9119113 Vehicle emissions control - the free enc}Clopedia

Main article: Secondary air injection

One of the first-developed exhaust emission control system> is secondary air iajection. Originally, this system was
used to iaject air into the engine's exhaust ports to provide oxygen so unburned and partially burned hydrocarbons
in the exhaust would finish burning. Air iajection is now used to support the catalytic converter's oxidation reaction,
and to reduce emissions when an engine is started from cold. After a cold start, an engine needs a fuel-air mixture
richer than what it needs at operating temperature, and the catalytic converter does not fimction efficiently until it has
reached its own operating terqierature. The air iajected upstream of the converter supports combustion in the
exhaust headpipe, which speeds catalyst warmup and reduces the ammnt of unburned hydrocarbon emitted from
the tailpipe.
Exhaust gas recirculation
Main article: Exhaust gas recirculation
In the United States and Canada, many engines in 1973 and newer vehicles (1972 and newer in Califurnia) have a
system that routes a metered amnmt of exhaust into the intake tract under particular operating conditions. Exhaust
neither blllllS nor supports combustion, so it dilutes the air/fuel charge to reduce peak combustion chamber
temperatures. This, in turn, reduces the furmation ofNO"'
Catalytic converter
Main article: Catalytic converter
The catalytic converter is a device placed in the exhaust pipe, which converts hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and
NOx into less harmful gases by using a combination of platinum, palladium and rhodium as catalysts.
There are two types of catalytic converter, a two-way and a three-way converter. Two-way converters were
connmn until the 1980s, when three-way converters replaced them on most automobile engines. See the catalytic
converter article fur finther details.
Evaporative emissions control
Evaporative emissions are the resuh of gasoline vapors escaping from the vehicle's fuel system Since 1971, all U.S.
vehicles have had fully sealed fuel system> that do not vent directly to the atmosphere; mandates fur system; of this
type appeared contemporaneously in other jurisdictions. In a typical system, vapors from the fuel tank and
carburetor bowl vent (on carbureted vehicles) are ducted to canisters contllining activated carbon. The vapors are
adsorbed within the canister, and during certain engine operational modes fresh air is drawn through the canister,
pulling the vapor into the engine, where it blllllS.
Leak detection systems
ESIM - Evaporative System Integrity Monitor
NVLD - Natural Vac\Rllil Leak Detection
LDP - Leak Detection Pump
en.wikipediaorg/WkiNehicle_errissions_control 416
9119113 Vehicle emissions control - the free enc}Clopedia
Emission testing
In 1966, the first emi5sion test cycle was enacted in the State ofCalifurnia measuring tailpipe emi5sions in PPM
(parts per million).
Some cities are also using a technology developed by Dr. Donald Stedman of the University ofDenver, which uses
lasers to detect emi5sions while vehicles pass by on public roads, thus eliminating the need fur owners to go to a
test center. Stedman's laser detection of exhaust gases is commonly used in metropolitan areas. [
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Use of emission test data
Emission test resuhs from individual vehicles are in many cases compiled to evaluate the emi5sions perfurmance of
various classes of vehicles, the efficacy of the testing program and of various other emi5sion-related regulations
(such as changes to fuel fumrulations) and to nndel the effects of auto emi5sions on public health and the
environment. For example, the Environmental Working Group used Califurnia ASM emi5sions data to create an
''Auto Astlnna Index" that rates vehicle nndels according to emi5sions ofhydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides,
chemical precmsors to photochemical sroog.
See also
AP 42 Compilation of Air Polhrtant Emission Factors
Emission standards
Low carbon economy
Motor vehicle emi5sions
On-board diagoostics#OBD-1
Onboard refueling vapor recovery
Ontario's Drive Clean
Portable Emissions Measurement System
Roadway air dispersion nndeling
United States emi5sion standards
European emi5sion standards
Vehicle inspection
External links
Manufilcturers ofEmission Controls Association (MECA) (http://www.meca.org)
Emission Control Systems (http://www.:liunilycar.com/CLASSROOM/emi5sionhtm) on FamilyCar.com
National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory (http://www.epa.gov/nvfuV) of the United States
Environmental Protection Agency
Mitchell 1 Emission Control Application Guide (http://buymitchelll.net/mm5/merchant.mvc?
Screen=PROD&Store_Code=Ml&Product_Code=ECAT13&Category_Code=REPMAN) Mitchell 1
Emission Control Application Guide
References
en.wikipediaorg/WkiNehicle_errissions_control