The design of an automated CO emission control system for automobiles using activated carbon.

Abstract

Air pollution has been found to be so hazardous to human health and life, ecosystem and infrastructure. One of the main contributors to air pollution is transportation. The aim of this research was to design an automated emission control system for automobiles. Four design frameworks were made and the one with three emission control technologies (Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR), Exhaust Gas Collection Tank (EGCT) and catalytic converters) had the highest score of 300.70. However, in this research, a system focused on controlling cold start emissions using activated carbon as an adsorbent for carbon monoxide (CO) was implemented. It was found that activated carbon can reduce CO pollutants by an average CO reduction percentage of 6.28% when 96.88g of activated carbon was applied at an average temperature of 34.75℃. However, applying activated carbon was found to reduce temperature by an average temperature reduction of 11.66℃. This was achieved through an algorithm that was designed to control exhaust gas flow and implemented using AT mega 2560 microcontroller, MQ7 sensors, LM35 temperature sensors, stepper motors and butterfly valves. MQ7 sensors were used for CO detection. However, ceria-based sensors could be used to increase the scope of temperatures and redirect exhaust gases to activated carbon whenever high emission is detected.