Measured Carbon Monoxide Emission Rates from Stock and Reduced- Emission Prototype Portable Generators

Published

August 6, 2014

Author(s)

Steven J. Emmerich, Leon Wang, Andrew K. Persily

Abstract

To better understand and to reduce the occurrence of carbon monoxide fatalities, this paper presents measured CO emission rates from both stock (i.e., without emission reduction technology) and reduced-emission prototype portable generators operating in an enclosed space under real weather conditions. Measurements included CO and O2 concentrations, air change rates determined by tracer gas decay tests, temperature, humidity and electrical loads met by the generators. For two different unmodified generators, it was found that CO emissions ranged from a low of around 500 g/h at near ambient O2 levels to a high of nearly 4000 g/h as O2 approached 17 %. The rates of CO generation and O2 consumption in these unmodified generators were affected by multiple parameters, with the O2 level in the space and the actual electrical output of the generator being two of the most important. Tests performed below 17 % O2 showed a drop off in CO emissions due to poor engine performance. Tests of two modified generators (i.e., with CO emission controls) showed CO emissions reductions of over 90 % depending on the specific emission controls and operating conditions, with no trend toward higher emission rates as O2 levels dropped to 18 %.

Conference Dates

July 7-12, 2014

Conference Location

Hong Kong

Conference Title

Indoor Air 2014

Pub Type

Conferences

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Keywords

Carbon monoxide, Indoor air quality, Pollutant sources, Portable generators, Residential buildings

Citation

Emmerich, S. , Wang, L. and Persily, A. (2014), Measured Carbon Monoxide Emission Rates from Stock and Reduced- Emission Prototype Portable Generators, Indoor Air 2014, Hong Kong, -1, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=915328 (Accessed May 3, 2026)

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