| Author | Adhikari, Devendra Prasad |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.ET-97-25 |
| Subject(s) | Transportation--Environmental aspects--Nepal--Kathmandu
|
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of
Engineering |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Kathmandu Valley, the capital city of Nepal, is facing the vehicular air pollution problems in the recent years. Transport sector contributed about 31 thousand tons of pollutants in 1996. Vehicular pollutants are expected to reach 41 thousand tons in 2010 and 53 thousand tons in year 2020. This study analyzes the different vehicle options and emission control devices & measures in order to assess the emission reduction potential from the transport sector in the Valley. Trolley bus, electric 3-wheeler, electric minibus and LPG 3- wheeler are alternative vehicular options examined here. The economics and emission mitigating potential of the emission control devices and measures such as magnetizer, unleaded gasoline, catalytic converter, and inspection and maintenance program are also looked into. Fuel quality, emission standards, and the selection of appropriate vehicle types are also discussed in this study. This study reveals that the driving characteristics and present electricity generation capacity favour the electric vehicle in the Valley. However, the present development trends and the likely number of future electric vehicles may not significantly contribute to mitigate the vehicular air pollution problems. There would be only about 0.50 per cent reduction of total pollutants from the transport sector in 2000 and likewise 1.2 per cent in 2020. Rather emission mitigation through the application of emission control devices and measures seem to be more effective. There would be about 884 tons of CO, 119 tons of HC, 3 8 tons of NOx and 1.5 tons of Pb reduction in 2000, if all new cars and taxis were made mandatory for using unleaded gasoline and catalytic converter. The same approach would reduce about 8706 tons of CO, 1177 tons of HC, 382 tons of NOx and 2.5 tons of Pb in year 2020. The national emission standards of smoke for diesel vehicles and carbon monoxide for gasoline vehicles could also be maintained through the inspection and maintenance program. |
| Year | 1997 |
| 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 | Energy Technology (ET) |
| Chairperson(s) | Shrestha, Ram M. |
| Examination Committee(s) | Bhattacharya, Sribas C.;Pacudan, Romeo B.; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | The Government of Japan; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1997 |