The Role Catalytic Converters Play In Automotive Emissions: A Serious Concern
By: chad mcdonald | Posted: 15th November 2006
Catalytic converters have come a long way since the power-sapping pellet catalysts of the 1970s. The modern honeycomb styled catalytic converters allow comparatively free flow of exhaust through your car's exhaust system, while at the same time cleaning up harmful pollutants emitted from your engine. Catalytic converters do not last forever, but you are not going to pass an emissions test without a working catalytic converter. Therefore, you do not have a choice but to install or replace one.
Significance of Catalytic Converters
Fuel burnt in an engine produces harmful gases such as hydrocarbons; oxides of nitrogen and carbon monoxide, which is not at all safe for the environment. At such times the catalytic converters plays the most significant role by controlling the possible damages to the environment. The catalytic converter is installed between the exhaust line and the muffler where the chemical coating of the converter works as a catalyst and changes the poisonous gases into harmless inert gases. Preserving its own chemical properties, the chemical catalyst increases the speed of the reactions between two chemicals.
OEM catalytic converters, which come with the vehicle from the manufacturer, sometimes stop functioning efficiently. All converters have to be replaced at some time or the other, but because original catalytic converters are expensive, people prefer to go for replacement converters manufactured by OEMs.
Where is the catalytic converter located?
The harmful exhaust gases enter the catalytic converter from the engine side into a sort of stainless steel container. The inside of the container has a honeycomb mesh, which is lined with catalysts such as aluminum oxide, platinum, and palladium. These catalysts change the carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons to water vapor and carbon dioxide. Some converters have a third lining of chemicals such as platinum and rhodium to reduce nitrogen oxides. Catalytic converters are also known as three-way or dual bed converters.
Do not use leaded fuel with a converter
You should use unleaded fuel when you have a catalytic converter installed regardless of whether it is an OEM catalytic converter or not. Because the lead in the fuel is emitted as lead oxide and coats the catalyst chemicals rendering them ineffective. Lead is included in the fuel for lubricating purposes and because catalytic converters have become mandatory by law, the vehicle manufacturers have had to come up with special engine parts to withstand the harsh corrosive temperatures and chemicals in the engine components.
Summary
The best part about installing catalytic converters in vehicles is that emission of pollutants is reduced by about 96 percent from pre-control vehicles.
This oem catalytic converter information submitted by Chad McDonald for those searching for catalytic converter does what.
This article is free for republishing
Printed From: http://www.articlealley.com/article_100081_45.html
Back to the original article
Tags: free flow, catalysts, catalytic converters, catalytic converter, exhaust gases, exhaust system, aluminum oxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, water vapor, rhodium, harmful pollutants, poisonous gases, harmful gases