CARBON MONOXIDE

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 78, 29 September 1934, Page 28

CARBON MONOXIDE

That toxic gases emanating from the exhausts of motor vehicles have a poisonous effect on the public health is a fact well known to the medical profession. The question of eliminating or counteracting the effect of these gases, the most deadly of which is carbon monoxide, has been the subject of much research. The results, however, cannot be considered as satisfactory.

Some of these devices make use of a catalysor for the purpose of absorbing carbon monoxide. Others provide for the addition of air into tho silencer, together with a means of ignition such as sparking plugs, with a view to obtaining a subsequent complementary combustion, thereby transforming carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide. The difficulty with the first method is that the eatalysor tends to lose its absorbing properties and has to be replaced. In addition, it is likely to create an undesirable resistance to the exit of the gaffes. So far the second method is still a laboratory experiment. Tho cause of carbon monoxido is. incomplete combustion, which, generally speaking, is more frequent during cold weather, especially with vehicles using heavy fuel —chiefly heavy transport vehicles, where economy iv fuel is the prevailing factor. Some silencers affect the combustion to a certain extent by creating back pressure, which results in a greater proportion of carbon monoxide. It" is, therefore, important to use a good silencer, which would ensure for the exhaust gases the maximum freedom towards the atmosphere.