Joseph H. Somers

Toxicologically Acceptable Levels of Methanol and Formaldehyde Emissions from Methanol-Fueled Vehicles

The increased interest in use of methanol makes it important to determine what levels of methanol and formaldehyde emissions may be acceptable. This paper reviews the available health data for methanol and formaldehyde to define what approximate ranges of concentrations, termed ranges of concern, could be acceptable from a toxicological viewpoint. Air quality models are then used to predict the in-use fleet average exhaust emission levels in localized situations (heavily impacted by mobile sources) corresponding to these ranges of concern. Using predicted fleet compositions, approximate target emission levels are given for the light-duty portion of the fleet which could yield these fleet averages. Finally, there is a brief summary of available methanol and formaldehyde emissions data from neat methanol-fueled vehicles which are compared to the target levels. In general, most of the design targets have already been met by current neat methanol-fueled vehicles, but some situations may require specific attention with respect to the design of emission control systems (e.g., cold start exhaust and hot soak evaporative emissions). For the covering abstract see IRRD 287297. (Author/TRRL)

Review of Federally Sponsored Research on Diesel Exhaust Odors

The information presented in this paper is directed to persons concerned with control of exhaust odors from diesel-engine-powered vehicles. This paper summarizes projects sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over the past years in the field of diesel-exhaust odor. These investigations have concentrated on developing measurement methods for quantifying different odor levels, evaluating various odor control methods, and evaluating public opinions of such odors. A human panel method using odor reference standards has been found suitable to measure these odor levels. In addition to this technique, chemical characterization work has been sponsored under a project jointly sponsored by the Coordinating Research Council and the EPA to isolate and identify those species responsible for the odor. Knowledge of these odorous compounds and the techniques necessary to isolate them should lead to development of a chemical method to measure this type of odor, in place of human panelists. Such basic info...

EFFECTS OF FUEL VARIABLES ON DIESEL EMISSIONS

The body of information presented in this paper is directed towards engineers in the field of environmental sciences involved in measuring and/or evaluating the emissions from a variety of diesel engines or vehicles. This paper summarizes recent data obtained by EPA on identification and quantification of different emissions (i.e. characterization) from a variety of diesel engines. Extensive work has been done comparing emissions from some light duty diesel and gasoline passenger cars. The work on the diesel vehicles was expanded to include tests with five different diesel fuels to determine how fuel composition affects emissions. This work showed that use of a poorer quality fuel frequently made emissions worse. The investigation of fuel composition continued with a project in which specific fuel parameters were systematically varied to determine their effect on emissions. EPA is presently testing a variety of fuels derived from coal and oil shale to determine their effects on emissions. EPA has also tested a heavy duty Volvo diesel bus engine designed to run on methanol and diesel fuel, each injected through its own injection system. The use of the dual fuel resulted in a reduction in particulates and NO but an increase in HC and CO compared to a baseline Volvo diesel engine running on pure diesel fuel. Finally, some Ames bioassay tests have been performed on samples from the diesel passenger cars operated on various fuels and blends. An increase in Ames test response (mutagenicity) was seen when the higher aromatic blend was used and also when a commercial cetane improver was used. Samples from the Volvo diesel bus engine fueled with methanol and diesel fuel showed that use of a catalyst increased the Ames response.

A Study of the Potential Impact of Some Unregulated Motor Vehicle Emissions

Studies of emissions from vehicles equipped with catalysts have shown that some unregulated emissions can increase when a catalyst is used. One example of this is sulfuric acid, which has been studied extensively. Other unregulated emissions include ammonia and hydrogen cyanide. In a number of studies, these unregulated pollutant emissions have been measured from light-duty vehicles and heavy-duty engines. These emission levels were used in air quality dispersion models to predict the resultant air quality levels. The ambient concentrations predicted for each pollutant were then compared to suggested concentrations at which adverse health effects may be found to determine if additional monitoring or control would be indicated for these pollutants. It was determined that mobile source emissions of sulfuric acid, hydrogen cyanide, and ammonia do not in general result in ambient levels of concern for the air quality situations studied.

Sulfuric Acid Emissions from Light Duty Vehicles

Systems used by the Office of Mobile Source Air Pollution Control of EPA to measure and analyze automotive sulfuric acid emissions are discussed. This system involved mixing the entire vehicle exhaust with dilution air in a dilution tunnel. Sulfuric acid samples are collected by passing a small portion of the dilute exhaust through Fluoropore filters. The sulfuric acid content of the filters is determined by an automated barium chloranilate method. Test results from a number of advanced prototype vehicles including two stratified charge cars, a Dresser carburetor vehicle, three dual catalyst cars, and a 3-way catalyst car are described.

Heavy Duty Diesel Particulate Emission Factors

For the past several years, EPA has been measuring particulate emissions from a variety of heavy-duty diesel engines through contracts with Southwest Research Institute. Particulate emissions samples have been collected using an exhaust splitter to divert a fraction of the engine exhaust into a standard dilution tunnel. A small fraction of the diluted exhaust from the tunnel is pulled through a filter from which particulate mass and, in some cases, organic content of the particulate is determined. This paper discusses the sampling system and gives particulate emission factors that have been computed from truck and bus fuel consumption data as well as average truck and bus speed data from New York and Los Angeles (freeway and nonfreeway usage). Average particulate emission test results (steady state tests) for 2-stroke engines were 4.74 g/kg fuel and for 4-stroke engines were 2.64 g/kg fuel. Using average particulate emissions results, a particulate emission factor range of 0.8 to 1.3 g/km was computed. Na...

EPA MOTOR VEHICLE EMISSIONS CHARACTERIZATION PROJECTS ON LIGHT AND HEAVY DUTY DIESELS

The body of information presented in this paper is directed towards engineers in the field of environmental sciences involved in measuring and evaluating the emissions from a variety of diesel engines or vehicles. This paper summarizes recent data obtained by EPA on identification and quantification of different emissions (i.e. characterization) from a variety of diesel engines. The effects of turbocharging, advanced injection timing, indirect vs. direct injection, exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), and different fuel pumps on HC, CO, NO/sub x/, sulfates, aldehyde, and particulate emissions were determined by testing several heavy duty diesel engines. A heavy duty gasoline engine was tested for comparison. Limited testing was done on a diesel bus engine under malfunction conditions (conditions different from manufacturers recommended specifications).

Public Opinion of Diesel Odor

This paper describes the results of a public opinion survey on testing of diesel exhaust odors conducted during 1969 and 1970. Major goals of the research were to relate public opinion of the odors and the objectionability associated with them to odor intensity, and to obtain a dose-response curve as the primary result. It was found that a relationship existed between perceived diesel exhaust odor intensity and the objectionability of these odors. The nature of this relationship was that increasingly intense diesel exhaust odors were considered increasingly objectionable.