GC. Navor Solution

PROBLEM OF EMISSION

By: GianCarlo Navor

Since the early history of human civilization, we could probably say how important transport is which can be attributed most to economy. We could match that from earlier times they have utilized animals as forms of human and cargo transport by land. But as the turn of the centuries run there has been immediate need for faster way of human transport. Thus from the invention of the steam engine dated back on 1769 it has been generally considered that the modern automobile, particularly cars and its derivation e.g. trucks has been valuable in the productivity of modern economy. We could also consider that the automobile has profound effects on the availability and distribution of working places. Having a car largely increases a family's mobility and flexibility. Because of the possibility to commute the advantages of life on the countryside can still be enjoyed while being occupied in an urban region.
This is also a part of the change in lifestyle made by the spreading of the automobile. Children can now be raised in a non-urban environment even if their parents work in the city center. Cars may also contribute to a strengthening of family ties especially if the members live in distant regions. It may be much more agreeable to cover such distances by car than by other means of transportation. 

However even if we could consider the advantage of this advancement in technology we could also note that, upon the invention of the first practical automobiles with petrol-gasoline powered engines  which were completed in 1885 by Karl Benz, cars  were considered as the single greatest polluter, as emissions from billion vehicles on the road add to planet-wide problem.

We could probably note the following effects that the car emissions brought to our planet

Greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). These gases act like the glass covering a greenhouse, letting sunlight in but blocking some of the infrared radiation from the earth's surface that carries heat back into space. The gases act like a blanket wherever their concentration increases. Local concentrations increase local heat and increased differences between hotter and colder regions drives weather events into more extreme ranges. Over many years, the total amount of greenhouse gases accumulates and the average temperature of the whole planet is increasing.  The planet's thermostat had been set at a pleasant average temperature of 59 degrees (F) for the last 10 thousand years or so and is now rising.

The Combustion Process Gasoline and diesel fuels are mixtures of hydrocarbons (made of hydrogen, oxygen and carbon atoms.) Hydrocarbons are burned by combining with oxygen. Nitrogen and sulphur atoms are also present and combine with oxygen when burned to produce gases. Automotive engines emit several types of pollutants.

Typical Engine Combustion:

Fuel + Air => Hydrocarbons + Nitrogen Oxides + Carbon Dioxide + Carbon Monoxide + water

Hydrocarbon emissions are fragments of fuel molecules, only partially burned. See Toxicity of Benzene and other Hydrocarbons in exhaust.

Hydrocarbons react in the presence of nitrogen oxides and sunlight to form ground-level ozone, a major component of smog. Ozone irritates the eyes, nose, throat and damages the lungs. A number of exhaust hydrocarbons are also toxic, some with the potential to cause cancer.

Nitrogen Oxides  Under high pressure and temperature conditions in an engine, nitrogen and oxygen atoms react to form nitrogen oxides. Catalytic converters in car exhaust systems break down heavier nitrogen gases, forming nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) - 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas. NO2 makes up about 7.2 percent of the gases that cause global warming. Vehicles with catalytic converters produced nearly half of that NO2. NO2 also originates from nitrogen-based fertilizers and manure from farm animals.

Carbon Monoxide  Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas, a product of incomplete burning of hydrocarbon-based fuels. Carbon monoxide consists of a single carbon atom and a single oxygen atom linked together (CO), the product of incomplete combustion of fuel. Most CO is produced when air-to-fuel ratios are too low in the engine during vehicle starting, when cars are not tuned properly, and at higher altitudes, where thin air reduces the amount of oxygen available for combustion. Two-thirds of the carbon monoxide emissions come from transportation sources, with the largest contribution coming from cars. In urban areas, the passenger vehicle contribution to carbon monoxide pollution can exceed 90%.  Read more about Carbon Monoxide

Carbon Dioxide U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) originally viewed carbon dioxide as a product of "perfect" combustion, but now views CO2 as a pollution concern. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that traps the earth's heat and contributes to Climate Change 

Evaporative Emissions  Hydrocarbon pollutants also escape into the air through fuel evaporation - evaporation causes significant hydrocarbon pollution from cars on hot days when ozone levels are highest. Evaporative emissions occur several ways:

Diurnal: Gasoline evaporation increases as the temperature rises during the day, heating the fuel tank and venting gasoline vapors.

Running Loses: The hot engine and exhaust system can vaporize gasoline when the car is running.

Sitting Evaporation: The engine remains hot for a period of time after the car is turned off, and gasoline evaporation continues when the car is parked.

Adding Fuel: Gasoline vapors are always present in fuel tanks. These vapors are forced out when the tank is filled with liquid fuel.

Benzene  is the main toxin in the hydrocarbon fraction of exhaust. Benzene and other less known hydrocarbons are produced in petroleum refining, and are widely used as solvents and as materials in the production of various industrial products and pesticides. Benzene also is found in gasoline and in cigarette smoke. Other environmental sources of benzene include gasoline (filling) stations, underground storage tanks that leak, wastewater from industries that use benzene, chemical spills, and groundwater next to landfills containing benzene. Exposure to benzene can cause cancer, especially leukemias and lymphomas. Benzene has a suppressive effect on bone marrow and it impairs blood cell maturation and amplification.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)

PAHs are a group of chemicals that are formed during the incomplete burning of coal, oil and gas, garbage, or other organic substances. PAHs can be man-made or occur naturally. A few of the PAHs are used in medicines and to make dyes, plastics, and pesticides. They are found throughout the environment in the air, water and soil. There are more than 100 different PAH compounds. Although the health effects of the individual PAHs vary, the following 15 PAHs are considered as a group with similar toxicity: acenaphthene, acenaphthylene, anthracene, benzanthracene, benzopyrene, benzofluoranthene, benzoperylene, benzofluoranthene, chrysene dibenzanthracene, fluoranthene, fluorene, indenopyrene, phenanthrene, pyrene. 

Pollution Prevention Tips

Since the awareness of human beings on the effects of these air pollutants or any particular pollutants in that manner people has seek ways to reduce and find solutions to the particular problem of our planet. These are the following ways which we could help;

1)    Keep emission control system of our vehicle to work properly by following these steps

a.    Check the air filter on the air cleaner system. This special paper element helps filter dirt, dust and other foreign particles from the air stream going into the engine. Replace the filter if clogged or after one year of use. Also, clean the air filter housing of dust and debris using a clean shop rag.

b.    Inspect the Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) system. This system redirects blowby gases in the crankcase into the intake manifold to reduce air pollution and sludge buildup in the engine. Check the PCV valve and look for clogged, broken or missing hoses

c.    Examine the Evaporative Emissions Control (EVAP) system. The EVAP prevents toxic fuel system vapor from going into the atmosphere. For the most part, this system requires very little maintenance, but you should inspect hoses, fittings and canister for possible damage. On some vehicle models, the canister is equipped with a filter that can be replaced if black or clogged

d.    Go over the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system. The system reduces NOx emissions produced during the combustion process when very high temperatures exist. The EGR allows exhaust gases to enter the intake system to reduce combustion temperature. Look for vacuum hoses damage, valve operation, restricted pipe and passages

e.    Check the Air Injection System if your particular vehicle model is equipped with it. The system injects fresh air into the exhaust ports or catalytic converter to help consume unburned, or partially burned fuel, reducing HC and CO. Inspect for damaged hoses, lines, check valves and belt tension. Some air injection systems use a pump inlet filter that can be replaced, if necessary

f.     Inspect the catalytic converter and connecting pipes. The converter does not require maintenance, but exhaust pipes and connectors leading to the converter should be checked for leaks. If the catalytic converter in your vehicle has been in operation for 5 or more years, have it inspected to make sure it is still in good shape and not blocked. A clogged converter reduces engine power and causes overheat

2)    Reduce the use of automobile in short distance travel. We could either walk our way to the market place or utilize vehicle which does not use petrol like the bicycle.

3)    Plant more trees and plants improves the air quality which counteracts the effects of pollutants.

4)    Switch to biofuels but require reduced combustion of all kinds. Biofuels burned in diesel engines have a better environmental profile.

5)    Future car technology. includes new energy sources and materials, which are being developed in order to make automobiles more sustainable, safer, more energy efficient, or less polluting. Presently we could study further ways to utilize hydrogen and or water as an alternative fuel to use as power source of automobiles. Currently noted scientist has been researching upon of which is a Filipino scientist under the name of Daniel Dingel who claims to have built a car running using water in 1969. Furthermore similar study has been done by American inventors Rudolf Gunnerman and Stanley Meyer and the researchers of the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory.