Environmental assessment of low speed policies for motor vehicle mobility in city centres

streets in local residential areas in large cities, real traffic tests for pollutant emissions and fuel consumption have been carried out in Madrid city centre. Emission concentration and car activity were simultaneously measured by a Portable Emissions Measurement System. Real life tests carried out at different times and on different days were performed with a turbo-diesel engine light vehicle equipped with an oxidizer catalyst and using different driving styles with a previously trained driver. The results show that by reducing the speed limit from 50 km h-1 to 30 km h-1, using a normal driving style, the time taken for a given trip does not increase, but fuel consumption and NOx, CO and PM emissions are clearly reduced. Therefore, the main conclusion of this work is that reducing the speed limit in some narrow streets in residential and commercial areas or in a city not only increases pedestrian safety, but also contributes to reducing the environmental impact of motor vehicles and reducing fuel consumption. In addition, there is also a reduction in the greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the combustion of the fuel.

New law limits idling of diesel vehicles to reduce emissions and save fuel.

Diesel trucks and buses account for approximately 50 percent of the particulate matter (PM) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) air pollution from on-road vehicles in Illinois. PM and NOx may contribute to a variety of health effects, including nausea, headaches, increased risk of asthma attacks, lung cancer, and premature death. Children and people with lung and heart conditions, are generally the most sensitive to diesel exhaust. Millions of tons of air pollution are emitted every year in the U.S. by trucks and buses that idle while parked.

Análise da viabilidade de motorização elétrica do soprador no ciclo regenerativo da unidade de craqueamento catalítico fluidizado em uma refinaria

One of the biggest environmental problems of today is the climate change. Experts affirm that this global warming is related to the greenhouse effect. Its causes are directly related to human activity, especially the use of fossil fuels. In this context, companies around the world are challenged to improve energy efficiency in order to reduce the environmental impact and work toward the so-called tripod of sustainable development that focuses on the social, economic and environmental aspects of a business strategy. The first step a company can make in this regard is to conduct an inventory of emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs). The reduction of GHG emissions in a refinery can be achieved by replacing steam turbines with electric motors to drive big machines, this reduction is achieved by relieving the steam consumption for electric power available or purchased. An important aspect associated with the reduction of GHG emissions is the best performance of the Energy Intensity Index (ERI). The objective of this study was to analyze the feasibility of the blower motorization in the regenerative cycle of a fluidized catalytic cracking unit at a specific refinery. For development work, two methods were used, the initial screening and optimization scenarios with the help of software Butyl. The results indicate that after a certain cost of natural gas this substitution becomes favorable. In addition, there is a large reduction of CO2 emissions avoided by burning fuel

Nitrous oxide emissions from gasohol, ethanol and CNG light duty vehicles

A sample of 21 light duty vehicles powered by Otto cycle engines were tested on a chassis dynamometer to measure the exhaust emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O). The tests were performed at the Vehicle Emission Laboratory of CETESB (Environmental Company of the State of Sao Paulo) using the US-FTP-75 (Federal Test Procedure) driving cycle. The sample tested included passenger cars running on three types of fuels used in Brazil: gasohol, ethanol and CNG. The measurement of N2O was made using two methods: Non Dispersive InfraRed (NDIR) analyzer and Fourier Transform InfraRed spectroscopy (FTIR). Measurements of regulated pollutants were also made in order to establish correlations between N2O and NOx. The average N2O emission factors obtained by the NDIR method was 78 +/- 41 mg.km(-1) for vehicles running with gasohol, 73 +/- 45 mg.km(-1) for ethanol vehicles and 171 +/- 69 mg.km(-1) for CNG vehicles. Seventeen results using the FTIR method were also obtained. For gasohol vehicles the results showed a good agreement between the two methods, with an average emission factor of 68 +/- 41 mg.km(-1). The FTIR measurement results of N2O for ethanol and CNG vehicles were much lower than those obtained by the NDIR method. The emission factors were 17 +/- 10 mg.km(-1) and 33 +/- 17 mg.km(-1), respectively, possibly because of the interference of water vapor (present at a higher concentration in the exhaust gases of these vehicles) on measurements by the NDIR method.

Aspectos de la medición dinámica instantánea de emisiones de motores. Aplicación al desarrollo de un equipo portátil y una metodología para estudios de contaminación de vehículos en tráfico real.

Esta Tesis Doctoral se encuadra en el ámbito de la medida de emisiones contaminantes y de consumo de combustible en motores de combustión interna alternativos cuando se utilizan como plantas de potencia para propulsión de vehículos ligeros de carretera, y más concretamente en las medidas dinámicas con el vehículo circulando en tráfico real. En este ámbito, el objetivo principal de la Tesis es estudiar los problemas asociados a la medición en tiempo real con equipos embarcados de variables medioambientales, energéticas y de actividad, de vehículos ligeros propulsados por motores térmicos en tráfico real. Y como consecuencia, desarrollar un equipo y una metodología apropiada para este objetivo, con el fin de realizar consiguientemente un estudio sobre los diferentes factores que influyen sobre las emisiones y el consumo de combustible de vehículos turismo en tráfico real. La Tesis se comienza realizando un estudio prospectivo sobre los trabajos de otros autores relativos al desarrollo de equipos portátiles de medida de emisiones (Portable Emission Measurement Systems – PEMS), problemas asociados a la medición dinámica de emisiones y estudios de aplicación en tráfico real utilizando este tipo de equipos. Como resultado de este estudio se plantea la necesidad de disponer de un equipo específicamente diseñado para ser embarcado en un vehículo que sea capaz de medir en tiempo real las concentraciones de emisiones y el caudal de gases de escape, al mismo tiempo que se registran variables del motor, del vehículo y del entorno como son la pendiente y los datos meteorológicos. De esta forma se establecen las especificaciones y condiciones de diseño del equipo PEMS. Aunque al inicio de esta Tesis ya existían en el mercado algunos sistemas portátiles de medida de emisiones (PEMS: Portable Emissions Measurement Systems), en esta Tesis se investiga, diseña y construye un nuevo sistema propio, denominado MIVECO – PEMS. Se exponen, discuten y justifican todas las soluciones técnicas incorporadas en el sistema que incluyen los subsistema de análisis de gases, subsistemas de toma de muestra incluyendo caudalímetro de gases de escape, el subsistema de medida de variables del entorno y actividad del vehículo y el conjunto de sistemas auxiliares. El diseño final responde a las hipótesis y necesidades planteadas y se valida en uso real, en banco de rodillos y en comparación con otro equipos de medida de emisiones estacionarios y portátiles. En esta Tesis se presenta también toda la investigación que ha conducido a establecer la metodología de tratamiento de las señales registradas en tiempo real que incluye la sincronización, cálculos y propagación de errores. La metodología de selección y caracterización de los recorridos y circuitos y de las pautas de conducción, preparación del vehículo y calibración de los equipos forma también parte del legado de esta Tesis. Para demostrar la capacidad de medida del equipo y el tipo de resultados que pueden obtenerse y que son útiles para la comunidad científica, y las autoridades medioambientales en la parte final de esta Tesis se plantean y se presentan los resultados de varios estudios de variables endógenas y exógenas que afectan a las emisiones instantáneas y a los factores de emisión y consumo (g/km) como: el estilo de conducción, la infraestructura vial, el nivel de congestión del tráfico, tráfico urbano o extraurbano, el contenido de biocarburante, tipo de motor (diesel y encendido provocado), etc. Las principales conclusiones de esta Tesis son que es posible medir emisiones másicas y consumo de motores de vehículos en uso real y que los resultados permiten establecer políticas de reducción de impacto medio ambiental y de eficiencia energética, pero, se deben establecer unas metodologías precisas y se debe tener mucho cuidado en todo el proceso de calibración, medida y postratamientos de los datos. Abstract This doctoral thesis is in the field of emissions and fuel consumption measurement of reciprocating internal combustion engines when are used as power-trains for light-duty road vehicles, and especially in the real-time dynamic measurements procedures when the vehicle is being driven in real traffic. In this context, the main objective of this thesis is to study the problems associated with on-board real-time measuring systems of environmental, energy and activity variables of light vehicles powered by internal combustion engines in real traffic, and as a result, to develop an instrument and an appropriate methodology for this purpose, and consequently to make a study of the different factors which influence the emissions and the fuel consumption of passenger cars in real traffic. The thesis begins developing a prospective study on other authors’ works about development of Portable Emission Measurement Systems (PEMS), problems associated with dynamic emission measurements and application studies on actual traffic using PEMS. As a result of this study, it was shown that a measuring system specifically designed for being on-board on a vehicle, which can measure in real time emission concentrations and exhaust flow, and at the same time to record motor vehicle and environment variables as the slope and atmospheric data, is needed; and the specifications and design parameters of the equipment are proposed. Although at the beginning of this research work there were already on the market some PEMS, in this Thesis a new system is researched, designed and built, called MIVECO – PEMS, in order to meet such measurements needs. Following that, there are presented, discussed and justify all technical solutions incorporated in the system, including the gas analysis subsystem, sampling and exhaust gas flowmeter subsystem, the subsystem for measurement of environment variables and of the vehicle activity and the set of auxiliary subsystems. The final design meets the needs and hypotheses proposed, and is validated in real-life use and chassis dynamometer testing and is also compared with other stationary and on-board systems. This thesis also presents all the research that has led to the methodology of processing the set of signals recorded in real time including signal timing, calculations and error propagation. The methodology to select and characterize of the routes and circuits, the driving patterns, and the vehicle preparation and calibration of the instruments and sensors are part of the legacy of this thesis. To demonstrate the measurement capabilities of the system and the type of results that can be obtained and that are useful for the scientific community and the environmental authorities, at the end of this Thesis is presented the results of several studies of endogenous and exogenous variables that affect the instantaneous and averaged emissions and consumption factors (g/km), as: driving style, road infrastructure, the level of traffic congestion, urban and extra-urban traffic, biofuels content, type of engine (diesel or spark ignition) etc. The main conclusions of this thesis are that it is possible to measure mass emissions and consumption of vehicle engines in actual use and that the results allow us to establish policies to reduce environmental impact and improve energy efficiency, but, to establish precise methodologies and to be very careful in the entire process of calibration, measurement and data post-treatment is necessary.

PCDD/F Emissions from Light-Duty Diesel Vehicles Operated under Highway Conditions and a Diesel-Engine Based Power Generator

PCDD/F emissions from three light-duty diesel vehicles–two vans and a passenger car–have been measured in on-road conditions. We propose a new methodology for small vehicles: a sample of exhaust gas is collected by means of equipment based on United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) method 23A for stationary stack emissions. The concentrations of O2, CO, CO2, NO, NO2 and SO2 have also been measured. Six tests were carried out at 90-100 km/h on a route 100 km long. Two additional tests were done during the first 10 minutes and the following 60 minutes of the run to assess the effect of the engine temperature on PCDD/F emissions. The emission factors obtained for the vans varied from 1800 to 8400 pg I-TEQ/Nm3 for a 2004 model year van and 490-580 pg I-TEQ/Nm3 for a 2006 model year van. Regarding the passenger car, one run was done in the presence of a catalyst and another without, obtaining emission factors (330-880 pg I-TEQ/Nm3) comparable to those of the modern van. Two other tests were carried out on a power generator leading to emission factors ranging from 31 to 78 pg I-TEQ/Nm3. All the results are discussed and compared with literature.

Teratologic effects of long-term exposure to diesel exhaust emissions (rabbits) /

"Contract no. 68-03-2652."

Maximização da valorização energética em aterros sanitários recorrendo a equipamentos baseados no Ciclo Orgânico de Rankine (ORC)

Atualmente, os aterros sanitários representam uma solução para a gestão e tratamento dos resíduos sólidos urbanos. Da deposição, ocorrem duas formas de emissões ao longo do tempo, a produção de biogás e de lixiviados, que resultam sobretudo da decomposição da matéria orgânica. Um dos principais constituintes do biogás é o metano, o qual tem elevado poder calorífico. O presente trabalho aborda, a maximização da valorização energética em aterros sanitários, recorrendo a equipamentos baseados no Ciclo Orgânico de Rankine (ORC) para a produção de eletricidade. É apresentado como caso de estudo a central de valorização energética da Suldouro, em Sermonde, que produz eletricidade a partir do biogás resultante da decomposição da matéria orgânica depositada em aterro. O biogás é utilizado como combustível para os motogeradores utilizados para o seu aproveitamento energético, sendo que apenas cerca de 40% do potencial energético contido no biogás é transformado em eletricidade, registando-se perdas sobretudo nas emissões dos gases de exaustão e na água de arrefecimento dos motores. Para avaliação do potencial da recuperação energética dos gases de escape é avaliado o desempenho termodinâmico do ciclo ORC. Para tal foi desenvolvida uma ferramenta em MATLAB utilizando como modelo a configuração do ORC com recuperador de calor. O cálculo das propriedades termodinâmicas dos fluidos foi obtido através da criação de uma sub-rotina que chama o programa CoolProp. Este programa restitui propriedades como a entalpia, entropia, pressões e temperaturas em cada ponto do ciclo, permitindo assim ao utilizador otimizar o tempo na obtenção de resultados. A avaliação económica é fundamental na tomada de decisões por parte do investidor e dos financiadores do projeto. É então apresentada a análise económica e efetuada uma análise de sensibilidade, onde foram efetuadas variações nos vetores mais importantes de forma a poder avaliar-se o impacto em termos da sua rentabilidade. A ferramenta desenvolvida permite obter de forma prática, os três indicadores económicos extremamente influentes no que se refere à tomada de decisão. A utilização dos sistemas ORC e os seus benefícios não se esgotam na maximização dos aproveitamentos da valorização energética em aterros sanitários. Também a recuperação de calor para a produção de energia elétrica pode ter um impacto importante em muitos setores intensivos de energia, contribuindo significativamente para a redução do consumo e aumentando a eficiência de todo o processo de produção.

Economic structure and key sectors analysis of greenhouse gas emissions in Uruguay

This paper identifies the key sectors in greenhouse gas emissions of the Uruguayan economy through input-output analysis. This allows to precisely determine the role played by the different productive sectors and their relationship with other sectors in the relation between the Uruguayan productive structure and atmospheric pollution. In order to guide policy design for GHG reduction, we decompose sectors liability between the pollution generated through their own production processes and the pollution indirectly generated in the production processes of other sectors. The results show that all the key polluting sectors for the different contaminants considered are relevant because of their own emissions, except for the sector Motor vehicles and oil retail trade, which is relevant in CO2 emissions because of its pure, both backward and forward, linkages. Finally, the best policy channels for controlling and reducing GHGs emissions are identified, and compared with the National Climate Change Response Plan (NCCRP) lines of action.

Influència de l'ús del biodièsel en les emissions contaminants i en el consum de combustible en vehicles pesants

L’objecte d’aquest estudi consisteix en determinar la influència de l’ús del biodièsel en:1.- Les variacions en comparació amb el combustible convencional(gasoil A) en les emissions de gasos i partícules contaminants enmotors de vehicles pesants de transport de mercaderies.2.- Les variacions en comparació amb el combustible convencional(gasoil A) en el nivell de so emès per motors de vehicles pesants detransport de mercaderies.3.- Els canvis en el consum de combustible en vehicles pesants encomparació amb la utilització de gasoil A.4.- Els problemes tècnics observats en motors de vehicles pesants detransport de mercaderies durant un període de funcionament elevat

Setilement of motor accidents claims with special reference to Kerala

The accident toll on our road traffic is staggering. Obviously this appalling toll of life and.health represents heavy economic loss in addition to human tragedy. the enormous increase in the number of motor vehicles with its rash, negligent and reckless use by unscrupulous, inexperienced and dangerous drivers in the most miserably managed roads coupled with concomitant hazards would draw our attention that Accident Prevention, and Accident compensation are thoroughly two compatiable aims. Proposed solutions to the traffic Problems abound. Preventive efforts concentrated on each of the variables the driver, the road and the vehicle are all being initiated. Still it is a Will the .Motor Vehicles are not considered as dangerous machines. Motoring activity is found useful.A competent and specially trained police force has to be created to deal with the traffic offences in a more scientific ways.The term ‘legal representative needs to be defined on the constructive aspects of relation and dependence.Services of legal aid and public counsels shall necessarily be extended to the poor Motor Accident victims.Timely reporting and timely investigation of Motor Accidents cases will reduce the number of fraudulent claims. There are instances where cases are taken in to investigation after several months of occurrence.It is hoped that the suggestions made above as a result of the present study, if pwgninto practice, may make a humble contribution to the prevention sssof motor accidents and to a faster and speedier settlement of motor accident compensation claims.

Influència de l'ús del biodièsel en les emissions contaminants i en el consum de combustible en vehicles pesants

L’objecte d’aquest estudi consisteix en determinar la influència de l’ús del biodièsel en: 1.- Les variacions en comparació amb el combustible convencional (gasoil A) en les emissions de gasos i partícules contaminants en motors de vehicles pesants de transport de mercaderies. 2.- Les variacions en comparació amb el combustible convencional (gasoil A) en el nivell de so emès per motors de vehicles pesants de transport de mercaderies. 3.- Els canvis en el consum de combustible en vehicles pesants en comparació amb la utilització de gasoil A. 4.- Els problemes tècnics observats en motors de vehicles pesants de transport de mercaderies durant un període de funcionament elevat

Evaluación de la exposición a solventes orgánicos en pintores de carros de la ciudad de Bogotá

Introducción. Los pintores de vehículos automotores están expuestos a solventes puros o mezclas de estos, los cuales se han asociado con efectos neurológicos y mutacarcinogénicos. Materiales y Métodos. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de corte transversal para caracterizar las condiciones de salud y trabajo de individuos expuestos a solventes orgánicos en talleres de lámina y pintura en Bogotá. Se comparó un grupo de expuestos a solventes orgánicos con un grupo no expuestos. Se determinaron concentraciones de benceno, tolueno y xileno (BTX) en aire, se aplicó una encuesta individual y se midieron en orina, los ácidos fenil mercaptúrico, hipúrico, orto-para metilhipúrico como metabolitos de benceno, tolueno y xileno. Los resultados de las mediciones y de la encuesta se correlacionaron para establecer el panorama de exposición. Resultados: hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre la población expuesta y la población no expuesta a solventes (p = 0,00) para los tres metabolitos de BTX. Se encontraron correlaciones positivas entre el tolueno en aire y ácido hipúrico en orina de los expuestos, (Spearman de 0,82) y entre el xileno en aire y el ácido o-metilhipúrico (Spearman de 0,76). Se encontraron valores de ácido hipúrico por encima de los límites permisibles en 11 2 trabajadores y de ácido p-metilhipúrico en 8 de ellos. No hubo valores para ácido fenilmercapturico fuera de límite. Discusión: los pintores de carros se encuentran expuestos a niveles altos de solventes orgánicos en sus sitios de trabajo y no cuentan con condiciones adecuadas de higiene y seguridad industrial para realizar sus labores.

The effects of diesel exhaust pollution on floral volatiles and the consequences for honey bee olfaction

There is growing evidence of a substantial decline in pollinators within Europe and North America, most likely caused by multiple factors such as diseases, poor nutrition, habitat loss, insecticides, and environmental pollution. Diesel exhaust could be a contributing factor to this decline, since we found that diesel exhaust rapidly degrades floral volatiles, which honey bees require for flower recognition. In this study, we exposed eight of the most common floral volatiles to diesel exhaust in order to investigate whether it can affect volatile mediated plant-pollinator interaction. Exposure to diesel exhaust altered the blend of common flower volatiles significantly: myrcene was considerably reduced, β-ocimene became undetectable, and β-caryophyllene was transformed into its cis-isomer isocaryophyllene. Proboscis extension response (PER) assays showed that the alterations of the blend reduced the ability of honey bees to recognize it. The chemically reactive nitrogen oxides fraction of diesel exhaust gas was identified as capable of causing degradation of floral volatiles.