The effect of air-fuel ratio on tailpipe exhaust emission of motorcycles

Abstract

This article presents the actual AFR of the vehicular emission from the tailpipe data of motorcycles with petrol engine in Southwest Nigeria. It also presents the ratio between the actual air-fuel ratio (AFRactual) and the ideal/stoichiometric air-fuel ratio (AFRideal) known as the equivalence air-fuel ratio or lambda (λ). This was compared with the expected value for lambda by the catalytic technology for exhaust gases emission, which is 1 (± 5%). In this study, over 95% of the sampled motorcycles have higher lambda values than expected, thereby emitting very high concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon (HC), and carbon dioxide (CO2). The Portable, Hand-Held, battery-operated Kane automotive 4-gas analyser with detector tube (Model Auto 4-1) was used to measure the automobile emissions. The air-fuel ratio is a significant indicator and very important measure for gasoline engine performance controlling and tuning, and anti vehicles exhaust emissions pollution reasons [1]. Internal combustion (IC) gasoline fuelled engines exhaust gases emission depend heavily and mainly on the air-fuel ratio. For a gasoline fuelled engine, carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), and nitrogen oxides (NOx) exhaust gases emission are significantly influenced by air-fuel ratio. CO and HC are majorly generated or produced with rich air–fuel mixture, while NOx with lean air-fuel mixtures which mean that there is no fixed air-fuel mixture for which it can obtain the minimum for all exhaust gases emission [2]. This study can help in reducing fuel consumption, improving the quality of fuel combustion and reducing vehicle exhaust emissions in Nigeria.