Experimental Investigation to Monitor Tailpipe Emissions Entering into Vehicle Cabin to Improve Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

In a recent study the author (Mathur, 2006) had conducted an experimental study by monitoring and collecting the tailpipe emissions (NO_x, CO, HC) of the exhaust gases for automobiles, buses, and trucks at peak and off-peak hours for major roads and highways in Detroit metropolitan area. The current study focuses on the influence of the vehicle speed and ambient temperature on the amount of CO, HC and NO_x entering into the vehicles' cabin in a controlled test environment. These tests have been conducted at CalsonicKansei North America's (CKNA) wind tunnel. Two sensors were installed in the vehicle to monitor outside and inside concentration of the above gases. The tests were conducted at a number of vehicle speeds to determine the influence on the amount of the gases entering into the cabin due to the response time of the actuator for the blower unit's air intake door. The tests were conducted by injecting a known concentration (ppm) of CO, HC and NO₂ into the vehicle cowl and then monitoring the cabin concentration levels for these gases as a function of time as the blower units intake door switched from OSA (out side air) to recirculation mode. A detailed summary of the findings is presented in this paper.

This is the first publication in the public domain to address the IAQ (indoor air quality) issue in automobiles by conducting tests in a controlled environment to determine the amount of tail pipe emission reaching into the cabin from outside as a function of vehicle speed and ambient temperature.