MITIGATION OF IN-DOOR AIR POLLUTION AND GREEN HOUSE GASES BY USE OF RETROFITTED PRESSURE LAMP UTILIZING STRAIGHT VEGETABLE OIL

Abstract

The potential of traditional fossil fuels to be exhausted has increased of late. This has affected the manysectors of the economy which rely on petroleum products. Apart from depletion of fossil fuel and escalating oilprices, there is also need to conserve the environment to reduce global warming, ozone layer depletion, andclimate change. This will reduce health issues associated with pollutant emissions from fossil fuel use. Amongthe efforts being made is the search for alternative renewable fuels. The objectives of the study were to studythe performance characteristics of pressure lamps while using pure kerosene, kerosene-straight vegetable oil(SVO) blends and finally to modify the pressure lamp to utilize higher SVO/ kerosene blends. The performanceof unmodified lamp was investigated and compared to that of a retrofitted pressure lamp utilizing straightvegetable oil/kerosene blends at 1.5 bar, 2.0 bar and 2.5 bar lamp pressure. Light output, carbon monoxide(CO) emission, carbon dioxide (CO2) emission, particulate matter (PM) emission, fuel consumption and heatgenerated were compared. Using a portable air compressor, air regulators and hoses, the lamps weremaintained at constant pressures. Carbon dioxide data logger was used to monitor and record CO2 in real time.Easy Log carbon monoxide data logger was used to record carbon monoxide concentrations. University ofCaronia, Barkley (UCB) particle monitor was used to monitor and record particulate matter in the room. Lightoutput was measured using lux meters. Heat generated was measured using thermocouple. The unmodifiedlamp handled a maximum of 30% blend. Retrofitted lamp had an average of 17% CO reduction, 18%particulate matter reduction, 5.5% fuel consumption reduction, 10% temperature reduction, 5% CO2 increasewhile light output increased between 11% and 23% compared to the unmodified pressure lamp. In conclusion,the retrofitted pressure lamp utilizing SVO was designed and fabricated. This lamp emitted comparativelymore light and CO2 but less PM and CO than the unmodified lamp at all pressures and fuel blends. The fuelconsumed increased with increase in lamp pressure for both lamps. It is recommended that the lamps betested in households to compare the outcome with the lab results. Further work should also be done toimprove atomization of the fuel in lamps. Other emissions like NOx, and SOx should also be measured.