LPG In-Service Vehicle Emissions Study in Australia
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MOTOR VEHICLE POLLUTION IN AUSTRALIA Supplementary Report No. 1 LPG In-Service Vehicle Emissions Study prepared by the NSW Environment Protection Authority for Environment Australia & Federal Office of Road Safety May 1997 GPO Box 594 Tel: +61 6 274 7111 Canberra ACT 2601 Fax: +61 6 274 7714 Australia ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Environment Australia commissioned the NSW EPA to undertake the LPG In-service Vehicle Emissions Study. The Federal Office of Road Safety was responsible for overall financial and project management of the Study. The NSW EPA Project Team wishes to acknowledge the considerable support given by a number of organisations over the duration of the study. Particular thanks are extended to the following contributors: · the thirteen householders who entrusted their private vehicles to the emissions laboratories for testing; · ALPGA, for providing advice on technical matters, supplying information on the LPG vehicle fleet characteristics and arranging industry support through the coordination of its members; · DASFleet, for providing new-model ‘replacement’ vehicles at nominal rates for use by the private vehicle owners who agreed to let us test their cars; · ELGAS Ltd., for supplying and delivering the test fuel (free of charge) to both laboratories; · NSW Taxi Council and the Victorian Taxi Council for assisting with arrangements to test a variety of taxis from a number of the members; · NRMA Limited, for providing comprehensive insurance coverage for all ‘replacement’ vehicles and for the provision of roadside service coverage for ‘replacement’ vehicles in NSW; · RACV Ltd, for the provision of roadside service coverage for all ‘replacement’ vehicles being driven in Victoria; Other organisations who contributed to the project include: · AGB McNair · Boral Transport Maintenance Services (NSW) · Gameco (NSW) Pty Ltd · Parnell LPGas Systems Pty Ltd (Victoria) · Environment Protection Authority (Victoria) As well as the aforementioned contributions, everyone who became involved in the project - laboratory staff, mechanics, industry bodies, contractors and the people from other State and Federal government bodies - all worked long and hard, often behind the scenes, to make this project a success. To all of you, our sincere thanks. Stephen Brown - Project Manager Mustafa Kadayifci - Project Officer Michael Faber - Project Officer. TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY MAIN REPORT 1. BACKGROUND............................................................................................................ 1 2. INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................... 3 2.1 PRECEDING STUDIES TO THE LPG IN-SERVICE STUDY:.......................................................3 2.2 LPG STUDY OBJECTIVES..................................................................................................3 2.3 PARTIES INVOLVED..........................................................................................................4 2.3.1 Management ...........................................................................................................4 2.3.2 Contributors............................................................................................................5 3. STUDY OUTLINE ........................................................................................................ 6 3.1 SCOPE ............................................................................................................................6 3.2 PHASES OF THE STUDY ....................................................................................................6 3.2.1 Sample Design.........................................................................................................7 3.2.2 Vehicle Survey & Sourcing ......................................................................................9 3.2.3 Vehicle Processing, Testing and Servicing .............................................................10 3.2.4 Data Handling and Reporting................................................................................12 4. TEST FUEL................................................................................................................ 13 4.1 LPG AS A FUEL .............................................................................................................13 4.2 TEST FUEL USED ...........................................................................................................13 5. AUSTRALIAN DESIGN RULES ............................................................................... 14 5.1 BASELINE TEST CYCLE - EXHAUST EMISSIONS..................................................................14 5.2 EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS MEASUREMENTS.....................................................................14 5.3 AUSTRALIAN DESIGN RULE (ADRS) LIMITS.....................................................................15 6. RESULTS.................................................................................................................... 16 6.1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................16 6.2 FORMAT OF RESULTS.....................................................................................................16 6.3 CHARACTERISATION OF EXHAUST EMISSIONS BY VEHICLE CATEGORY VS ADR LIMITS .......17 6.4 MAINTENANCE OF VEHICLE FLEET .................................................................................18 6.4.1 Effectiveness of tuning on tailpipe emission levels.................................................18 6.4.2 Effect of tuning of individual vehicle categories.....................................................19 6.4.3 Cost of tuning........................................................................................................21 6.5 COMPARISON OF LPG VEHICLE EXHAUST EMISSIONS WITH SIMILAR MAKE AND MODEL PETROL FUELLED VEHICLES TESTED IN THE NISE STUDY .................................................................21 6.6 CHARACTERISATION OF EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS (SHED) ..............................................24 6.6.1 Comparison of LPG Evaporative Emissions to ADR Limits....................................24 6.6.2 LPG vs Dedicated Petrol NISE Study SHED results..............................................25 6.6.3 Observations regarding the high SHED results.....................................................25 6.7 COMPARISON OF INDIVIDUAL VEHICLES WITHIN EACH LPG VEHICLE CATEGORY................26 6.7.1 Private Vehicles ....................................................................................................26 6.7.2 Fleet Vehicles........................................................................................................28 6.7.3 Taxis .....................................................................................................................29 6.8 COMPARISONS OF LPG FUEL SYSTEMS ...........................................................................31 6.8.1 Open vs Closed Loop Fuel Management Systems...................................................31 6.8.2 Fixed vs Variable Venturi Fuel/Air Mixing ............................................................33 6.9 CASE STUDIES...............................................................................................................35 6.9.1 Incorrect Tuning of Vehicle....................................................................................35 6.9.2 Faulty Engine Management System (EMS)...........................................................35 6.9.3 High SHED results................................................................................................36 6.9.4 Disconnected Vacuum Hose at LPG Fuel System Converter ..................................37 6.9.5 Incorrect parts.......................................................................................................37 7. FUEL CONSUMPTION ............................................................................................. 39 7.1 LPG FUEL CONSUMPTION COMPARED TO PETROL ...........................................................40 8. EFFECTIVENESS OF INSPECTION/MAINTENANCE SHORT TESTS............... 41 8.1 IM-240 TEST RESULTS ...................................................................................................42 8.2 SS-60 TEST RESULTS .....................................................................................................43 8.3 ASM-25/25 TEST RESULTS .............................................................................................44 8.4 IDLE TEST RESULTS .......................................................................................................45 8.5 HIGH IDLE TEST RESULTS ..............................................................................................45 8.6 SUMMARY OF SHORT EMISSION TEST CORRELATION RESULTS..........................................46 9. SUMMARY OF RESULTS AND OBSERVATIONS.................................................. 48 10. REFERENCES ......................................................................................................... 50 10.1 INFORMATION ON DEDICATED LPG FUELLED VEHICLES ................................................50 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS FIGURE 6-1: VEHICLE CATEGORIES IN “AS RECEIVED “CONDITION VS ADR LIMITS...................17 FIGURE 6-2(A): EFFECTS OF TUNING COMPARED WITH ADR27 ...............................................19 FIGURE 6-2(B): EFFECTS OF TUNING