71-25
Exhaust Emissions from Two Passenger Vehicles
Equipped with "Fumcell"
April 1971
Henry L. Gompf
Division of Emission Control Technology
Mobile Source Pollution Control Program
Air Pollution Control Office
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
-------
71-25
Exhaust Emissions from Two Passenger Vehicles
Equipped with "Fumcell"
April 1971
Henry L. Gompf
Division of Emission Control Technology
Mobile Source Pollution Control Program
Air Pollution Control Office
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
-------
Device Tested
As part of a continuing evaluation of available vehicular
emission control devices, the Test and Evaluation Branch
initiated a test program to determine the emission reduction
potential of the "Fumcell". Fumceli is a product of Energy
Sciences Incorporated of El Segundo, California. The "Fumcell"
is a small device, tubular in shape, which is installed in
the PCV line according to the manufacturer's instructions.
The standard PCV valve is left in place.
Vehicles Utilized
Two cars from the EPA fleet were used to evaluate "Fumcell's"
effectiveness. The device was installed in the PCV line of
a 1970 Chevrolet Impala and a 1970 Plymouth Valiant. The
Impala is equipped with an automatic transmission and a
350 cubic inch displacement, high compression, eight cylinder
engine. The Valiant is equipped-with an automatic transmission
and a 225 cubic inch displacement, six cylinder engine.
Indolene 30 was used for testing of the Impala while Indolene
Clear was utilized for the Valiant. Extensive baseline
emission data were available on each of these passenger cars.
Emission Test Procedure
The following emission tests were performed (all tests were
cold start):
Impala
8 Baseline 1972 Federal Test Procedure (FTP)
3 Fumcell-equipped 1972 FTP
-------
- 2 -
Valiant
1 Baseline 1968 FTP with Constant Volume Sampling (CVS)
1 Fumcell-equipped 1968 FTP with CVS
6 Baseline 1972 FTP
4 Fumcell-equipped 1972 FTP
The 1968 FTP was performed in accordance with the June 4,
1968, Federal Register, Volume 33, Number 108. The 1972 FTP
was performed in accordance with the November 10, 1970, Federal
Register, Volume 35, Number 219. Closed cycle data in each
case were taken utilizing the constant volume sampling technique,
Bag samples were analyzed using non-dispersive infrared
analysis for carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Hydrocarbons
were measured using a flame ionization detector. Oxides of
-nitrogen were determined utilizing the Saltzman analysis--a
wet chemical technique. Non-dispersive infrared analysis
was utilized for open cycle, continuous analysis of hydro-
carbon, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and nitric oxide
in the 1968 FTP.
Additional Tests Conducted
In addition to the emission tests described in the previous
section, two other tests were employed to further evaluate
the "Fumcell".
Fuel consumption was measured during each emission test.
The test fuel tank was weighed prior to and immediately
following each emission test.
-------
- 3 -
Because the "Fumcell" depends on altering the characteristics
of the PCV system for its effectiveness, flow versus vacuum
tests were conducted. These tests spanned two ranges to
measure the effect on PCV flow at both high and low vacuum.
Testing was performed on a standard flow bench. Low vacuum
utilized water as a pressure measuring fluid while it was
required to use mercury for high vacuum measurements.
Emission Results
Complete emission data for the 1970 Valiant are presented
in Table 1 of this report. Utilizing the open cycle 1968
FTP, the employment of Fumcell resulted in measured
reduction of 28 percent in hydrocarbons and 63 percent in
carbon monoxide. Nitric oxide emissions appeared to increase
by 3 percent. Closed cycle or CVS data obtained simultaneously
by repeating the 7-mode cycle nine times while taking a bag
sample, indicated actual mass emission reductions of 45 percent
in hydrocarbons, 53 percent in carbon monoxide, and 24 percent
in oxides of nitrogen. Similarly, utilizing the 1972 FTP,
mass emissions from the Valiant were reduced by 28 percent
in hydrocarbons, 48 percent in carbon monoxide, and 10 percent
in oxides of nitrogen.
Emission data for the 1970 Impala are also presented in
Table 1 of this report. Use of the 1972 FTP revealed that
hydrocarbon emissions were reduced by 22 percent, carbon
monoxide by 48 percent. A 4 percent increase in oxides of
nitrogen were shown.
-------
_ 4 -
Fuel Consumption Results
Fuel consumption data for both the Impala and the Valiant
are presented in Table 2. The Valiant equipped with
Fumcell showed an 8 percent reduction in fuel consumption
during the 1968 FTP evaluations and 9 percent during the
1972 FTP. On the other hand, the Impala used 7 percent more
fuel during 1972 FTP tests when equipped with Fumcell.
PCV Flow Test Results
The effect of the "Fumcell" on flow through a PCV system is
indicated on Figures 1 and 2 of this report. Figure 1 depicts
flow under low vacuum conditions from 0-30 inches of water
vacuum. Although flow initially begins at about 6 inches
of water both with and without the Fumcell in place, from
6 inches to 30 inches of water the flow through the system
equipped with Fumcell is restricted up to about 40 percent
of normal flow.
Under high vacuum conditions use of the Fumcell results in
the bleeding in of additional air. As Figure 2 indicates
from 12 inches of mercury to higher vacuums flow through the
PCV system tested remained constant. Without Fumcell this
flow was about 2 cubic feet per minute (cfm). With Fumcell
the flow increased to 4.5 cfm, an increase of 125 percent
under idle type conditions.
-------
- 5 -
Conclusions
1. Hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions from both the
Impala and Valiant were substantially reduced by the
installation of the Fumcell. This reduction was caused
by the high vacuum leaning effect of the Fumcell. It
is felt that while both cars tested were running rich
enough to tolerate this leaning effect the same effect
could be accomplished by adjusting the carburetion on
both cars. A leaner running vehicle would probably
develop adverse driveability affects with installation
of the Fumcell. The restriction of PCV flow at low
vacuum (acceleration conditions) has little effect
because the PCV flow is a much smaller proportion of
total flow into the intake manifold. Oxides of nitrogen
did not react consistently to the installation of Fumcell,
Increasing NOX emissions from the Impala indicate the
potential result of the leaning effect. The decrease
in NOx emitted by the Valiant appears questionable as
the last two baseline tests reported are both lower than
the average Fumcell equipped NOx emissions during the
1972 FTP. It is felt therefore that Fumcell has little
direct effect on NOX emissions.
2. Fuel consumption effects ranged from a 9 percent savings
on the Valiant to a 7 percent penalty on the Impala. No
conclusion as to Fumcell*s effect on fuel consumption
can be made.
-------
- 6 -
3. While Fumcell seems to be an effective device for leaning
vehicular operation, it is doubtful that it is universally
applicable to a population of vehicles with operating
conditions ranging from very rich to very lean.
-------
Table 1
Emission Data
1970 Valiant 225 CID
1968 FTP - 7-mode, open cycle
Baseline
Trip Composite
Fumcell
Trip Composite
% Reduction
9 cycle - 7-mode,
Baseline
Fumcell
% Reduction
1972 FTP, LA 4-S4
Baseline
Before
Fumcell
After
Fumcell
Average Baseline
Fumcell
Average Fumcell
% Reduction
HC ppm
162.1
116.0
28%
closed cycle
HC gpm CO gpm
3.20 43.89
1.77 20.54
45% 53%
, closed cycle
HC gpm CO gpm
3.73 67.59
2.53 42.65
2.51 29.80 '
2.79 53.73
2.57 43.63
2.53 50.69
2.78
2.16
1.66
2.18
1.98
2.00
28%
gpm 48.02 gpm
27.77
26.71
19.99
27.12
gpm 25.40 gpm
48%
CO %
1.29
0.48
63%
CO 2 gpm
398.42
388.33
3%
CO2 gpm
447.39
282.41
439.79
542.93
425.62
417.88
426.00
478.11
443.99
437.29
442.69
*NO ppm
1951.1
2011.3
3% increase
Saltzman
*N02 gpm
7.44
5.65
24%
Saltzman
*N02 gpm
6.40
7.17
6.48
7.10
4.89
5.57
gpm 6.27 gpm
5.34
5.83
5.82
5.49
450.52 gpm 5.62 gpm
6% increase 10%
* corrected for temperature and humidity
-------
Table 1 (cont'd)
Emission Data (cont'd)
1972 FTP
Baseline
Before
Fumcell
After
Fumcell
1970 Impala 350 CID
LA 4-S4, closed cycle
HC gpm
4.65
4.36
4.36
4.29
4.47
6.27
5.96
4.24
CO gpm
49.68
45.01
44.10
45.35
47.01
53.77
58.80
45.00
Average Baseline 4.83 gpm
48.60 gpm
CO2 gpm
610.9
611.7
561.3
544.7
605.9
566.3
495.5
610.1
575.8 gpm
Saltzman
*N02 gpm
4.9
5.3
5.8
4.9
5.9
5.0
4.6
5.3
5.2 gpm
Fumcell
Average Fumcell
3.21
4.11
4.05
3.79 gpm
25.43
23.41
26.94
25.26 gpm
567.7
590.3
628.8
595.6 gpm
5.9
4.8
5.4
5.4 gpm
% Reduction
22%
48%
3% increase 4% increase
-------
Table 2
Fuel Consumption Data
1970 Valiant 225 CID
9 Cycle - 7-mode
Baseline 1.250 kg,
Fumcell 1.150 kg,
% Savings in fuel consumption 8%
1972 FTP - LA 4-S4
Baseline 1.455 kg.
1.2.10
1.480
1.280
1.207
Average 1.326 kg,
Fumcell 1.230 kg,
1.178
1.200
1.195
Average 1.201 kg,
% Savings in fuel consumption 9%
-------
Table 2 (cont'd)
Fuel Consumption Data (cont'd)
1970 Impala 350 CID
1972 FTP - LA 4-S4
Baseline 1.63 kg,
1.59
1.64
1.59
1.82
1.71
1.84
Average 1.69 kg.
Fumcell 2.02 kg.
1.79
1.62
Average 1.81 kg,
% Penalty in fuel consumption 7%
-------
BEE 20x20 TO INCH
o
-------
BEE 20x20 TO INCH
------- |