About carbon monoxide emissions

General

• Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless and toxic gas.

Environmental impacts

• In large quantities CO is toxic and reduces the ability of the lungs to absorb oxygen
• In the atmosphere CO oxidizes to CO₂ within a few hours

Formation in engines

• CO is a result of incomplete combustion
• The formation of CO in the combustion space is local; it is the result of absent combustion air and low temperatures
• In diesel engines, CO emissions are low compared with other emission sources due to effective combustion and high excess air quantities
• In gas engines, CO emissions are relatively high due to premixing and relatively low combustion temperatures

Reduction methods in engines

• Optimizing the geometry of the combustion space, the compression ratio, and the fuel injection pattern

Feasible emissions cleaning technology

• Oxidation catalyst