Grantee Research Project Results

Combustion Chamber Deposit Effects on Engine Hydrocarbon Emissions

EPA Grant Number: R824970C002
Subproject: this is subproject number 002 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R824970
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: HSRC (1989) - Northeast HSRC
Center Director: Sidhu, Sukh S.
Title: Combustion Chamber Deposit Effects on Engine Hydrocarbon Emissions
Investigators: Heywood, John B. , Hochgreb, Simone
Institution: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: January 1, 1992 through June 30, 1997
Project Amount: Refer to main center abstract for funding details.
RFA: Center on Airborne Organics (1993) Recipients Lists
Research Category: Targeted Research

Objective:

(1) To design a carefully-controlled experiment for deposit accumulation and HC emission measurement. (2) To assess the effects of combustion chamber deposits on the hydrocarbon emissions from a modem production spark-ignition engine. (3) To measure the effect of CCD on HC emissions from single-component fuels. (4) To develop and validate a model for the mechanism(s) by which combustion chamber deposits lead to additional HC emissions. (5)To study the effects of combustion chamber deposits on NOx emissions.

Approach:

A four-cylinder, DOHC Saturn engine is subjected to a standardized deposit build-up cycle. An additized fuel (which keeps the intake valves and ports clean and significantly increase the amount of combustion chamber deposits) is used, to isolate the effects of the combustion chamber deposits on the emissions. HC and NO,, emission measurements are continuously taken during the deposit accumulation process.

Rationale:

Engine deposits (on intake valve and combustion chamber) increase HC emissions. Some recent data suggest that combustion chamber deposits increase NO,, emissions. To meet stringent future emission standards, the emissions due to deposits will have to be reduced. The first step towards that end is to better quantify these emissions and understand the mechanisms involved in their formation.

Supplemental Keywords:

emission, combustion, engine deposits., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Air, Waste, particulate matter, Environmental Chemistry, Atmospheric Sciences, Incineration/Combustion, combustion byproducts, ambient aerosol, particulates, gas-phase transformation, combustion chamber, chemical characteristics, environmental chamber studies, ambient measurement methods, emissions measurement, combustion emissions, atmospheric transformation, emissions, chemical kinetics, atmospheric transport, hydrocarbons, combustion, engine deposits, kinetc models, combustion contaminants, spark ignition engine, chemical speciation sampling

Progress and Final Reports:

Main Center Abstract and Reports:

R824970 HSRC (1989) - Northeast HSRC

Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R824970C001 Chemical Kinetic Modeling of Formation of Products of Incomplete Combustion from Spark-ignition Engines
R824970C002 Combustion Chamber Deposit Effects on Engine Hydrocarbon Emissions
R824970C003 Atmospheric Transformation of Volatile Organic Compounds: Gas-Phase Photooxidation and Gas-to-Particle Conversion
R824970C004 Mathematical Models of the Transport and Fate of Airborne Organics
R824970C005 Elementary Reaction Mechanism and Pathways for Atmospheric Reactions of Aromatics - Benzene and Toluene
R824970C006 Simultaneous Removal of Soot and NOx from the Exhaust of Diesel Powered Vehicles
R824970C007 Modeling Gas-Phase Chemistry and Heterogeneous Reaction of Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds
R824970C008 Fundamental Study on High Temperature Chemistry of Oxygenated Hydrocarbons as Alternate Motor Fuels and Additives
R824970C009 Markers for Emissions from Combustion Sources
R824970C010 Experimental Investigation of the Evolution of the Size and Composition Distribution of Atmospheric Organic Aerosols
R824970C011 Microengineered Mass Spectrometer for in-situ Measurement of Airborne Contaminants

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