Here I need to find a picture that shows the car emissions
Problem statement:
The <Illinois Environmental Protection Agency> (http://www.epa.state.il.us/) conducts a research in which state officials want to find the type(s) of vehicle emissions testing in your community, the test procedures and results, what can you do if your car just failed an emissions test, and what the level of air pollution is in your community due to vehicle emissions.
You (at Davea) are asked to collaborate with other High School classes in DuPage County as well as with other individuals in your community to identify the current status of vehicle emissions testing in DuPage County, to analyze some results of emissions testing, and to predict the levels of air pollution in your county due to vehicle emissions.
How to <Analyze the Data> sent by the Davea students (for high-school students at DuPage County). The high school students receive the data of various emission tests performed by the Davea students, and they analyze the results. Then they send back their analysis to Davea students; both groups get together to complete their report to be handed to Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
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Cars are regulated on the amount of emissions they are allowed to emit. The 1990 Clean Air Act <http://www.rahul.net/sufive/enviro/cleanAir/CAAA.html> is a federal law covering the entire country, although the states do much of the work to carry out the Act. Under this law, the Environmental Protection Agency sets limits on how much of a pollutant can be in the air anywhere in the United States. This ensures that all Americans have the same basic health and environmental protections. The law allows individual states to have stronger pollution controls, but not weaker controls than those set for the whole country.
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1) http://www.parametrics.com/ Parametrics Corp.
2) http://www.dejaye.com/ DeJaye Electronics
3) http://www.cemsi.on.ca/ CEM Specialties, Inc.
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You don't have to rely solely on your own perception of what is happening to the air around you. There are official sources of information -- your state and county health department, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. There are has reports, fact sheets, and publications with air quality data available. Here are some sources you can request information about your community, your state and the US in general:
1) http://www.epa.state.il.us/ Illinois Environmental Protection Agency:
2) Worldwatch Institute 1776 Massachusetts Ave., NW Washington, DC 20036
(202) 452-1999
3) American Public Transit Association 1201 New York Ave., NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20005
(202) 898-4000
4) Environmental Action 1525 New Hampshire Ave., NW Washington, DC 20036
(202) 745-4870
5) Sierra Club 730 Polk St., San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 776-2211.
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Here is some useful historical information regarding the regulations of air pollution in the United States:
References
http://www.epa.gov/OMSWWW/11-vehs.htm
EPA 400-F-92-013
August 1994
Fact Sheet OMS-11
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The Clean Air Act of 1970 set a national goal of clean and healthy air for all. It established the first
specific responsibilities for government and private industry to reduce emissions from vehicles,
factories, and other pollution sources. In many ways, the far-reaching law has been a great success. The Clean Air Act of 1970 gave EPA broad authority to regulate motor vehicle pollution, and the Agency's emission control policies have become progressively more stringent since the early 1970's.
EPA standards dictate how much pollution autos may emit but automakers decide how to achieve the pollution limits. The emission reductions of the 1970's came about because of fundamental improvements in engine design, plus the addition of charcoal canisters to collect hydrocarbon vapors and exhaust gas recirculation valves to reduce nitrogen oxides. Today's cars, for example, typically emit 70 to 90 percent less pollution over their lifetimes than their 1970 counterparts.
The advent of "first generation" catalytic converters in 1975 significantly reduced hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions. The use of converters provided a huge indirect benefit as well. Because lead inactivates the catalyst, 1975 saw the widespread introduction of unleaded gasoline. This resulted in dramatic reductions in ambient lead levels and alleviated many serious environmental and human health concerns associated with lead pollution.
The next major milestone in vehicle emission control technology came in 1980-81. In response to tighter standards, manufacturers equipped new cars with even more sophisticated emission control systems. These systems generally include a "three-way" catalyst (which converts carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons to carbon dioxide and water, and also helps reduce nitrogen oxides to elemental nitrogen and oxygen), plus an onboard computer and oxygen sensor. This equipment helps optimize the efficiency of the catalytic converter. Despite considerable progress, the overall goal of clean and healthy air continues to elude much of
the country. Unhealthy air pollution levels still plague virtually every major city in the United States. This is largely because development and urban sprawl have created new pollution sources and have contributed to a doubling of vehicle travel since 1970. Furthermore, scientists and now the public have become concerned about previously unrecognized environmental threats such as global warming, acid rain and air toxins.
With these issues in mind, Congress and the Administration in 1990 amended and updated the
Clean Air Act for the first time since 1977. The 1990 Clean Air Act includes provisions to further
control ground-level ozone (urban smog), carbon monoxide, and particulate emissions from diesel
engines and to address air toxins and acid rain. These provisions include even tighter tailpipe standards, increased durability, improved control of evaporative emissions, and computerized diagnostic systems that identify malfunctioning emission controls. The goal is to reduce most vehicle-related pollutants by more than 40 percent.
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Efforts by government and industry since 1970 have greatly reduced typical vehicle emissions. In
those same years, however, the number of miles we drive has more than doubled. The increase in
travel has offset much of the emission control progress.
The net result is a modest reduction in each automotive pollutant except lead, for which aggregate
emissions have dropped by more than 95 percent.
With ozone continuing to present a persistent urban air pollution problem, future vehicle emission
control programs will emphasize hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxide reductions. Carbon monoxide
control will remain critical in many cities, and limits on vehicle-generated carbon dioxide may
become important in the future.
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The Office of Mobile Sources is the national center for research and policy on air pollution from
highway and off-highway motor vehicles and equipment. You can write to them at the EPA National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory, 2565 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105. Their phone number is (313) 668-4333.
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The new Clean Air Act strengthens components of the earlier law. The tailpipe standards for cars,
buses, and trucks have been tightened, and Inspection and Maintenance (I/M) programs have been
expanded to include more areas and allow for more stringent tests.
The 1990 law also introduces several entirely new concepts with regard to reducing motor vehicle-related air pollution. For the first time, fuel is considered along with vehicle technology as a potential source of emission reductions. And more attention is focused on reducing the growth in
vehicle travel. The new provisions include:
The act mandates that improved gasoline formulations be sold in some polluted cities to reduce
emissions of carbon monoxide or ozone-forming hydrocarbons. Other programs set low vehicle
emission standards to stimulate the introduction of even cleaner cars and fuels.
The 1990 Clean Air Act requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to consider
emissions from off-highway vehicles as well as from highway vehicles such as cars and trucks.
The so-called "nonroad" category includes boats, farm equipment, bulldozers, lawn and garden
devices, and construction machinery. Because nonroad engines have not been previously regulated
for pollution, they can be very dirty. EPA has determined that emissions from nonroad engines are
a significant source of urban air pollution and is working with industry and the public to develop
effective control strategies.
The law requires the smoggiest cities to limit growth in vehicle travel by encouraging alternatives to
solo driving. In areas where ozone levels exceed certain criteria, employers of 100 or more will be
asked to find ways to increase the average number of passengers in each vehicle for commutes to
work and during work-related driving trips.
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Typical drivers will probably not be aware of many vehicle and fuel changes manufacturers are making in response to the 1990 Clean Air Act, although these changes could add $200 to the cost of a car and a few cents per gallon to the cost of gasoline. But there are other programs that drivers
will notice, especially in areas with air pollution problems.
New 1994 and later model cars must be equipped with "onboard diagnostic systems." These
systems feature dashboard warning lights that alert drivers to malfunctioning emission control
equipment. Controlled by the vehicle's computer, the onboard diagnostic system must also be
capable of storing trouble codes that help mechanics pinpoint the malfunction.
Another change involves tampering and misfueling. Such activities have always been discouraged,
but were previously illegal only for commercial operations. "Backyard mechanics" now are also
subject to stiff penalties for deliberate tampering.
For drivers in polluted cities, more changes will be apparent. Some cities will have to start I/M programs to check vehicle emissions on a regular basis. Areas that already require I/M testing may
have to institute more stringent programs.
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Tailpipe (exhaust) standards for cars have been reduced under the 1990 law. The previous
standards of 0.41 gram per mile (gpm) total hydrocarbons, 3.4 gpm carbon monoxide, and 1.0
gpm nitrogen oxides have been replaced with standards of 0.25 gpm nonmethane hydrocarbons and 0.4 gpm nitrogen oxides (the 3.4 gpm standard for carbon monoxide does not change). These
standards will be fully phased in with 1996 models. EPA is required to study whether even tighter
standards are needed, technologically feasible, and economical. If EPA determines by 1999 that
lower standards are warranted, the standards will be cut in half beginning with 2004 model year
vehicles.
Mobile sources are the primary cause of carbon monoxide pollution in the United States. The 1990
Clean Air Act sets up two programs to address this problem. For the first time, carbon monoxide
emissions will be regulated at cold temperatures. Carbon monoxide emissions can be very high in
cold weather because both fuel combustion and pollution control equipment operate less efficiently
in the cold. In the past, tailpipe standards applied only at 75 °F. so manufacturers optimized
emission control equipment for that temperature. The 1990 Clean Air Act requires cars to meet a
carbon monoxide standard at 20 °F. The phase-in of a 10 gpm standard began with 1994 models.
If, by 1997, carbon monoxide levels are still too high in six or more cities, the cold temperature
emission standard will drop to 3.4 gpm for 2002 models. The second new provision involves
increasing the oxygen content of gasoline sold during the winter in cities that exceed national air
quality standards for carbon monoxide pollution. The oxygen helps reduce carbon monoxide
emissions by enhancing fuel combustion. The wintertime fuel requirements began in 1992.
Ground-level ozone, a primary component of smog, exceeds healthy levels in cities across the
United States. It is our most serious and persistent air quality problem. A major thrust of the 1990
Clean Air Act involves reducing urban ozone levels. As a complement to stricter tailpipe standards,
the new law introduces several programs to minimize pollution from evaporating gasoline.
Evaporative emissions are a major source of the hydrocarbon compounds that form ground-level
ozone. Devices that trap gasoline vapors from the engine and fuel system will be improved. In
addition, gasoline volatility will be capped, reducing the propensity for gasoline to evaporate in the
first place.
Most provisions requiring cleaner cars and fuels will dramatically lower vehicle toxic emissions. In
addition, EPA has completed a study of air toxins emissions and may, if warranted, regulate
emissions of benzene, formaldehyde, and other toxic air pollutants.
By 1995, all gasoline sold in the country's worst ozone areas must contain a minimum oxygen
content and a maximum benzene content. Through refining changes that will not be apparent to
motorists, reformulated gasoline will achieve a 15 to 17 percent reduction in both ozone forming
hydrocarbons and toxic emissions from motor vehicles. By 2000, gasoline sold in these cities will
achieve a 25 to 29 percent hydrocarbon reduction, a 20 to 22 percent toxins reduction, and a 9 to 10 percent reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions. Many cities have voluntarily chosen to use this
cleaner gasoline.
Beginning in 1993, the diesel particulate standard for urban buses was reduced by 60 percent, from 0.25 to 0.1 gram per brake-horsepower per hour (g/bhp-hr).
The standard, which applies to urban transit buses, dropped to 0.07 g/bhp-hr in 1994 and to 0.05
g/bhp-hr in 1996. If monitoring data show that buses in actual use are not meeting the standard,
EPA must implement a "low-polluting fuels" program for new buses in large cities. Possible fuels
include methanol, ethanol and compressed natural gas.
Beginning in 1998, 30 percent of new vehicles purchased by centrally-fueled fleets in certain cities
will be required to use clean fuels and meet tailpipe standards that are lower than those in place for
general passenger cars (0.075 gpm hydrocarbons, 3.4 gpm carbon monoxide, and 0.2 gram per
mile nitrogen oxides). The purchase requirement will grow to 70 percent by the year 2000. The
program, which is intended to stimulate development of new, low-polluting fuel/vehicle
combinations, will affect 22 metropolitan areas in 19 states across the country where pollution
levels are high.
Like the fleets program, the California Pilot program is designed to encourage production of clean
fuels and vehicles. Beginning in 1996, manufacturers must produce at least 150,000 "clean" cars
(capable of meeting a 0.125 gpm hydrocarbon, 3.4 gpm carbon monoxide, and 0.4 gpm nitrogen
oxide standard) for sale in California. The number increases to 300,000 by the year 1999. In 2001,
the standards drop to the fleets program levels. Other states may petition EPA to adopt this program.
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1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
cold-temperature carbon monoxide standards.
1998
2001
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At present in the United States:
Automobiles are a major source of air pollution in most areas. As our roads become more congested, our quality of life, the land we live on, and the air we breathe need to be protected.
Everyone in the country has an important part to play. Discuss with your class some ways you, as individuals, can help reduce air pollution. Prepare a brief report to share with other classes at the final conference you will participate on air pollution from vehicle emissions. Here are some <suggestions>
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Here are some driving tips for students (and their parents!):
1. Organize your trips. Driving fewer miles will help reduce air pollution.
2. Participate in a carpool and use public transportation: this reduces the number of cars on the road and the number of miles driven.
3. Get regular engine tune-ups and car maintenance checks.
4. Make sure your tires are properly inflated and your wheels aligned.
5. Consider buying fuel efficient cars.
You can also find more information about tips to save gas and improve mileage, and what YOU can do to reduce pollution in the following homepages:
References
The Plain English Guide to the Clean Air Act, U.S. EPA; What You Can Do to Reduce Air Pollution, U.S. EPA.
Earth Day 1990 fact sheet "The Automobile"
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Emissions from an individual car are generally low, relative to the smokestack image many people associate with air pollution. But in numerous cities across the country, the personal automobile is the single greatest polluter, as emissions from millions of vehicles on the road add up. Driving a private car is probably a typical citizen's most "polluting" daily activity.
Sources of Auto Emissions
The power to move a car comes from burning fuel in an engine. Pollution from cars comes from
by-products of this combustion process (exhaust) and from evaporation of the fuel itself.
The Combustion Process
Gasoline and diesel fuels are mixtures of hydrocarbons, compounds which contain hydrogen and
carbon atoms. In a "perfect" engine, oxygen in the air would convert all the hydrogen in the fuel to
water and all the carbon in the fuel to carbon dioxide. Nitrogen in the air would remain unaffected.
In reality, the combustion process cannot be "perfect," and automotive engines emit several types of <pollutants>. Pollutants also escape into the air through <fuel evaporation>
FUEL (hydrocarbons) + AIR (oxygen and nitrogen) ==>>
CARBON DIOXIDE + water + unaffected nitrogen
FUEL + AIR ==>> UNBURNED HYDROCARBONS + NITROGEN OXIDES
+ CARBON MONOXIDE + CARBON DIOXIDE + water
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There are four major pollutants from vehicle emissions:
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Hydrocarbon emissions result when fuel molecules in the engine do not burn or burn only partially. Hydrocarbons react in the presence of nitrogen oxides and sunlight to form ground-level ozone, a major component of smog. Ozone irritates the eyes, damages the lungs, and aggravates respiratory problems. It is our most widespread and intractable urban air pollution problem. A number of exhaust hydrocarbons are also toxic, with the potential to cause cancer.
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Under the high pressure and temperature conditions in an engine, nitrogen and oxygen atoms in the air react to form various nitrogen oxides, collectively known as NOx. Nitrogen oxides, like
hydrocarbons, are precursors to the formation of ozone. They also contribute to the formation of
acid rain.
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Carbon monoxide (CO) is a product of incomplete combustion and occurs when carbon in the fuel
is partially oxidized rather than fully oxidized to carbon dioxide (CO ). Carbon monoxide reduces
the flow of oxygen in the bloodstream and is particularly dangerous to persons with heart disease.
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In recent years, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has started to view carbon dioxide, a product of "perfect" combustion, as a pollution concern. Carbon dioxide does not directly impair human health, but it is a "greenhouse gas" that traps the earth's heat and contributes
to the potential for global warming.
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Hydrocarbon pollutants also escape into the air through fuel evaporation. With today's efficient
exhaust emission controls and today's gasoline formulations, evaporative losses can account for a
majority of the total hydrocarbon pollution from current model cars on hot days when ozone levels
are highest. Evaporative emissions occur several ways:
DIURNAL: Gasoline evaporation increases as the temperature rises during the day, heating the
fuel tank and venting gasoline vapors.
RUNNING LOSSES: The hot engine and exhaust system can vaporize gasoline when the car is
running.
HOT SOAK: The engine remains hot for a period of time after the car is turned off, and gasoline
evaporation continues when the car is parked.
REFUELING: Gasoline vapors are always present in fuel tanks. These vapors are forced out
when the tank is filled with liquid fuel.
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Here are some guidelines about how to prepare a report for an exhaust emission test. This report has to be prepared by the Davea students and sent through e-mail to the students of the high-schools which collaborate with Davea on this project.
Clique here to view <A Sample Printout of an Emissions Test from Davea>
Exhaust Emission Test Report
1. Purpose
2. Required equipment
3. Precautions
4. Visual Inspection
5. Test Preparation
6. Test Procedure
7. Data Input
8. Data Analysis
9. Data Output
10. Acceptance Criteria
11. Quality Provisions
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12/10/97 10:06:31
708-LADA:
301 SWIFT
ADDISON, IL
NAME: mike
MILEAGE: 24
VIN: 1FTHE24H4S
95 FORD TK E250
FOUR GAS RESULTS
CO HC CO2 O2
RPM (%) (ppm) (%) (%)
SPEC 2.00 max 300 max 7.00 min 9.00 max
1.) IDLE 939 0.02 57 10.01 0.55
2.) CRUISE 2001 0.00 18 7.73 0.55
DIAGNOSTIC RESULTS
FUEL SYSTEM ACCEPTABLE
FOUR GAS SPECS
Fuel System Type Port injection
Slow Idle 800 RPM
Hydrocarbons 300 PPM
CO minimum 0.10 %
CO maximum 2.00 %
Carbon dioxide 7.00 %
Oxygen 9.00 %
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Here, the high school students from DuPage County receive the data of the various emission tests performed by the Davea students, and you analyze the results. Then you send back their analysis to Davea students; both groups get together to complete your report to be handed to Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
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In this page, you will learn about what carbon monoxide is, how it is formed, why it is a public health problem, and what has been done to control carbon monoxide levels.
Reference:
http://www.epa.gov/OMSWWW/03-co.htm
EPA 400-F-92-005
January 1993
OMS Fact Sheet #3
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Carbon Monoxide (CO)--it consists a carbon atom and an oxygen atom linked together--is an odorless, colorless, and poisonous gas produced by incomplete burning of carbon-based fuels, including gasoline, oil and wood. Carbon monoxide is also produced from incomplete combustion of many natural and synthetic (man-made) products. For instance, cigarette smoke contains carbon monoxide. Automobiles, buses, trucks, small engines, and some industrial processes produce
carbon monoxide. High concentrations can be found in confined spaces like parking garages, poorly ventilated tunnels, or along roadsides during periods of heavy traffic. Health specialists say that carbon monoxide reduces the blood's ability to deliver oxygen to vital tissues, affecting primarily the cardiovascular and nervous systems. Lower concentrations have been shown to adversely affect individuals with heart disease and to decrease maximal exercise performance in young people. Higher concentrations above the national standards can cause symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, and fatigue.
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Carbon monoxide enters the bloodstream through the lungs and forms carboxyhemoglobin, a compound that inhibits the blood's capacity to carry oxygen to organs and tissues. Persons with heart disease are especially sensitive to carbon monoxide poisoning and may experience chest pain if they breathe the gas while exercising. Infants, elderly persons, and individuals with respiratory diseases are also particularly sensitive. Carbon monoxide can affect healthy individuals, impairing exercise capacity, visual perception, manual dexterity, learning functions, and ability to perform complex tasks.
In 1992, carbon monoxide levels exceeded the Federal air quality standard in 20 U.S. cities, home
to more than 14 million people.
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Carbon monoxide results from incomplete combustion of fuel and is emitted directly from vehicle tailpipes. Incomplete combustion is most likely to occur at low air-to-fuel ratios in the engine. These conditions are common during vehicle starting when air supply is restricted ("choked"), when cars are not tuned properly, and at altitude, where "thin" air effectively reduces the amount of oxygen available for combustion (except in cars that are designed or adjusted to compensate for altitude).
Nationwide, two-thirds of the carbon monoxide emissions come from transportation sources, with
the largest contribution coming from highway motor vehicles. In urban areas, the motor vehicle contribution to carbon monoxide pollution can exceed 90 percent.
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The Clean Air Act gives state and local governments primary responsibility for regulating pollution from power plants, factories, and other "stationary sources." The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) has primary responsibility for "mobile source" pollution control.
The EPA motor vehicle program has achieved considerable success in reducing carbon monoxide emissions. EPA standards in the early 1970's prompted automakers to improve basic engine design. By 1975, most new cars were equipped with catalytic converters designed to convert carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. Catalysts typically reduce carbon monoxide emissions upwards of 80 percent. In the early 1980's, automakers introduced more sophisticated converters, plus onboard computers and oxygen sensors to help optimize the efficiency of the catalytic converter.
Today's passenger cars are capable of emitting 90 percent less carbon monoxide over their lifetimes than their uncontrolled counterparts of the 1960's. As a result, ambient carbon monoxide levels have dropped, despite large increases in the number of vehicles on the road and the number of miles they travel. With continued increases in vehicle travel projected, however, carbon monoxide levels will begin to climb again unless even more effective emission controls are employed.
The 1990 Clean Air Act also stipulates expanded requirements for Inspection and Maintenance
programs. These routine emission system checks should help identify malfunctioning vehicles that
emit excessive levels of carbon monoxide and other pollutants. The inspections will be complemented by requirements for onboard warning devices to alert drivers when their emission
control systems are not working properly.
Another strategy to reduce carbon monoxide emissions from motor vehicles is to add
oxygen-containing compounds to gasoline. This has the effect of "leaning out" the air-to-fuel ratio,
thereby promoting complete fuel combustion. The most common oxygen additives are alcohols or
their derivatives.
Several Western U.S. cities have successfully employed wintertime oxygenated gasoline for many years. The 1990 Clean Air Act expands this concept and requires that oxygenated gasoline be used during the winter months in certain metropolitan areas with high carbon monoxide levels.
Carbon monoxide and weather changes?
Carbon monoxide emissions from automobiles increase dramatically in cold weather. This is
because cars need more fuel to start at cold temperatures, and because some emission control
devices (such as oxygen sensors and catalytic converters) operate less efficiently when they are
cold. Until 1994, vehicles were tested for carbon monoxide emissions only at 75° F. But recognizing the effect of cold weather, the 1990 Clean Air Act calls for 1994, and later, cars and light trucks to meet a carbon monoxide standard at 20° F as well.
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For these activities you need to have access to a software that you can make graphs (e.g., Excel). You can also use a graphing calculator (e.g., TI-82). After you finish these activities prepare a brief report with your results and send it to Davea students for comments. Ask them if they need any different kind of data analysis.
Activity One:
The data files of Carbon Monoxide, Hydrocarbons, Carbon Dioxide and Oxygen contain the measurements of these four gases taken in the emission tests of various cars. Plot each of the four gases on the Y axis (make a different graph for each gas) and each of the cars on the X axis to show how the four gases measurements have changed from car to car. Mark the maximum level of each gas permitted according to the specifications by the regulations. Compare the measured levels of the four gases for each car to the specifications.
In the following figure you can see a sample graph of carbon monoxide emission and vehicle miles traveled.
Activity Two:
In this activity you will compute the amount of carbon dioxide produced in pounds by the vehicles on which the emissions test has been performed. Plot the carbon dioxide measurements on the Y axis and cars on the X axis to show the carbon dioxide pollution trend in these cars. Use the following sample calculation (You are reminded that 1 mile=1.609 km, 1 gallon=3.785 l, and 1 pound=.453 kg) to find the amount of carbon dioxide produced in pounds by the vehicles.
Sample calculation--
To do these calculations, you can assume that:
The above graph you have made shows how much carbon dioxide each car contributes to the atmosphere each year. Can you estimate the amount of carbon dioxide produced in DuPage county? For the past year? For the past five years? How? Can you estimate the amount of carbon dioxide in your county for the next five years?
Activity Three:
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This contains USEFUL INFORMATION about vehicle emission testing in Illinois, and what you can do to make sure you can pass your emission test!
References
<http://www.epa.state.il.us/air/vim/index.html>
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The Illinois vehicle emissions test checks whether or not the emission control system on your motor vehicle is working properly. Motor vehicle manufacturers are required to meet increasingly stringent pollution standards, but vehicles that are not properly maintained or that have malfunctioning emission control systems often exceed these standards. Vehicle emissions tests identify such vehicles, and repairs are then required to reduce the emissions which cause pollution. These repairs help clean the air while improving the vehicle's performance and fuel economy.
The following figure shows basic controls for exhaust and evaporative emissions:
Your vehicle is scheduled for testing every two years: even model year vehicles are tested in even years, and odd model year vehicles are tested in odd years. A tailpipe exhaust sample is taken at low idle (engine speed between 350 rpm and 1300 rpm) and analyzed for concentrations of hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide. The "black bag" that the lane operator may use on your hood is one of three different electronic sensors used to determine engine speed.
Vehicles failing the emissions test must be repaired, then retested. If your vehicle failed the emissions test, we recommend that you have the vehicle repaired by a qualified technician who is experienced in the diagnosis and repair of emission control systems. If a vehicle cannot pass the emissions test, a waiver may be available after the emission control system has been inspected and the required repairs and adjustments have been completed. All emission control components must be present and functioning, but major engine overhaul is not required.
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<Frequently Asked Questions>
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Q. When can I come in for an emissions test?
A. We urge you to have your vehicle tested as soon as possible after receiving the test notice. A vehicle can also be tested up to a month early. Bring your test notice with you when you come for the test.
Q. Do I have to keep the test notice after my car has been tested?
A. You may discard your test notice after your vehicle has passed the emissions test or received a waiver for this test cycle.
Q. After my vehicle has been tested, do I need to mail anything to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the Secretary of State?
A. No, since test results are automatically recorded and transmitted. If your drivers license, license plates or both have been suspended for failure to comply with the vehicle emissions test, it will take approximately 72 hours for the suspension to clear after you pass the test or receive a waiver. Verification that the suspension has been terminated can be obtained by calling the Secretary of State's office at 1-800-252-8980. Please have your drivers license number and vehicle identification number (VIN) ready when you call.
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Q. What is the Illinois EPA testing for?
A. Cars are tested for the pollutants called hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide. Hydrocarbons are unburned gasoline particles that contribute to the formation of ground-level <ozone>, often referred to as smog. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless and toxic gas formed from partially burned fuel that can adversely affect mental function, visual acuity and alertness.
Q. Why do all of the accessories need to be turned off?
A. Electrical accessories can interfere with the electronic sensing of engine speed and can adversely affect the test results.
Q. Why aren't diesels tested?
A. Diesel exhaust contains relatively low levels of hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide, which are
the pollutants tested for in Illinois.
Q. How much will it cost to have my vehicle tested?
A. The state of Illinois does not require the general public to pay a fee for an emission test or the
issuance of a waiver.
Q. Why don't all vehicles have to be tested?
A. Based on national air quality standards, only the Chicago and East St. Louis areas of the state
have severe ozone problems that necessitate emissions testing.
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Q. What should I do if my car fails the emissions test?
A. First, see the state inspector, located at each test station, for an explanation of your test results. The state inspector will also be able to provide you information on what repairs typically are necessary to remedy your vehicle's problems.
Q. What happens if I do not comply with the vehicle emissions test?
A. Your drivers license, license plates or both will be suspended.
Q. How should I choose a repair shop?
A. We recommend that you seek a technician who is trained and experienced in emission system diagnosis and repair. Many technicians are certified by the vehicle manufacturer, and the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. Seek a shop with a four-gas-emissions analyzer that is regularly calibrated. The shop should be willing to guarantee work and have a refund policy.
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Gasoline-powered engines produce emissions that form ground-level ozone (smog), a
respiratory irritant that can be harmful to humans. Ozone can cause eye and throat irritations and can damage breathing passages, making it difficult for the lungs to work. This pollutant is prevalent in major metropolitan regions, including Chicago and East St. Louis.
As Illinois struggled during the late 1970s and the early 1980s to come to terms with ozone
problems, it became evident that federal and state ozone health requirements could not be attained
without implementing some type of vehicle emission testing program. In 1983, the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began formal sanctions to withhold federal highway
funding from Illinois for failure to institute such a program. In response to these sanctions, the
Illinois EPA Vehicle Emissions Testing Program was initiated.
Since the program started in 1986, vehicles have become less polluting, but still contribute as much
as 50 percent of the emissions that form ozone in urban areas. As more vehicles are now equipped
with an array of computer-controlled components that reduce pollution, enhancements to vehicle
emissions tests will be necessary to effectively identify excessive emissions.
Ozone is formed near the ground, ozone is formed in a three-step process:
1. Gasoline, paints and solvents evaporate, releasing reactive organic compounds.
2. Cars and factories burn fossil fuels, releasing nitrogen oxide gases.
3. Heat and sunlight trigger a chemical reaction between these emissions, transforming them into ozone.
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Illinois
http://www.epa.state.il.us/
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a contest every year. See three poems written by the 1996 winners!
GO to the following homepage: <http://www.epa.state.il.us/kids/young-enviro/poetry.html>
Also, the Illinois EPA publishes this newsletter to educate high school students about the environment and the activities of the Illinois EPA.
Go to the following homepage to read the newsletter: <http://www.epa.state.il.us/greentalk/v1996-n1/index.html>
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If you want more information about what you can do if your car just failed an emissions test go to the following homepage:
For information about Vehicle Inspection & Maintenance go to the following homepage:
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