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Oxygen-enriched combustion is a proven, seriously considered technique to reduce exhaust hydrocarbons (HC) and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions from automotive gasoline engines. This paper presents the cold-phase emissions reduction results of using oxygen-enriched intake air containing about 23% and 25% oxygen (by volume) in a vehicle powered by a spark-ignition (SI) engine. Both engine-out and converter-out emissions data were collected by following the standard federal test procedure (FTP). Converter-out emissions data were also obtained employing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) “Off-Cycle” test. Test results indicate that the engine-out CO emissions during the cold phase (bag 1) were reduced by about 46 and 50%, and HC by about 33 and 43%, using nominal 23 and 25% oxygen enriched air compared to ambient air (21% oxygen by volume), respectively. However, the corresponding oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions were increased by about 56 and 79%, respectively.

The Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) Challenge '92, was organized by Argonne National Laboratory. The main sponsors were the U.S. Department of Energy the Energy, Mines, and Resources - Canada, and the Society of Automotive Engineers. It resulted in 20 varied approaches to the conversion of a gasoline-fueled, spark ignited, internal combustion engine to dedicated natural gas use. Starting with a GMC Sierra 2500 pickup truck donated by General Motors, teams of college and university student engineers worked to optimize Chevrolet V-8 engines operating on natural gas for improved emissions, fuel economy, performance, and advanced design features. This paper focuses on the results of the emission event, and compares engine mechanical configurations, engine management systems, catalyst configurations and locations, and approaches to fuel control and the relationship of these parameters to engine out and tailpipe emissions of regulated exhaust constituents.

This paper presents the results of emission tests of a flexible fuel vehicle (FFV) powered by an SI engine, fueled by M85, and supplied with oxygen-enriched intake air containing nominal 21%, 23%, and 25% oxygen (by volume). Emission data were collected by following the standard federal test procedure (FTP) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) “off-cycle” test EPA-REP05. Engine-out total hydrocarbons (THCs) and unburned methanol were considerably reduced in the entire FTP cycle when the oxygen content of the intake air was either 23% or 25%. However, CO emissions did not vary appreciably, and NOx emissions were higher. Formaldehyde emissions were reduced by about 53% in bag 1, 84% in bag 2, and 59% in bag 3 of the FTP cycle when 25% oxygen-enriched intake air was used.