COMPOSITION OF DIESEL EXHAUST GAS

THE relation between fuel/air ratio and the products of incomplete combustion is discussed here, as well as the probable origin of these products. The authors observed a relation between concentration of aldehydes and the odorous and irritating character of diesel exhaust gas. This relation suggested to them that removal of aldehydes should reduce odor and irritation of the exhaust gases. Tests with water as a scrubbing medium showed that aldehydes cannot be removed completely by such a system. However, aqueous sodium sulfite solutions inhibited by the addition of hydroquinone to prevent oxidation of the sulfite remove substantially all of the aldehydes and effect significant reductions in odor and irritation for extended periods of time. The paper discusses also the application of data on exhaust-gas composition to the determination of operating and performance data on diesel engines.