Catalytic control of individual hydrocarbons from a small utility gasoline engine

Recent approval of emission standards for small utility engines by the California Air Resources Board suggested that substantial reductions in emissions from small utility engines will soon be required. Although the 1994 standards can be met by simple engine modifications, the 1999 standards may require the use of emission control technologies such as catalytic converters because they are more stringent. In this research catalytic control of individual hydrocarbons such as methane, ethylene, benzene, and toluene were evaluated. A platinum coated catalyst treated emissions from a 107cc, four-cycle gasoline engine loaded with a 1.4KW portable generator. Determination of emissions was performed at three different load levels: 0%, 50% and 92% of the engine rated load. Among the four hydrocarbons, toluene was oxidized as much as 60%, and benzene 40%, whereas ethylene remained unaffected by the catalyst. Also, a 5% to 10% methane oxidation occurred in one trial.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Environmental Planning

Department dc:contributor.department

Environmental Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

1993

Author dc:creator

• Giavis, Konstantinos C.

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Hughes, J. Martin

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Novak, John T.
• Boardman, Gregory D.

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

etd-09292009-020311

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/44941