CHAPTER#09

EmissionsandAirPollution
Engine
emissions
1. Exhaust emissions
2. Non exhaust emissions
Exhaust emissions:
Un burnt hydrocarbons
. Oxides of carbon ( CO2, CO)
. NO, NO2
. Particulates, soot, smoke
First four are common to both SI
and CI engines & last are mainly
from CI engines.
Hydrocarbon
It causes
emissions
Incomplete combustion
Crevice volumes & flow in
crevices
Leakage past the exhaust
valves
Valve overlap
Deposits on walls
Carbon Mono Oxide (CO)
emissions
Oxides of nitrogen
Created mostly from nitrogen in
the air
Found in fuel blends
Fuel may contain trace
amounts of NH3, NC, and HCN
Primarily causes for photochemical
smog
NO2 + energy from sunlight =
NO + O + smog
Deposits on walls
Catalytic
Converters
Catalytic
Converters
Automotive catalytic converters are
made of platinium, palladium and
rhodium or a combination of these
materials.
Platinium and palladium are used to
change HC and CO into H2O and CO2.
Rhodium acts to reduce NOX
emissions.
Due to enhance emissions standard
later model catalytic converters now
use cerium to attract and release
oxygen inside the converter to aid in
Catalytic
Converters
The catalyst agent inside a catalytic
converter is either ceramic beads or
a honeycomb shaped blocks.
All catalytic converters are encased
in a stainless steel housing.

Note: Stainless steel is used on newer

vehicle with catalytic converters
because the production of water will
rust traditional exhaust system
medals in only a few years.
Problems related to catalytic
converters:
Sulphur offers unique problems for
catalytic converters. Some catalysts
promote the conversion of SO2 to SO3,
which eventually gets converted to
sulphuric acid (H2SO4). This degrades
the catalytic converter and contributes
to acid rain. New catalysts are being
developed that promote the oxidation
of HC and CO but do not change SO2 to
SO3. Some of these create almost no
Exhaust Gas Recycler System
( EGR)