Exhaust control devices for diesel vehicle emission reduction and associated effects on air quality and climate : a case study for Bangkok | |
| Author | Kanokwan Saswattecha |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.EV-07-18 |
| Subject(s) | Air quality management--Thailand--Bangkok Diesel motor exhaust gas--Thailand--Bangkok |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Environmental Engineering and Management. |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. EV-07-18 |
| Abstract | Diesel-powered vehicle emissions usually constitute the most significant source of toxic fine and ultrafine particles in the urban environment. The emission may also affect the climate, in particle, due to soot or black carbon (BC) content which absorbs solar radiation. The diesel-powered vehicle exhaust also contains other harmful gases THC, CO, NOx and BTEX which have multiple effects on human health and the environment. This study was designed to assess the impacts of various exhaust control devices on the vehicle emission under the Bangkok conditions. The diesel exhaust was tested using chassis dynamometer for selected diesel vehicles before and after installing the exhaust control devices. Eight diesel-powered vehicles with Diesel Oxidation Catalysts (DOCs), one bus (EuroII) with the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) and one bus with the Partial Flow Filter (PFF) were tested at the Automotive Emission Laboratory of Thailand Pollution Control Department over the simulated driving cycle for Bangkok condition. The findings of this study show that DPF brought about the highest PM2.5 reduction (from 0.17 g/km to 0.02 g/km i.e. 87%) and black carbon (BC2.5) reduction (81%), followed by PFF (a reduction from 0.22 g/km to 0.10 g/km i.e. 53% for PM2.5 and 23% for BC2.5). DPF was effective not only on PM2.5 and BC2.5 removal but also on CO removal. The DOC has produced a low PM reduction (averaged 24% for PM2.5 and 3% for BC2.5) and high reduction for THC and CO. A slight increase in CO₂ emission was observed after DOC installation as it converts THC and CO to CO₂. BTEX emissions varied among the tested vehicles but remain in the range of published data in literature. Three emission control scenarios tested, which are base case, DOC implementation for buses and DPF implementation for all buses, which shows that the effects of the scenarios on climate forcing are not much different among the scenarios. The cost benefit analysis was also preliminarily estimated under those different emission control scenarios. It was indicated that DOC implementation scenario was the best that contributes the highest health monetary benefit at the lowest costs. |
| Year | 2007 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. EV-07-18 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Energy and Climate Change (Former title: Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change (DEECC)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Environmental Engineering and Management (EV) |
| Chairperson(s) | Nguyen Thi Kim Oanh; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Visvanathan, C.;Preeda Parkpian;Hanaoka, Shinya;Supat Wangwongwatana; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | RTG Fellowship.; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2007 |