DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL AND INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND BUILD ENVIRONMENT

Exhaust Gas Analysis Lab 3

SURNAME : VILAKAZI
INITIALS : BG
STUDENT NO : 220001965
COURSE : BEng TECH IN MECHANICAL
MODULE : FLUID MECHANICS
DATE : 19 MAY 2021

I confirm that this assignment is my own work, is not copied from any other person's work,
and has not previously been submitted for assessment either at the University of Johannesburg
or elsewhere.

Signed: BG VILAKAZI Date: 19/ 05/ 2021

Introduction

In this experiment, a four-stroke single-cylinder petrol engine was used with an

exhaust gas analyzer. The gas analyzer is used for measuring 4 gases which are,
oxygen (O2), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), and hydrocarbons (HC)
as well as calculating lambda (λ) a measure of air/fuel ratio. These measurements
together provide a very accurate way of measuring the combustion efficiency of an
engine.

five exhaust gases that are analyzed in this lab.

The five gases which are analyzed in the laboratory are, Carbon oxide (CO), Carbon
dioxide (CO2), Hydrocarbon (HC), Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), and Oxygen.

Carbon oxide

It is a product of the incomplete burning of fuel and is formed when Carbon is

partially oxidized [1]. Incomplete combustion and an excess of fuel cause this gas to
develop in the cylinders. High CO levels are always indicative of an extremely rich
combination preparation. (The CO should have become CO2 but did not have the
time or enough O2 to became real CO2, so it is exhausted as CO instead.)

Carbon dioxide

It is an indicator of the complete combustion of the fuel. The higher the value of
Carbon dioxide the more efficient the combustion. Completely Burned Petrol,
represents how well the air/fuel mixture is burned in the engine (efficiency) [1]. This
gas is a direct indicator of the efficiency of combustion. At 2500 RPM, it is typically 1-
2 percent greater than at idle This is due to increased gas flow, which leads to higher
combustion efficiency. Around 16 percent is the maximum. [2].

Hydrocarbon

Hydrocarbons are produced when fuels are burned inefficiently [1]. Unburned Petrol
represents the amount of unburned fuel due to incomplete combustion exiting
through the exhaust. The amount of unburned carbon in the exhaust is measured in
parts per million (ppm).
Oxygen

When the mixture contains excessive air. The Oxygen is then formed in the exhaust.
The oxygen content, when combined with the Carbon dioxide maximum, is a clear
sign of the transition from a rich to a lean mixture range, as well as leaks in the
manifold or exhaust systems, and combustion failures [1]. The amount of oxygen in
the exhaust is measured in the percentage of the volume.

Nitrogen oxide

Nitrogen dioxide is produced through combustion at high pressures and

temperatures as the mixture becomes leaner, more hydrocarbons are burned; but, at
high temperatures and pressures, surplus Oxygen gas molecules in the combustion
chamber react with nitrogen to form NOx [1]. Regardless of fluctuations in the air to
fuel ratio, NOx increases in proportion to the ignition timing advance. Exhaust gas
detoxification systems (in combination with Carbon oxide Hydrocarbon) and exhaust
gas recirculation systems are both related to this gas. Some of the inert (processed)
exhaust gas is returned to the engine and burned again by these systems. This time,
there are no extra Oxygen gas molecules in this gas, which prevents it from
exploding [3].

Results.

The following results are obtained from the gas analyzer at the lab.

Discussion of Results

The four-stroke engine shows a high volume of hydrocarbon and oxygen. the
hydrocarbon is greater than 35 ppm. when the hydrocarbons and oxygen are higher
a misfire or cylinder imbalance is possible, causing the converter to overheat and the
shell to glow red and discolor, resulting in substrate meltdown [10].

The carbon dioxide (CO2) is lower the volume of oxygen (O2) which shows that the
combustion is not complete. Since the is an excessive oxygen, the mixture is lean
mixture. If HC increases because of a lean misfire, oxygen will also increase. The
carbon dioxide will decrease in any of the above cases because of an air/fuel
imbalance or misfire [1].

The value of Lambda is greater than 1.005, this shows that the is lean mixture the
engine is running in a lean condition. A lean condition is an indicator of imbalance
since the engine will be having too much air [10]. Lean condition which causes the
high volume of Nitrogen oxide (NOx). The nitrogen oxide is caused by excessively
lean air/fuel mixture.

Discuss the difference between good and bad combustion.

Complete combustion/ good Combustion

Good combustion is called complete combustion because all the fuel is burned down
[6]. Complete combustion needs a plentiful supply of air so that the elements in the
fuel react fully with oxygen [6]. The reactant burns completely in oxygen, yielding a
restricted number of products. When a hydrocarbon is burned in the presence of
oxygen, only carbon dioxide and water are produced. When elements are burnt, the
most frequent oxides are the main byproducts. Carbon will decompose into carbon
dioxide, and nitrogen will decompose into nitrogen dioxide [4]. About 21 percent of
air is oxygen. When a fuel burns in plenty of air, it receives enough oxygen for
complete combustion.

hydrocarbon + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water

Incomplete combustion

When the supply of air or oxygen is insufficient, incomplete combustion ensues.

Water is still created, but instead of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and carbon are
created [6]. Incomplete combustion occurs because of the following factors [7]

● Inadequate air and fuel mixing.

● The flame is not getting enough oxygen.
 ● Burning time is insufficient.
● Before combustion is complete, the flame temperature is cooled.

hydrocarbon + oxygen → carbon monoxide + carbon + water

The carbon is released as soot. Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas, which is one
reason why complete combustion is preferred to incomplete combustion.

List air to fuel ratios for common fuels

The following is a table of the most popular fuel gas and their air to fuel ratio [8]

Fuel Chemical formula AFR

Gasoline C8H18 14.7:1

Propane C3H8 15.67:1

Methane CH4 17.19:1

Hydrogen H2 34.3:1

Butanol C4H9OH 11.2:1

Discussion of the rich mixture and the effect on engine power.

A rich mixture is a fuel/air mixture with too much fuel, contains enough fuel to deplete
the cylinder's oxygen supply [9]. Temperatures and combustion speed are reduced
in both excessively rich and excessively lean mixes [4]. Excess gasoline cools the
engine slightly, as in a rich mixture, though the effect of unburned fuel as a coolant is
frequently overstated. Other factors, such as lower combustion speed, are mostly
responsible for the cooling [4].

Air-fuel (AFR) numbers lower than stoichiometric are considered rich mixture, which
is less efficient, but may produce more power and burns cooler, which is kinder on
the engine. For high load conditions and acceleration, a richer mixture is used to
produce cooler combustion products and that way prevents detonation and
overheating of the cylinder head [3].
References

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Available at:
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[7] Iastate.edu. (2020). Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Checking for Complete Combustion
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[8] x-engineer.org (2019). Air-fuel ratio, lambda and engine performance – x-engineer.org.
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[9] www.collinsdictionary.com. (n.d.). Rich mixture definition and meaning | Collins English
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2021].
[10] Walker Exhaust Systems | Performance Mufflers & Exhaust Kits. (n.d.). Car Exhaust
Gas Analyzer Chart | Walker Exhaust Systems. [online] Available at:
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15 May 2021].