Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: UV-LED Photocatalytic Fuel Vapor Emissions Control
EPA Grant Number: SU839464Title: UV-LED Photocatalytic Fuel Vapor Emissions Control
Investigators: Almquist, Dr Catherine B , Coughlan, Cashel , Gabski, Jan , Hogan, Will , Lyons, Jared , Weaver, Kyle , Zhu, Jingchao
Institution: Miami University - Oxford
EPA Project Officer: Callan, Richard
Phase: I
Project Period: January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019
Project Amount: $14,863
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2018) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: P3 Awards , P3 Challenge Area - Air Quality
Objective:
The project had four key objectives: 1) Design, construct, and demonstrate the performance of prototypes of UV LED fuel vapor emissions control devices for demonstration in lab; 2) Design, construct, and demonstrate the performance of prototypes of UV LED fuel vapor emissions control device that can be incorporated into an automobile to reduce evaporative fuel vapor emissions; 3) Utilize computer-aided design (CAD) tools and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models to assist in the design and assessment of the prototype system; 4) Assess the economic attractiveness of the UV LED photocatalytic fuel vapor emissions control system for automobiles.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
The technology concept of using UV LED photocatalytic fuel vapor emissions control in automobiles has been demonstrated! The prototype UV LED photocatalytic evaporative fuel vapor emissions control system has been designed, constructed, and assessed at both Miami (using ethanol vapor as a representative fuel vapor) and at Stant Manufacturing (using standard test methods, 40 CFR 86.133-96-Diurnal emissions test). Autocad and computational fluid dynamics were both invaluable tools in the design and construction of the prototypes fabricated for this project. The prototype currently uses approximately 7 W of direct current (DC) power from a 12 V power supply. The cost of the initial prototype is approximately $35, which is anticipated to be reduced with a smaller “next generation” prototype that is constructed of less expensive materials of construction.
Conclusions:
This year’s senior design team of 4 students (2019-2020) is re-designing the device into a cylindrical form and is working toward a more durable photocatalytic film. A prototype of the cylindrical device has been machined and is ready for incorporation of the film and UV LEDs. Plans are to present this work at Miami’s URF in April, 2020, at Miami’s Senior Design Expo in May, 2020, and possibly at a regional conference of AICHE or ACS.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 1 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
UV LED photocatalytic fuel vapor emissions controlP3 Phase II:
UV-LED Photocatalytic Fuel Vapor Emissions Control | 2021 Progress Report | 2022 Progress Report | 2023 Progress Report | Final ReportThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.