Vehicular Exhaust Emission Test Bench

Project Title

Vehicular Exhaust Emission Test Bench

Project Area of Specialization Electrical/Electronic EngineeringProject Summary

The transport sector, being a leading source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, is also responsible for a large proportion of urban air pollution. An estimated 3.7 million premature deaths are attributed to ambient (outdoor) air pollution, based on World Health Organization data from 2012. Overall, higher urban air pollution concentrations increase the risk for cardiovascular and respiratory disease, cancer and adverse birth outcomes, and also are associated with higher death rates.

Vehicular exhaust emissions have been a primary contributor to air pollution. Emissions from motor vehicles contribute a large part of the hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen in the atmosphere. The need to restrict motor vehicle exhausts were indicated when it was demonstrated that these gases were major constituents of photochemical smog. Since then, the significance of vehicle exhausts monitoring to resolve air pollution problems have been firmly established.

The fundamental aim of this project is the design and implementation of equipment that can effectively monitor vehicular exhaust emissions and provide the recorded data to the right authorities for effective control at a lowered cost, so as to reduce air pollution and its adverse effects on human health.

Project Objectives

Pakistan does not have the habit of testing its vehicle’s exhaust emissions annually, unlike the more developed countries of the west. Despite being under the EURO 2 compliance, the country only tests its vehicles at manufacturer and imported ends. This is the lead cause of the problem as the vehicles in use (active vehicles) contribute the most to the total vehicular emissions building up the air pollution in the country. The main challenge faced is the cost of the testing equipment and successful data transmission of the vehicle tested.

Our objective is:

- To strive to overcome these challenges and lower the cost to a range where effective testing equipment is readily available at a cheaper rate to the testing authorities.

- To use this equipment as a foundation to produce a cleaner urban environment and a cleaner Pakistan.

- To safeguard human health, that is under constant decline due to high levels of air pollution.

- To allow future technologies to use it as a foothold for producing better, more effective and comprehensive equipment to combat air pollution.

Project Implementation Method

• Exhaust gas is fed to the system via an intake probe using a vacuum pump.

• The gas is filtered via the particulate and moisture filters before being ejected by the pump on the other end.

• As part of the gas sensor protection unit, a temperature and pressure sensor is installed. These sensors will control the valves of the chamber containing the gas sensors.

• The chamber contains all the gas sensors that are interfaced with a signal conditioning unit that will generate input signals to the microcontroller.

• The microcontroller will go through its algorithms to produce a precise value on the LCD Displays.

• The data being generated by the controller is also fed to the Wi-Fi module, for real time monitoring.

• The vehicle will be tested on load via a custom designed JIG.

• Once the process is started, the vehicle being tested has it's front wheels run on the JIG.
• The vacuum pump starts running and pumps gas to the chamber. 
• Initially the chamber is closed at both the inlet and the outlet via electronic valves.
• The valves only open once the temperature and pressure of the gas taken in has reached the required levels.(Gas sensor requirements)
• Until the valves don't open the gas is constantly being fed to the exhaust via another valve.
• Once the required levels are reached the exhaust gas closes and the chamber valves open.
• Once the gas passes through the three sensors, they convert their volumes and send electronic signals to the microcontroller.
• After going through various algorithms, the microcontroller displays the data on the LCD Displays highlighting the volumes of each gas being tested.
• The microcontroller also sends the measured data to a cloud server to be recorded.

Benefits of the Project

- Cleaner Environment, Cleaner Pakistan

- Easy Detection and Data transmission

- Effective Air Pollusion Control

-Cost Effective and Accurate Detection

-Easy to Use

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

Measures: Carbon Monoxide: 0 - 1%. Nitrogen Dioxide: 0 - 1000ppm. Hydrocarbon : 0 - 10000ppm.

Microcontroller: ARDUINO Mega.

POWER: 12VDC. (Chargeable).

PROBE: Coiled Stainless Steel, 0.25in. gauge.

Moisture Filter filtering grade: 25 microns.

Particulate Filter filtering grade: 250 microns.

HOSE: Silicone, length 6 ft.

Thermocouple: K-type, 0 - 1024 degree celsius.

Pressure Sensor: SKU-237545, 0- 250kPa.

Vacuum Pump: AS-8000++++, 30kPa - 200kPa.

JIG: 

Dimensions: H: 2ft. W: 3ft. L:8ft.

Rollers: Stainless Steel. (Adjustable).

Structure: Iron Alloy.

Final Deliverable of the Project HW/SW integrated systemCore Industry TransportationOther Industries Health Core Technology Clean TechOther Technologies Shared EconomySustainable Development Goals Good Health and Well-Being for People, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Climate Action, Life on LandRequired Resources

Item Name	Type	No. of Units	Per Unit Cost (in Rs)	Total (in Rs)
			Total in (Rs)	80000
SGX-IR12BD	Equipment	1	29304	29304
MIX-2801(CO)	Equipment	1	4639	4639
MIX-2801(NO2)	Equipment	1	12487	12487
Filters	Equipment	2	1020	2040
Microcontroller	Equipment	1	1230	1230
JIG and Mechanical Structure	Equipment	1	20000	20000
Relays	Equipment	2	150	300
Bank Charges	Miscellaneous	1	7000	7000
Freight cost	Miscellaneous	1	3000	3000