Effects of the sulfur content of liquefied petroleum gas on regulated and unregulated emissions from liquefied petroleum gas vehicle

• Sulfur content effects in LPG on the performance of LPG vehicle were investigated.
• Regulated and unregulated time-resolved emissions increased during cold start phase.
• Most of the mass emissions increased as the sulfur content of the LPG increased.
• However, Fuel economy was not affected by the sulfur content of the LPG fuel.

A more stringent standard for sulfur in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is currently being considered by the Ministry of Environment of Korea. Therefore, we investigated the characteristics of exhaust emissions from liquid phase LPG injection passenger car depending on the sulfur content of the LPG. Using a chassis dynamometer test with exhaust gas analyzers and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, regulated emissions of carbon monoxide, non-methane hydrocarbons, and nitrates were investigated, as well as unregulated emissions of CH4, N2O, NH3, and SO2. Vehicle tests were carried out using Federal Test Procedure 75 (FTP-75) and Highway Fuel Economy Test (HWFET) cycles and time-resolved exhaust emissions and mass emissions were analyzed. The concentrations of regulated and unregulated time-resolved emissions increased during the cold start phase (Phase 1) of the FTP-75 cycle, in which the catalyst does not reach the light-off temperature. In the FTP-75 and HWFET cycles, most of the regulated and unregulated mass emissions increased as the sulfur content of the LPG increased. The SO2 concentration in the emissions increased in proportion to the sulfur content in the LPG, particularly in the high-speed portion of the FTP-75 cycle.