Engine Emissions and Air Quality

A special issue of Atmosphere (ISSN 2073-4433). This special issue belongs to the section "Air Quality".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (23 December 2021) | Viewed by 26892

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Centre for Green Technology, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
Interests: internal combustion engines; spray combustion; computational fluid dynamics; vehicle emissions; air quality; renewable energy
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Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, Ikaron 3, 501 00 Kozani, Greece
Interests: air pollution; air quality modelling; biogenic emissions; pollutant emissions; meteorology; climate change and feedbacks; aerosol indirect effect; earth energy balance; global climate models; Earth system models; numerical methods
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Guest Editor
School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Zografou Campus, Iroon Polytechniou Str., Zografou, 15780 Athens, Greece
Interests: climate change (mitigation and adaptation); GHG inventories; air pollution; industrial safety
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Modern economy largely relies on the transport of goods and people, which is largely powered by internal combustion engines. As a result, road transport is a significant sector for energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, and is increasing due to economic and population growth. The International Energy Agency reported that the energy use in the transport sector significantly increased from 23% of total final consumption in 1971 to 29% in 2015. Meanwhile, exposure to poor air quality continues to be a critical issue concerning the public health worldwide. The World Health Organisation estimated that ambient air pollution causes 4.2 million premature deaths per year globally. Motor vehicles, especially diesel vehicles, are the main source of air pollution in our cities. Therefore, great efforts have been undertaken to reduce energy consumption and pollutant emissions from motor vehicles, such as more stringent emission standards for new vehicles, inspection and maintenance (I/M) programs for in-use vehicles, new engine and vehicle technologies (e.g. engine downsizing, low temperature combustion, and hybrid and electric vehicles), better fuel quality and renewable fuels.

This Special Issue aims to collect original research and review papers on vehicle-related energy and environmental problems. All experimental and numerical studies that support fuel savings, emissions reduction, and air quality protection are welcome.

Dr. Yuhan Huang
Dr. Rafaella Eleni P. Sotiropoulou
Dr. Ioannis Sempos (Sebos)
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • New engine and vehicle technologies
  • Renewable fuels
  • Laboratory emissions testing
  • Real driving emissions
  • In-Use vehicle emissions control
  • Emission factors development
  • Air quality assessment

 

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 2221 KiB  
Article
Life Cycle Assessment of Battery Electric and Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles Considering the Impact of Electricity Generation Mix: A Case Study in China
by Bowen Tang, Yi Xu and Mingyang Wang
Atmosphere 2022, 13(2), 252; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13020252 - 1 Feb 2022
Cited by 30 | Viewed by 8701
Abstract
Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) are considered to have higher energy efficiency and advantages to better control CO2 emissions compared to Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles (ICEVs). However, in the context that a large amount of thermal power is still used in developing countries, [...] Read more.
Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) are considered to have higher energy efficiency and advantages to better control CO2 emissions compared to Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles (ICEVs). However, in the context that a large amount of thermal power is still used in developing countries, the CO2 emission reduction effectiveness of BEVs can be weakened or even counterproductive. To reveal the impact of the electricity generation mix on carbon emissions from vehicles, this paper compares the life cycle carbon emissions of BEVs with ICEVs considering the regional disparity of electricity generation mix in China. According to Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) analysis and regional electricity carbon intensity, this study demonstrates that BEVs in the region with high penetration of thermal power produce more CO2 emissions, while BEVs in the region with higher penetration of renewable energy have better environmental performance in carbon emission reduction. For instance, in the region with over 50% penetration of renewable energy, a BEV can reduce more CO2 (18.32 t) compared to an ICEV. Therefore, the regions with high carbon emissions from vehicles need to increase the proportion of renewable generation as a priority rather than promoting BEVs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Engine Emissions and Air Quality)
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16 pages, 2249 KiB  
Article
A Comparative Analysis of Emissions from a Compression–Ignition Engine Powered by Diesel, Rapeseed Biodiesel, and Biodiesel from Chlorella protothecoides Biomass Cultured under Different Conditions
by Marcin Dębowski, Ryszard Michalski, Marcin Zieliński and Joanna Kazimierowicz
Atmosphere 2021, 12(9), 1099; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12091099 - 25 Aug 2021
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3051
Abstract
The priority faced by energy systems in road transport is to develop and implement clean technologies. These actions are expected to reduce emissions and slow down climate changes. An alternative in this case may be the use of biodiesel produced from microalgae. However, [...] Read more.
The priority faced by energy systems in road transport is to develop and implement clean technologies. These actions are expected to reduce emissions and slow down climate changes. An alternative in this case may be the use of biodiesel produced from microalgae. However, its production and use need to be justified economically and technologically. The main objective of this study was to determine the emissions from an engine powered by biodiesel produced from the bio-oil of Chlorella protothecoides cultured with different methods, i.e., using a pure chemical medium (BD-ABM) and a medium based on the effluents from an anaerobic reactor (BD-AAR). The results obtained were compared to the emissions from engines powered by conventional biodiesel from rapeseed oil (BD-R) and diesel from crude oil (D-CO). The use of effluents as a medium in Chlorella protothecoides culture had no significant effect on the properties of bio-oil nor the composition of FAME. In both cases, octadecatrienoic acid proved to be the major FAME (50% wt/wt), followed by oleic acid (ca. 22%) and octadecadienoic acid (over 15%). The effluents from UASB were found to significantly reduce the biomass growth rate and lipid content of the biomass. The CO2 emissions were comparable for all fuels tested and increased linearly along with an increasing engine load. The use of microalgae biodiesel resulted in a significantly lower CO emission compared to the rapeseed biofuel and contributed to lower NOx emission. Regardless of engine load tested, the HC emission was the highest in the engine powered by diesel. At low engine loads, it was significantly lower when the engine was powered by microalgae biodiesel than by rapeseed biodiesel. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Engine Emissions and Air Quality)
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15 pages, 24195 KiB  
Article
Characterization of Pollutant Emissions from Typical Material Handling Equipment Using a Portable Emission Measurement System
by Kaili Pang, Xiangrui Meng, Shuai Ma and Ziyuan Yin
Atmosphere 2021, 12(5), 598; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12050598 - 5 May 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2531
Abstract
Non-road equipment has been an important source of pollutants that negatively affect air quality in China. An accurate emission inventory for non-road equipment is therefore required to improve air quality. The objective of this paper was to characterize emissions from typical diesel-fueled material [...] Read more.
Non-road equipment has been an important source of pollutants that negatively affect air quality in China. An accurate emission inventory for non-road equipment is therefore required to improve air quality. The objective of this paper was to characterize emissions from typical diesel-fueled material handling equipment (loaders and cranes) using a portable emission measurement system. Instantaneous, modal, and composite emissions were quantified in this study. Three duty modes (idling, moving, and working) were used. Composite emission factors were estimated using modal emissions and time-fractions for typical duty cycles. Results showed that emissions from loaders and cranes were higher and more variable for the moving and working modes than the idling mode. The estimated fuel-based CO, HC, NO, and PM2.5 composite emission factors were 21.7, 2.7, 38.2, and 3.6 g/(kg-fuel), respectively, for loaders, and 8.7, 2.4, 28.3, and 0.3 g/(kg-fuel), respectively, for cranes. NO emissions were highest and should be the main focus for emission controls. CO, HC, NO, and PM2.5 emissions measured were different from emission factors in the US Environmental Protection Agency NONROAD model and the Chinese National Guideline for Emission Inventory Development for Non-Road Equipment. This indicates that improving emission inventory accuracy for non-road equipment requires more real-world emission measurements. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Engine Emissions and Air Quality)
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9 pages, 662 KiB  
Article
Unregulated Emissions from Natural Gas Taxi Based on IVE Model
by Hong Zhao, Liang Mu, Yan Li, Junzheng Qiu, Chuanlong Sun and Xiaotong Liu
Atmosphere 2021, 12(4), 478; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12040478 - 9 Apr 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2065
Abstract
Emissions from motor vehicles have gained the attention of government agencies. To alleviate air pollution and reduce the petroleum demand from vehicles in China, the policy of “oil to gas” was vigorously carried out. Qingdao began to promote the use of natural gas [...] Read more.
Emissions from motor vehicles have gained the attention of government agencies. To alleviate air pollution and reduce the petroleum demand from vehicles in China, the policy of “oil to gas” was vigorously carried out. Qingdao began to promote the use of natural gas vehicles (NGVs) in 2003. By the end of 2016, there were 9460 natural gas (NG) taxis in Qingdao, which accounted for 80% of the total taxis. An understanding of policy implementation for emission reductions is required. Experiments to obtain the taxi driving conditions and local parameters were investigated and an international vehicle emissions (IVE) localization model was established. Combined with vehicle mass analysis system (VMAS) experiments, the IVE localization model was amended and included the taxi pollutant emission factors. The result indicates that annual total carbon monoxide (CO) emissions from actual taxis are 6411.87 t, carbureted hydrogen (HC) emissions are 124.85 t, nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions are 1397.44 t and particulate matter (PM) emissions are 8.9 t. When the taxis are running on pure natural gas, the annual emissions of CO, HC, NOx and PM are 4942.3 t, 48.15 t, 1496.01 t and 5.13 t, respectively. Unregulated emissions of annual total formaldehydes, benzene, acetaldehyde, 1,3-butadience emissions from an actual taxi are 65.99 t, 4.68 t, 1.04 t and 8.83 t. When the taxi is running on pure natural gas, the above unregulated emissions are 12.11 t, 1.27 t, 1.5 t and 0.02 t, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Engine Emissions and Air Quality)
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12 pages, 1570 KiB  
Article
Simulation Analysis on the Optimal Imaging Detection Wavelength of SO2 Concentration in Ship Exhaust
by Zhenduo Zhang, Wenbo Zheng, Kai Cao, Ying Li and Ming Xie
Atmosphere 2020, 11(10), 1119; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos11101119 - 19 Oct 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2532
Abstract
The SO2 discharged by ships causes serious pollution to the atmosphere. Therefore, the International Maritime Organization has set strict requirements on the sulfur content of marine fuel. For the first time, this study investigates the optimal detection wavelength based on the imaging [...] Read more.
The SO2 discharged by ships causes serious pollution to the atmosphere. Therefore, the International Maritime Organization has set strict requirements on the sulfur content of marine fuel. For the first time, this study investigates the optimal detection wavelength based on the imaging technology to realize an accurate monitoring of the SO2 concentration in ship exhaust. First, a simulation analysis model of the optimal imaging detection (SAMID) wavelength of the SO2 concentration in ship exhaust is proposed and analyzed in this study. Next, a bench experiment is designed. The values and the range of the gas concentration values required for the simulation are obtained. Finally, based on the principle of minimum error, the optimal detection wavelengths of the single- and the dual-wavelength imaging detection technologies are determined as 287 nm and 297 nm and 298 nm, respectively. During the SO2 concentration retrieval, the minimum values of the root mean squared error, the mean absolute error, and the mean absolute percentage error of the single- and the dual-wavelengths are 563.14 molecules/cm3, 445.11 molecules/cm3, and 347.22% and 0.62 molecules/cm3, 0.49 molecules/cm3, and 0.85%, respectively. The simulation analysis results provide a theoretical basis for the future hardware development of an optical remote sensing system based on the imaging detection technology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Engine Emissions and Air Quality)
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Review

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36 pages, 950 KiB  
Review
Revisiting Total Particle Number Measurements for Vehicle Exhaust Regulations
by Barouch Giechaskiel, Anastasios Melas, Giorgio Martini, Panagiota Dilara and Leonidas Ntziachristos
Atmosphere 2022, 13(2), 155; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13020155 - 18 Jan 2022
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 6169
Abstract
Road transport significantly contributes to air pollution in cities. Emission regulations have led to significantly reduced emissions in modern vehicles. Particle emissions are controlled by a particulate matter (PM) mass and a solid particle number (SPN) limit. There are concerns that the SPN [...] Read more.
Road transport significantly contributes to air pollution in cities. Emission regulations have led to significantly reduced emissions in modern vehicles. Particle emissions are controlled by a particulate matter (PM) mass and a solid particle number (SPN) limit. There are concerns that the SPN limit does not effectively control all relevant particulate species and there are instances of semi-volatile particle emissions that are order of magnitudes higher than the SPN emission levels. This overview discusses whether a new metric (total particles, i.e., solids and volatiles) should be introduced for the effective regulation of vehicle emissions. Initially, it summarizes recent findings on the contribution of road transport to particle number concentration levels in cities. Then, both solid and total particle emission levels from modern vehicles are presented and the adverse health effects of solid and volatile particles are briefly discussed. Finally, the open issues regarding an appropriate methodology (sampling and instrumentation) in order to achieve representative and reproducible results are summarized. The main finding of this overview is that, even though total particle sampling and quantification is feasible, details for its realization in a regulatory context are lacking. It is important to define the methodology details (sampling and dilution, measurement instrumentation, relevant sizes, etc.) and conduct inter-laboratory exercises to determine the reproducibility of a proposed method. It is also necessary to monitor the vehicle emissions according to the new method to understand current and possible future levels. With better understanding of the instances of formation of nucleation mode particles it will be possible to identify its culprits (e.g., fuel, lubricant, combustion, or aftertreatment operation). Then the appropriate solutions can be enforced and the right decisions can be taken on the need for new regulatory initiatives, for example the addition of total particles in the tailpipe, decrease of specific organic precursors, better control of inorganic precursors (e.g., NH3, SOx), or revision of fuel and lubricant specifications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Engine Emissions and Air Quality)
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