INTERNAL COMBUSTION

ENGINES

EMISSIONS FROM IC
ENGINES

INTRODUCTION TO ENGINE
EMISSIONS
Everyday crores of vehicles of the world causes air

pollution in the form of million tonnes of pollutants like

carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen.
The dangerous effects of I.C. engine emissions are the

reason behind the Supreme Court order of April 99 to

ban the use of vehicles having more than 15 years of
service.
The present need, therefore, is to understand and

attempt to minimise the emissions from I.C. engines.

HARMFUL EFFECTS ON HUMAN

BEINGS DUE TO AIR POLLUTANTS
Carbon monoxide(CO): CO causes headache,

nausea and breathing problems. It combines

with hemoglobin in the blood and reduces its
oxygen carrying capacity to body tissues.

Hydrocarbons (HC): HC is raw/ unburnt fuel

escaping to atmosphere. Most predominant HC

in the fuel is octane (C8H18) .

 Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx): NOx are produced when

N2 and O2 combine at higher temperature ranging

from 1100 C upwards. NOx irritates the eyes, nose
and throat and it causes coughing, headaches and
damage to lungs.

Soot: Soot are solid particles of pure carbon. Their

size is few microns. Soot produces lung cancer.

Aldehydes: They are produced in diesel engines

mostly due to cold flames. Irritation to eyes and nose.

 SO2, H2S and Lead: Toxic gas SO2 and bad smell of

gas H2S are formed on burning of sulphur present in

petroleum products.

Suspended Particulate Matters (SPM):

Particulates are ash, carbon and liquids like sulphuric

acid vapours. Produced by burning of diesel fuel.
SPMs enter the body through respiratory system. Fine
particles of size less than 10 m reach respiratory
system and particles of size less than 1 m reach
lungs and cause bronchitis and cardiac diseases.

EMISSION FROM S.I. ENGINES

Emission from exhaust: The complete combustion of

gasoline takes place in engine cylinders as per the following

reaction:
2C8H18 + 25O2 -> 16CO2 + 18H2O

But certain byproducts are also produced due to incomplete

combustion due to certain reason. These byproducts are:

(a) Carbon monoxide: It is produced by incomplete

combustion of gasoline, which is due to inadequacy of

oxygen during combustion.

(b) Hydrocarbons: Unburnt HC emissions are the result

of incomplete combusion which are emitted through
exhaust of the S.I. engines.

(c) Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx): Oxides of nitrogen are

produced when O2 and N2 of atmospheric air
combine inside combustion chamber at temperature
beyong 1100 C. However, a large part of the nitric
oxides is dissociated in N2 and O2 at low
temperatures during expansion and exhaust strokes.
As a result NOx emissions are considerably reduced in
exhaust.

Evaporation of gasoline:
(a) Fuel tank: Gasoline escapes to atmosphere

while being filled into fuel tanks. It also escapes

through vent plug of the fuel tank which is open
to atmosphere for breathing.

(b) Carburetor: Gasoline escapes from carburettor

when the engine has run for some time at load
and stopped. Due to high engine temp. , gasoline
boils in carburetor and its escape to atmosphere
increases. This is called hot soaking.

Crankcase blowby: Leakage of combustion

gases to engine crankcase due to gap between
cylinder and piston rings is called blowby. It
consists of 25 to 35% of the HC of total emissions.
Piston blowby increases with speed when the wear
of piston and cylinder and bore increases.

It may cause the following.

(a) High concentration of combustible air- fuel mixture

could cause explosion in crankcase.

(b) Partially burnt mixture of fuel and air and fully

burnt vapour fumes will condense and contaminate

the engines lubricating oil.

EMISSION FROM C.I. ENGINE

Same as petrol engine but concentration of pollutants

varies as:
(1) Carbon Monoxide(CO): Concentration is quite less as

compared to diesel engine. It is less than 2%.

(2) Hydrocarbons(HC): Significant emission of HC. Black

smoke is produced at exhaust due to presence of soot in

the flue gases especially during racing periods.

(3) Oxides of Nitrogen: Very high during acceleration

period as highest temperature is reached.

(4) Aldehydes and other: Aldehydes has pungent

odor in diesel fuel. Also H2S and SO2 are formed on
burning of sulphur. SPMs are also produced.

(5) Smoke and particulate: Generally the colour of

smoke may be black or white. White appears under
conditions of cold starting, idling and low loads.
Except these conditions if white smoke is produced it
means piston rings are worn out and needs
replacement. Black smoke is produced due to
incomplete combustion and it increases with increase
in load.

Even if A/F ratio is maintained, pollutants will still

be produced due to incomplete combustion.

POLLUTION CONTROL DEVICES.

The following are the pollution control devices

used with engine systems.

(1) Positive crankcase ventilation system(PCV)
(2) Catalytic converter
(3) Exhaust Gases Recirculation system(EGR)
(4) Fuel Evaporative Emission Control(EVAP)
(5) Total Emission Control Package

(a) Thermal reactor package

(b) Catalytic converter package

EMISSION NORMS
Emission norms are the maximum prescribed level of CO, HC
and NOx set by the Govt., which a vehicle is permitted to emit
from its exhaust while running.
EURO Norms: Euro names are the permissible emission levels
for both petrol and diesel vehicles which have been
implemented by in European countries.
Indian Norms: Emission norms for our country were worked
out and implemented with effect from the year 1992. These
norms were known as INDIA 2000 norms. Euro 2 were
implemented from the year 2002 known as Bharat 2 norms.

Testing and Certification Authorities of Pollution

Norms for Automobiles.

Automobiles are required to be tested for mass emission
tests at manufacturing stage and certification has to
be done for emission levels within prescribed limits set
by the Govt. by one of the following agencies in India.:
(1) Indian Institute of Petroleum(IIP), Dehradun.
(2) Automotive Research Association of India(ARAI),

Pune.
(3) Vehicles Research and Development

Establishment(VRDE), Ahmednagar.