Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


toledo1271886446.pdf (3.6 MB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

An Analysis on Vehicular Exhaust Emissions from Transit Buses Running on Biodiesel Blends

Vinay Kumar, Nerella V.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1271886446

Abstract Details

2010, Master of Science in Civil Engineering, University of Toledo, Civil Engineering.
This experimental study presents a comprehensive analysis of exhaust emission variation from the public transit buses in the city of Toledo running on alternative fuels. The pollutants from the exhaust that are monitored in this study are carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen (NO, NO2, and NOX), and carbon dioxide. The performance of engine variables are also measured simultaneously with exhaust emission data. The engine variables affecting the pollutant levels in the exhaust are acceleration, engine load, engine speed, vehicle speed, fuel flow rate, coolant temperature, output torque, and boost pressure.The on-road and idle-engine variation of pollutant levels in the exhaust are studied. The pollutant level variation in the exhaust of a bus is different for different operation modes. The pollutant levels are found to decrease when the vehicle is on-road, with the increase in biodiesel concentration in the base fuel. On contrast, the pollutant levels are observed to increase with biodiesel concentration, when the bus is in idle-engine mode. Furthermore, when the bus is in motion, the pollutant levels in the exhaust are less as compared to the idle-engine mode. This observation helps to understand that vehicles in motion deliver the appropriate amount of fuel into the cylinder for a more complete combustion. Also, an engine in idle mode does not run at its optimum temperature and conditions that lead to incomplete combustion. The engine initial temperature, accessory load on the engine, and engine speed are found to affect the emission levels significantly. The engines at low temperatures are found to emit pollutants of higher levels because of the initial warm-up phase of an engine. Furthermore, with the increase in load and speed, the engine has to produce higher work requiring a higher fueling rate and thereby resulting in higher emission levels in the exhaust. During the engine start, transient emissions of the monitored pollutants are significantly higher because the air-fuel ratio cannot be maintained at stoichiometric mixture during start and stop operations. Furthermore, during the engine start-up, the heat necessary in the reaction chamber is not maintained that results in incomplete combustion. Hence, more transient emissions are emitted during the engine start-up. The parameters influencing pollutant levels for on-road and idle-engine conditions are identified, using regression analysis, for different biodiesel blends. Using regression analysis, the correlation and the amount of impact associated with the engine variables on pollutant levels are identified. The regression analysis helped to identify the parameters affecting pollutant levels and the relationships between different monitored parameters and pollutants in the exhaust. This study and analysis of exhaust emission variation of biodiesel blends will assist the operators of biodiesel fleets and regulators of air pollution in selecting the appropriate operating variables for emission control strategies in their area.
Ashok Kumar (Committee Chair)
Brian Randolph (Committee Member)
Dong-Shik Kim (Committee Member)
123 p.
Civil Engineering; Environmental Engineering; Gases; Health Education; Public Health; Transportation
Biodiesel blends; Exhaust Emissions; on road exhaust emissions; Idle engine exhaust emissions; engine load; ultra low sulfur diesel; Alternative fuels; Urban Transit Buses; TARTA; Pollutant Emission Modeling; Engine Operating Modes; engine temperature

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Vinay Kumar, N. V. (2010). An Analysis on Vehicular Exhaust Emissions from Transit Buses Running on Biodiesel Blends [Master's thesis, University of Toledo]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1271886446

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Vinay Kumar, Nerella. An Analysis on Vehicular Exhaust Emissions from Transit Buses Running on Biodiesel Blends. 2010. University of Toledo, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1271886446.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Vinay Kumar, Nerella. "An Analysis on Vehicular Exhaust Emissions from Transit Buses Running on Biodiesel Blends." Master's thesis, University of Toledo, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1271886446

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

toledo1271886446
1,710
© 2010, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Toledo and OhioLINK.