Evaluation of Catalytic Emission Controls and Vertical Exhaust Stacks to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisonings from Houseboat Generator Exhaust

Working under an interagency agreement with the United States Coast Guard, researchers from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) evaluated carbon monoxide (CO) emissions, exposures, and controls from gasoline-powered generators on houseboats. This evaluation is part of a series of studies conducted by NIOSH Investigators during the past several years to identify and recommend effective engineering controls to reduce the CO hazard and eliminate CO poisonings on houseboats and other recreational marine vessels. The performance of two Westerbeke, Safe-CO generators were tested. Using electronic fuel injection and a catalytic air pollution control device, these generators were specifically designed to reduce carbon monoxide emissions to protect the boating occupants. The performance of the Westerbeke Safe-CO generators was impressive with stack CO emission of approximately 200 ppm for the fully warmed generator. Due to diffusion, these emissions were significantly reduced such that highest average real time CO reading, obtained from the monitors placed throughout the houseboat, was 9.3 ppm. In addition, the performance of the Westerbeke generator retrofitted with a zenith EFI was excellent with a stack CO emission below 1,000 ppm for the fully warmed generator. Given the low hours of operation for all of the generators tested, it is important to conduct additional tests at the end of the houseboat season to determine if there are any performance degradations.

• Corporate Authors:

  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

  Hubert Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20201
• Publication Date: 2005-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Pagination: 32p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air pollution sources; Air quality management; Carbon monoxide; Catalytic converters; Emission control devices; Exhaust gases; Fuel injection; Generators; Poisoning
• Uncontrolled Terms: Houseboats
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01010727
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: NIOSH-ECTB-171-36A
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 4 2005 10:07AM