Time Resolved FT-IR Analysis of Tailpipe Exhaust for Several Automobiles Allen R. White, James Allen Department of Mechanical Engineering Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Dr. Rebecca B. DeVasher Department of Chemistry Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Advanced Combustion Laboratory
Pre-1975: Advanced Combustion Laboratory Engine Tailpipe NO CO HC
Role of Catalytic Converter: Advanced Combustion Laboratory Engine Tailpipe Reduction of nitrogen oxides to nitrogen and oxygen: 2NO x → xO 2 + N 2 Oxidation of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide: 2CO + O 2 → 2CO 2 Oxidation of unburnt hydrocarbons (HC) to carbon dioxide and water: C x H 2x+2 + [(3x+1)/2]O 2 → xCO 2 + (x+1)H 2 O NO CO HC
Role of Catalytic Converter: Advanced Combustion Laboratory Engine Tailpipe Catalytic converter Pre-1975 Post-1975
Role of Catalytic Converter: Advanced Combustion Laboratory Reductions depend on both catalyst material and temperature
Infrared Spectroscopy Interest for Automotive Purposes Advanced Combustion Laboratory 1942 Packard 2002 Toyota Prius Ganske, Jane A. The Chemical Educator, Vol. 8 No.6 (2003) Spectra taken from exhaust output of engine at full operating temperature and at idle speed
Experimental Setup: Advanced Combustion Laboratory Vacuum pump Bruker Vertex 70 Air Test cell w/ NaCl windows
1994 Honda Civic: Advanced Combustion Laboratory 1.6 liter CO 2111 cm -1 HC 2960 cm -1 4 cm -1 resolution Time Wavenumber Amplitude
Changes to reduce emissions: Advanced Combustion Laboratory
2010 Honda Fit: Advanced Combustion Laboratory 1.3 liter CO HC
2010 Toyota Prius: Advanced Combustion Laboratory 1.8 liter CO HC
Results without a catalytic converter: 1967 Oldsmobile 442 Advanced Combustion Laboratory 6.6 liter
Summary of hydrocarbon reductions: Advanced Combustion Laboratory
Summary of CO reductions: Advanced Combustion Laboratory
Including Olds 442: Advanced Combustion Laboratory hydrocarbons CO
Acknowledgements James Allen Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Lilly Foundation Faculty Success Grant Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Dean’s Equipment Investment Fund Advanced Combustion Laboratory
Results without a catalytic converter: 1992 Jetta Diesel Advanced Combustion Laboratory
1994 Honda Civic: Advanced Combustion Laboratory