28 July : The Environment Society of India (ESI) has designed an innovative Vertical Exhaust System under which the exhaust gases will go directly in the upper level of the atmosphere instead of the traditional system by which the horizontal exhaust pipe throws the gases on the ground. The field trial carried out revealed that this system is far better than the other. The personnel in this project are two young researchers/ environment activists – Sorab Anand Jain and Asit Sharma under the guidance of ESI President S.K. Sharma.
The demonstration of Vertical Exhaust System was organized today at the Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Panjab University.Students and faculty members of the department participated in the discussion around the car fitted with vertical exhaust system.
In India, the exhaust pipe in the vehicles is situated at the bottom of the vehicle which throw the exhaust through the rear side of the vehicle. This result in the disposal of the unburned gases on the ground level which is very harmful for the pedestrians, people riding bicycles and scooters etc. This can be overcome by disposing the exhaust gases high above the ground level which further can be done by using a vertical exhaust pipe instead of horizontal one. At least the big vehicles like transport buses, goods carrier lorries, trucks, trailers etc who are very high as compared to cars, motorcycles, bicycles etc, should have a vertical exhaust system which would throw he gases high above the ground level. Therefore, a large diesel exhaust pipe should be vertical so as to blow the hot noxious gas well away from people.
The quality of fuels used in India is not as good as those used in the developed parts of the world like USA, Europe, and Canada etc. These cheaper fuels create much more pollution as compared to the refined ones, the exhaust of whose should definitely be thrown substantially high above the ground level.
There are a number of advantages of using a vertical exhaust system as compared to the orthodox horizontal system. They are as follows:
1. Exhaust of colorless and odorless gas (Carbon Monoxide) goes up instead of at the ground level, which cannot be felt and is the most poisonous gas which results in asthma.
2. In developed countries, two wheelers and cyclists are not seen on roads but most of the traffic in India constitutes two wheelers, and cyclists; therefore we can’t afford to have horizontal exhaust pipes on vehicles. Exhaust of big vehicles like cars, buses and trucks should be high above the vehicle.
3. The trucks and public transportation like buses are open from windows and not centrally air conditioned as in developed countries, so to stop the pollutants coming in from other vehicles, it is necessary to have vertical exhaust and that too above the roof level of the big vehicles. With this amendment in the exhaust pipe, the number of pollutants entering into the vehicle would go down.
4. On the water logged roads vehicles with vertical exhaust system would pass through easily.
5. This would not allow the exhaust gases to directly blow on the small plants and shrubs which would further help in their good growth.
6. In case of using vertical exhaust pipe, the blast of the gases from the exhaust pipe does not directly hit the pedestrians, cyclists and people travelling on buses, cars, autos and two wheelers and thus reduce pollution.
Thus, we urge both the Industrial Houses and Government of India to promote vehicles with Vertical Exhaust System. The newly manufactured vehicles should have engine at the rear of the vehicle and Vertical Exhaust System should be easily put up.
Tata’s Nano car , a family car has engine at the rear therefore, we urge Tata Motors to provide Vertical Exhaust Pipe at the rear.
Comments by Experts: Dr. S.C. Jain, former Chairman of Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Panjab University said that the Vertical Exhaust System would revolutionize the vehicle pollution control efforts in India. Dr. V.K. Rattan, present Chairman of the same department says “This system would be more effective with a canopy instead of bend in the pipe”.
Comments by students of the same department: Sahil Palta (Third year) “The design is highly innovative and needs to be placed in heavy and big vehicles such as trucks and buses”; Ankit Gupta (Fourth Year) “This concept should spread in India. We should not lag behind adapting this technology. I think this is a good move and may reduce health problems of the people travelling on road”.
An Exhaust System in a vehicle is an arrangement which allows the passage of exhaust gases thrown by the engine of the vehicle in the atmosphere. There are two major components of the exhaust system viz. Catalytic Converter and Exhaust Pipe. Catalytic converter is a muffler like part which converts harmful carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons to water vapor and carbon dioxide. Some converters also reduce harmful nitrogen oxides. The exhaust pipe carries the gas through its journey out of the tail pipe.
Exhaust gases from vehicles are one of the main causes of air pollution. Exhaust gases are those gases that are produced during combustion in vehicles. These exhaust fumes contain many dangerous gases like Carbon dioxide and Carbon monoxide; they also contain smoke and dust particles along with Mercury, Lead and Nickel.
These exhaust fumes are very dangerous for health. Carbon dioxide can cause serious health problems if it exceeds a certain limit. Carbon Monoxide is a poisonous gas. It causes many diseases if it exceeds a certain limit. It can cause Cancer and Lung diseases.
The Lead, Mercury and Nickel compounds can cause Brain damage. A scientific report states that standing in a closed Garage or Porch etc with a revving up car can cause death within seconds.
These exhaust gases have also contributed towards Global Warming. This problem is very common in countries in which Auto-population is more common than other parts of the world, for example, America.
The Combustion Process Gasoline and diesel fuels are mixtures of hydrocarbons (made of hydrogen, oxygen and carbon atoms.) Hydrocarbons are burned by combining with oxygen. Nitrogen and sulphur atoms are also present and combine with oxygen when burned to produce gases. Automotive engines emit several types of pollutants.
Fuel + Air => Hydrocarbons + Nitrogen Oxides + Carbon Dioxide + Carbon Monoxide + water
Hydrocarbons react in the presence of nitrogen oxides and sunlight to form ground-level ozone, a major component of smog. Ozone irritates the eyes, damages the lungs, and aggravates respiratory problems. A number of exhaust hydrocarbons are also toxic, some with the potential to cause cancer.
This would be very useful and needs to be made mandatory for trucks and buses in India.