Catalytic Converters
Catalytic converters are part of the exaust system found in cars. The main function of the catalytic converter is to convert harmful gases (found in the exaust system) into inert and harmless ones. The principal gases found in the exaust system are: carbon monoxide(CO), hydocarbons(HC) and oxides of nitrogen. The catalytic converter changes these dangerous substances into inert substances which are not as polluant.
Catalytic converters , are devices located in the exaust system which chemically changes carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen (produced in the engine) into less polluting carbon dioxide and water vapor. They are made from strong alloy metals and contain pourous heat ressistant materials. The materials are covered withe the catalysts. The are catalysts most likely to be covered with: platinium, palladium as well as base metals such as copper,nickel and chromium.
There are two chemical procedures which help to rid the exaust system of pollutants. They are Oxidation and Reduction. The use of those procedures helps to eliminate oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons. By oxidizing or burning carbon monoxide , a harmless carbon dioxide is formed( by the addition of an oxygen atom). Oxidizing hydrocarbons adds atoms of oxygen. Hydrocarbons, when reacted with oxygen becomes carbon dioxide and water vapor. Reduction of oxides of nitrogen takes oxygen atoms away, leaving simple nitrogen and oxygen.
Once the catalytic converter is through changing the toxins into harmless products, the hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide are changed into harmless water and carbon dioxide. These substances arent nearly as harmful as the reactants once were. We consume water and carbon dioxide on a regular basis.
The effects of the gases are harmful. The main ingredient in smog is: hydrocarbons. One of the deadly gases and major air pollutants is: carbon monoxide. Oxides of nitrogen are also great air pollutants.
The trip the gases take through the car before being leaked into the airis shorter than imagined. From the catalytic converter, the carbon dioxide and water vapor go through the muffler. (The muffler prevents the loud noises of exploding gases from being so loud.) The gases then go through the exaust pipe to the tail pipe. The carbon dioxide and water are now released into the air.
There are a few different instruments that work along with the catalytic converter. One of these devices is the 4 gas analyzer. The analyzer detects carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons in the exaust. The 4 gas analyzer helps detect any engine trouble there might be.
One of the instruments which can convert carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide is an our injector (smog pump). The replacementof catalytic converter can be a test pipe. The car will run as smoothly as with a catalytic converter, only the test tube unleashes the deadly toxins into the air which causes pollution. With the use of test pipes, many other damages within the vehicle will appear. The use of test pipes is Illegal.
Remember, a catalytic converter's main fuction is to act as a filtering system for gases. By being a filter, the catalytic converter prevents toxic gases from being leaked into the air, creating pollution. The only factor which may prevent the catalytic converter from living 50 000 miles is the use of leaded fuel.