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The Engine:
Engines and the Environment:
Types of Pollutants Created by Your Engine
Your engine burns gas to create the energy needed to power your automobile. During the combustion process, pollutants are created that can be harmful if inhaled as well as damaging to the environment. Your engine produces four basic types of pollutants:
· Carbon Monoxide
· Hydrocarbons
· Oxides of Nitrogen
· Particulates
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon Monoxide (CO) is formed when partially burned fuel is released into the atmosphere. is an extremely dangerous emission that can suffocate unsuspecting motorists if they let their vehicle run in a un vented space like a garage. Inhaling carbon (CO) can cause nausea, headaches, extreme fatigue and even death. CO is particularly dangerous because it is both colorless and odorless and difficult to detect.
Hydrocarbons
Hydrocarbons (HC) are present in petroleum products like gas and oil and can be emitted into the atmosphere either through the combustion process or through simple evaporation, such as gas evaporating from a worn fuel cap seal.
Oxides of Nitrogen
Oxides of Nitrogen (Nox) is a major contributor of smog and is formed when oxygen and nitrogen combine under intense heat.
During the combustion process, a great deal of heat is created and vented into the exhaust system. Exhaust flows through the exhaust system, and eventually enters the catalytic converter. A chemical reaction occurs inside the catalytic converter between exhaust vapors and a special chemical coating inside of the converter. As exhaust passes over the catalyst, the chemical reaction causes the converter to operate like a mini furnace, burning excess fuel particles before being emitted into the atmosphere.
Catalytic converters are designed to burn around 2500 degrees Fahrenheit. However, if temperatures increase above that amount, oxygen and nitrogen can combine into oxides of nitrogen, a major contributor of smog. As we'll see in a minute, keeping the converter from overheating is just one way in which smog can be reduced.
Particulates
As the name implies, particulates are small solid particles that are the by product of engine combustion and tend to be blown out the tail pipe. |
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1. Engine Intro
2. Engine Basics
3. Creating Power: The Combustion Process
4. Engine Cycles
5. Cylinders
6. Engine Displacement
7. Engine Types
8. Engine Construction
9. Engine Cooling and Lubrication
11. Diesel Engines
12. The Future Of Automotive Engines
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