Characterization of emissions from a variable gasoline/methanol fueled car

Journal Article · Thu Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/10473289.1990.10466685· OSTI ID:6811523

Gabele, P A ^[1]

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1. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC (USA)

In response to the occurrence of the increasingly severe ambient ozone exceedances, regional environmental managers are examining the possibility of a cleaner fuel for automobiles. At this time the leading candidate appears to be methanol. In anticipation of a shift to methanol, flexible-fueled automobiles capable of operating on gasoline and/or methanol are being developed. This study examines both the exhaust and evaporative emissions from a prototype General Motors Variable Fuel Corsica. Results are reported for tests conducted at temperatures of 40 degrees, 75 degrees, and 90 degrees F, and for fuels M0 M25, M50, M85, and M100. In addition to regulated emissions and fuel economy, emission rates for methanol, aldehydes, and a large number of hydrocarbon compounds were measured. The data indicate that increasing the fuel's methanol content does not affect the exhaust organic emission rate (calculated in accordance with the regulation) from flexible-fueled cars, but formaldehyde and methanol comprise increasingly greater portions of the organic material while hydrocarbons comprise less. Increasing fuel methanol content has no significant effect on exhaust regulated emission rates (organic material, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides) nor on the composition of total hydrocarbons, except for methane, which increases substantially. The effect of ambient temperature on both exhaust and evaporative emissions is similar to its effect on gasoline cars: organic and carbon monoxide exhaust emissions increase substantially at the lower temperatures, and evaporative emissions increase steadily with increases in temperature.

• OSTI ID: 6811523
• Journal Information: Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association; (USA) Vol. 40:3; ISSN 1047-3289; ISSN JAWAE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AIR POLLUTION
ALCOHOLS
ALDEHYDES
AUTOMOBILES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS
ENERGY SOURCES
EXHAUST GASES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GASEOUS WASTES
GASES
GASOLINE
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
LIQUID FUELS
METHANOL
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
POLLUTION
VEHICLES
WASTES