The effect of NO
x and HCHO emission changes in the atmosphere by the introduction of methanol fueled vehicles are computed under clear and cloudy sky winter conditions. The target area is Tokyo Metropolitan Area. The model used in this study is a box model. The methanol vehicles introduction scenario, which means the full conversion of diesel trucks and buses into methanol trucks and buses, is compared to actual present day scenario. Under methanol vehicles introduction scenario, NO
x emission is expected 15% lower, and HCHO emission is assumed three times higher than present day scenario.
With the introduction of methanol vehicles, NO
x concentration under clear and cloudy conditions should be 8.0% and 8.1% lower than present day, respectively. Nitrogen dioxides reduction rate is very low, 1.5% for under clear sky and 0.7% for under cloudy sky due to rapid reaction of NO oxidation with background O
3. However, comparing with same NO
x emission scenario, NO
2 concentration might be increased by 1% because of OH or HO
2 radical increase with HCHO emission increase.
Because of photochemical reaction are weakened in winter season, and using higher HCHO emission factor of methanol vehicles, HCHO concentration under clear and cloudy conditions should be 21.0% and 40.5% higher than that of present day, respectively. The relationship between HCHO emissions and atmospheric concentrations as ibvestigated in this study, has been determined to be linear. From this observation, under cloudy winter conditions, to attain the same average HCHO concentration when methanol vehicles introduced, the amount of HCHO should be under 1.09 times as that of present day. It can be concluded that, the HCHO concentration in the atmosphere would not be increased by the introduction of methanol vehicles in the Tokyo Metropolian Area, in cloudy winter, if the emission factor of methanol trucks and buses should be under 0.036 (g/km) (0.058 (g/mile)) and 0.05 (g/km) (0.08 (g/mile)), respectively.
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