Emission Control
3. Exhaust emission control
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Emission Control system cont…
1. Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV):
This is a system that sends fresh air through
the crankcase to sweep out blowby and fuel
vapours.
The air then enters the engine where the
pollutants from the crankcase have another
chance to burn.
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Emission Control system cont…
2. Evaporative Emission Control
This is a system that captures any fuel vapours
coming from the fuel tank and float bowl.
It prevents the vapours from escaping into the
atmosphere.
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Emission Control system cont…
3. Exhaust emission control:
These work together to reduce the pollutants in
the exhaust gas emitted from the tailpipe.
This includes a variety of systems such as
a) Catalytic converters
b) Exhaust gas recirculation
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Emission Control system cont…
a) Catalytic converters
Aim of catalytic converter is to chemically treat
the pollutants and convert them into harmless
gases like CO to CO2 , HC to H2O and splitting
of NO to N2 and O2.
A catalyst is a material which promotes/ enhance
chemical change without entering in to chemical
reaction.
The materials, which are used as catalysts are
platinum, palladium, Rhodium, Irridium.
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Emission Control system cont…
b) Exhaust gas recirculation(EGR)
EGR system is used to reduce the production of NOx.
NOx is produced by the combination of N2 and O2 of the air
at higher temperature beyond 1100oc in the combustion
chamber of the engine.
So the best way to reduce the production of NOx is to
control the maximum temperature below 1100oc inside the
combustion chamber.
Since exhaust gases contain mainly H2O vapour and CO2,
these further do not react with O2 hence EGR circulates
exhaust gases (which are at lower temperature) to
combustion chamber through inlet manifold in order to keep
the peak temperature low.
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Measurement of pollutant in exhaust gases
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Emission Norms
Emission norm are the maximum prescribed
level of CO, HC, and NOx set by government
,which a vehicle is permitted to emit from its
exhaust while running.
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Thank you
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