EPA-M-TEB 70-5
The Effect on Exhaust Emissions
of the CETEC Atom-X Device
June 1970
Michael A. Caggiano
Division of Motor Vehicle Pollution Control
National Air Pollution Control Administration
Department of Health, Education, and Welfare
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Subject; CETEC Device Evaluation
Background
In September of 1968, an unsolicited proposal from
Consolidated Engineering Technology Corp. (CETEC),
h subsidiary of Technology Incorporated, was evaluated.
The proposal was for a research effort to determine
the mechanism by which a device affected the fuel such
that combustion chamber deposits were changed and emis-
sions reduced. The device, which is installed in the
fuel line between the fuel pump and carburetor, subjects
the fuel to a low intensity magnetic field (from a series
of permanent magnets) and a 12 volt electrostatic poten-
tial. The proposal did not present sufficient data to
indicate that there was a significant effect on emissions.
It was suggested that more testing was necessary to
determine whether or not there really was some effect
on emissions. Subsequently, Robert F. Fitch and Dr. Ralph
Anderson of CETEC visited with people from MVR&D and DMVPC
to present some data they had obtained with the device
and discuss its effects in general. At this meeting, the
author indicated he could not commit the Division to a
test program, but asked if they would be willing to send
a device should we decide to evaluate it. They agreed
to send a device, and did.
A decision was made to intiate a test program to evaluate
the effect of the device on exhaust emissions for the
following reasons:
1. There was some evidence, although admittedly
meager and somewhat subjective, that there was an
effect.
2. The device was novel and could easily be applied
to all vehicles new and used.
3. The test program would require a relatively low
level of effort.
4. There were no active "in-house" projects under
way at the time.
5. The program would make use of the idle Labeco
tape controlled chassis dynamometer and provide a
training and operating opportunity to the Laboratory
Branch personnel.
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6. The information generated in the program would
be forwarded to MVR&D to be used in further consid-
eration of the unsolicited proposal mentioned earlier.
CETEC has supplied test results which show the device
causes:
1. Replacement of hard carbon combustion chamber
deposits with a soft gray deposit of less quantity.
2. Less smoky exhaust.
3. Reduced engine knock with lower grade fuels and
advanced timing. (This could be the result of lower
octane requirement due to less combustion chamber
deposits.)
Their explanation is, "CETEC has hypothesized that normally
disordered molecular arrays can be oriented by low intensity
magnetic or electrostatic fields or both. The molecular
orientation then can have possible effects on vaporization
and atomization characteristics. The results of the engine
testing (CETEC's) indicated that the effects were more
closely related to the pre-reaction phenomena, including
pyrolysis of fuel, than the terminal phase of combustion
process." It appeared when originally evaluating the infor-
mation supplied, that the device might possibly affect
combustion by affecting the formation of free radicals _
during the combustion process. A change in the quantity • , •
or rate of formation of free radicals could beneficially
change combustion. This is a remote possibility, however.
The Test Program
In order to evaluate the potential combustion chamber
deposit effect, a mileage accumulation type test was
necessary. It was also necessary that the mileage be
accumulated in the same manner when establishing a
baseline emission level as when operating with the
device installed. To accomplish this, a route through
Ypsilanti, Michigan was driven with the test vehicle
while engine speed, vehicle speed, and inlet manifold
pressure were recorded on magnetic tape. (The route
used is described in Appendix A.) This tape was then
used as the input to the Labeco mileage accumulation
dynamometer. At approximately 500 mile intervals of
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raileage accumulation on this route, emissions from
the vehicle were measured on a hot start basis using
the '70 Federal procedure simultaneously with the
constant volume sampling (CVS) procedure.
The plan was to accumulate mileage on the route until
a.stable baseline emissions level was established.
Then install the device and continue as before until
a downtrend in emissions appeared or a few thousand
miles had been accumulated. However, mileage accumu-
lation was much slower than planned due to lack of
personnel to operate the dynamometer full time, mechan-
ical troubles with the dynamometer itself, and the
interference of this test with temperature control in
the laboratory testing area. This led to an undesirably
high number of stops and starts. As a result, the
baseline emissions level was not very stable. As
originally anticipated the program was to take only
a few months to minimize need for adjustments and
maintenance on the vehicle.
Results
The vehicle accumulated 2932 miles to establish a
baseline. This took approximately 8 months. During
that time a spark plug fouled and had to be replaced;
also the point dwell, and thus idle RPM changed and
had to be brought back to specification. About the time
the device was to be installed the vehicle emissions
suddenly and unexplainably increased. Due to impatience
with the duration of the test to date, and finding no
obvious reason for the increases, the device was installed
and the program continued. 2735 miles were accumulated
between September of 1969 and early May of 1970, with
the device installed. Table I is a list of the data
collected and in Figures 1 and 2 these data are presented
graphically. It was hoped that more information could
have been obtained from gas chromatography and measurement
of clearance volumes using the Holtzman resonator principle
but increasing activity on other more important projects
prevented the acguistion of these data. A few subtract!ve
column analyses were run. There was no significant
difference in exhaust composition compared to baseline.
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Cone1usions
Based on this testing program, it does not appear the
Atom-X (CETEC) device has a significant effect on
exhaust emissions.
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Baseline Mileage Accumulation
Date
01-31-69
02-03-69
03-03-69
03-05-69
03-05-69
03-27-69
03-27-69
04-11-69
05-06-69
05-12-69
05-12-69
06-20-69
06-23-69
Test
No.
143
144
147
155
156
185
186
188
204
211
212
346
347
Odom.
Miles
11486
11502
11875
12326
12337
12899
12903
13214
13820
13845
13855
14290
14304
g/mi
FID-HC
7.00
7.17
6.13
5.92
5.71
6.68
6.40
6.95
7.51
7.21
6.91
7.17
7.45
(CVS)
CO
50.5
48.5
47.6
42.7
46.6
52.9
50.7
40.8
53.5
51.2
46.0
49.8
52.8
PPM
HC
577
593
479:
496
488
451
467
545
653
662
%
CO
2.64
2.22
2.20
2.39
2.30
2.42
2.35
2.501
2.502
2.802
^—
(Dynamometer # 2 New test No.series)
07-15-69
07-15-69
09-03-69
09-03-69
09-04-69
Average :
09-04-69
09-04-69
09-09-69
09-09-69
11-04-69
11-04-69
12-10-69
12-12-69
03-16-70
03-16-70
04-09-70
04-09-70
74
75
83
84
85
86
87
88
98
99
5-049
5-052
6-103
6-105
6-142
6-143
14320
14326
14370
14375
14390
installed
14400
14420
14425
15342
15351
16026
16036
16593
16600
17128
17137
6.53
6.90
9.11
8.78
8.65
7.12
Device
8.33
8.48
8.49
7.87
8.00
9.01
8.92
7.00
7.20
7.82
7.07
40.1
49.0
53.5
53.4
49.2
48.8
46.6
50.2
47.7
47.8
47.8
47.4
55.9
48.5
50.1
56.4
51.6
-. —
• .
541
~» •_ •_
.
510
5.2
508
516
466
493
465
452
._
.
2.43
f
»<« — ••
_
2.83
2.73
2.67
2.76
2.79
2.75
3.01
2.86
Average:
04-11-70 6-239
8.02
Without Device
17153
50.0
490 2.80
487
2.89
2Misfires; Decels high
Total Test Mileage = 5667
Baseline . = 2932
With Device = 2735
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Appendix A
Mileage Accumulation Route "C"
1. Start on Ramp onto 1-94 west from U5S.-12
2. Maintain 50 mph on 1-94 to exit for U.S.-12
east into Yspilanti (Business Route to Ypsilanti)
3. Bear right from U.S.-12 onto Michigan Ave.
through downtown Ypsilanti.
4. Bear right from Michigan onto Ecorse Road
at top of hill.
5. Follow Ecorse Road into Willow Run Airport
Main Terminal parking lot.
Route distance 11.5 miles
Approximate average speed 30 mph
Cycle duration (Dynamometer) 21 min
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