Exhaust Pollution

[tbug]

Hi all,

I am currently designing an engine test bed for our labs. It will be probably used for a carburetor Ford Escort engine (although it is still considered as an option for now). My headache is a how to find a practical cheap design on how to minimize the exhaust smell and pollution from the lab. I've been thinking of a custom made afterburner, using a flame and ceramic plates to keep on the flame. It will be installed just after the engine exhaust port. Spark plug after burners are out of the question. I have also thought of a heat exchanger just before release to atmosphere to cool down the exhaust gas. Another option is to use three-way catalytic converters, but again I am strictly limited with budget. Any ideas ideas will be appreciated.

Thanks
Ter

 

[BrianPetersen]

Vent it all outside. A small HVAC fan with the inlet being a large diameter (4" / 100mm) flexible hose to the engine exhaust, and blow it all outside.

Nothing else will be adequately safe.

 

[tbug]

The problem is that all other test cells in the lab have an exhaust circuit to vent directly to the outside. But I am getting too much complaints from the offices surrounding the lab. The HVAC fan is one good option for ventilation, but I think I need another system to accompany the ducting in order to reduce pollution.

Ter

 

[BrianPetersen]

If you are getting back-flow from this ventilation system, your ventilation system doesn't have enough capacity or is not properly designed so that there is suction from all connections. Fix that.

 

[gruntguru]

Aren't the complaints from offices around the lab enough for you? If you try to exhaust into the lab you will find new sources of complaints that you never dreamed of.

Engineering is the art of creating things you need, from things you can get.

 

[IRstuff]

Sounds like you need an air scrubber, somthing like this:

http://www.vapor-tech.net/index.cfm/lev1/134/Product.Details?&act=pm&pid=9

TTFN

FAQ731-376
Chinese prisoner wins Nobel Peace Prize

 

[LionelHutz]

Is this offices that are in the same building as the lab meaning hte exhaust is being sucked back into your building? Or is this people and other buildings neighboring your bulding?

If it is your building then you're not doing a good job venting your exhaust. A move to better engine management (fuel injection) and catalytic converters would make a large improvement in the exhaust.

 

[SomptingGuy]

If your engine is carburetted, expect some staff CO poisoning unless you vent it.

- Steve

 

[btrueblood]

Even if you perfectly converted all the C to CO2, the buildup of CO2 in a confined space will give people headaches, shortness of breath, and a variety of other complaints, usually (hopefully!) before they pass out.

 

[tbug]

The offices are not in the same building as the lab. By surrounding the lab I meant on the outside of the lab. Sorry for confusion. The thing is that the lab is only one storey high from ground, while the adjacent buildings are higher with respect to its rooftop. All other test cells are vented to the outside. And this is what I intend to do with the new one. The difference is that before releasing the exhaust to the outside I wish to clean it. As i already said catalytic converter is one option, but due to my limited budget, I'd rather find a cheaper way.

 

[IRstuff]

Catalytic converters only remove some of the objectionable exhaust. A more thorough cleaning requires a scrubber.

TTFN

FAQ731-376
Chinese prisoner wins Nobel Peace Prize

 

[GregLocock]

I don't know if it is cheaper than an ad hoc catalyst, but in the olden days a very tall chimney was considered sufficient.

Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

 

[tbug]

The scrubber suggested by IRstuff seems a quite reasonable option. In you opinion which are the best: dry or wet?

Thank you all for your help!
Ter

 

[HRHtex]

I think the very tall exhaust pipe (chimney) suggestion is about a million times more practical.

 

[BrianPetersen]

Unless it is some type of device other than what I think it is, a scrubber is unlikely to do anything about CO.

 

[zzzjim]

OLDER Carb tech ,
probably means even more raw fuel heading toward the exhaust, ( Un-burnt wishing to backfire)
and extra heat if you attempt to burn it off !

Cats can produce unpleasant smells ,

I'm with GregLocock "a tall chimney" for all sounds good , and plenty of extra air to cool / dilute fuel .