Influence of fuel (diesel and biodiesel) features and fleet vehicles transport group of NOx emissions in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil

ABSTRACT:

The public transportation system in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil, is recognized by its innovative solutions; and is a model for Brazil. In this work, the influence of fuel (diesel and biodiesel) and the conditions of the public transport vehicle fleet of Curitiba in NOx emissions was assessed, and this is a pioneered initiative. A total of 188 vehicles (9.7% of the total) with engines of 7 and 12 L were selected, named B7R, B10M, B12M and B215RH, and measurements of NO and NO₂ were performed in the exhaust output. In relation to the type of fuel, the emissions of NO and NO₂ for biodiesel (B100) were, respectively, 37 and 26% superior to the values observed with the fuel diesel (S10). Comparing the engines B12M with up to 3 and 10 years of operation, the average emissions of NOx were close to 40% higher. Thus, it was possible to observe that the biodiesel vehicles had higher NOx emissions when compared with diesel vehicles in similar conditions of operation and engine wear time. Therefore, although the use of biodiesel brings environmental advantages, as renewable fuel, new technologies and devices must be developed to control emissions of NO and NO₂ in engines that use this type of fuel. For future works the authors recommend tests on dynamometer to simulate NOx emission in diesel and biodiesel engine in different conditions of charge and engine speed.

Keywords:
biodiesel; diesel; NOx; public transportation; Curitiba