Origin of catalytic converter

As we already know the exhaust gases from Cars contain pollutants that aren't healthy for the environment and hence the catalytic converter commonly known as catcon began to be.

Introduced a catalytic converter is an exhaust emission control device that converts toxic gases and pollutants in exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine into less toxic pollutants by catalyzing a redox

reaction it is installed on on every internal combustion engine car be it，by automobiles are carbon monoxide hydrocarbons nitrogen oxides Etc from

their exhaust pipes the catalytic converter is placed or fixed in the exhaust system of the vehicles which is convenient to.

Operate the catalytic converter consists of a special Catalyst it is made of platinum and padium which carries out the chemical reactions pollutants like carbon monoxide convert them chemically to less dangerous pollutants like carbon dioxide.

 Catalytic converters are placed as close as possible to the engine because they require a temperature of 400° C to operate effectively.

They are usually located underneath the car between the engine and Muffler before we jump into working on the catalytic converter.

let's take a quick look at the history of how it started the history of the catalytic

Converter dates to the end of the 19th century when some prototypes were developed in France.

Eugene hudry a French mechanical engineer received a patent for his research to develop catalytic converters for gasoline engines.

Hudry was an expert in catalytic oil refining having invented the catalytic cracking process. That all modern refining is based on today.

When the result results of early studies of smog in Los Angeles were published hudry became concerned about the role of Smoke Stack exhaust and automobile exhaust in air pollution and founded a company called oxy Catalyst.

He first developed catalytic converters for smoke stacks and later developed for warehouse forklifts that used low-grade unleaded gasoline

In the mid 1950s he began research to develop catalytic converters for gasoline engines used on cars and was awarded the United States patent for his work.

Catalytic converters were further developed by a series of Engineers including Carl D keth John J Mooney Antonio elazar and Philip MSA. 

At Engelhard Corporation creating the first production catalytic converter in1973.

To comply with the new exhaust emissions regulations by the US.Environmental Protection Agency most gasoline powered vehicles manufactured.

From 1975 onwards are equipped with catalytic.Converters there are two types of catalytic converters used in automobiles two-way catalytic converter and three-way catalytic.

Converter the two-way catalytic converter housing consists of a Honeycomb Core from the inside and it is substrate coded with platinum and Palladium Metals these metals react with the ubstrate.

Which allows the chemical reaction to take place at first it reacts with the carbon monoxide generated by the combustion of gasoline it also reacts with the hydrocarbons formed by unburned Fuel.Thus the catcon converts these gases into less harmful byproducts which are carbon dioxide and water.

Vapor a two-way or oxidation catalytic converter has two, simultaneous tasks oxidation of carbon monoxide to carbon, dioxide oxidation of hydrocarbons unburnt and partially burnt fuel to carbon dioxide and water a combustion reaction.The process may seem simple in,this type of catalytic converter yet there are a few requirements that must be met for the process of oxidation to work seamlessly there should be pure air,moving through the exhaust manifold continuously two-way converters operate Relatively Relatively.Efficiently with a lean fuel mixture which is ineffective in controlling nitrogen oxides. The two-way type only has an oxidation Catalyst.

Therefore it,can't effectively oxidize nitrogen which contributes to smog and acid rain.When released into the atmosphere as a result the two-way converter was phased out of most gasoline engines in America and Canada.

After 1981 to make way for the three-way converter which contains rodium to control the emission of nitric oxide and nitrogen control the emission of nitric oxide and nitrogen.

Dioxide newer gas- powered cars have three-way converters because they're required to meet stricter emission standards and it is the only device that reduces all three pollutants.

The three-way catalytic converter uses two catalysts namely a reduction Catalyst and an oxidation.Catalyst the oxidation catalyst is made of Palladium and platinum whereas the reduction catalyst is of rodium and platinum.However both of them come with a ceramic honeycomb substrate the reduction and oxidation.

Catalysts are typically contained in a common catalysts are typically contained in a common reactions occur that result in the conversion of harmful pollutants such as hydrocarbons carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides into less harmful substances like carbon dioxide water vapor and nitrogen.(Click here for details"Ceramic catalyst – Kesairay")

Gas the reduction catalyst is particularly effective at reducing nitrogen oxides while the oxidation Catalyst primarily targets hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide.

As a result of these chemical reactions the exhaust gas exiting the catalytic converter becomes cleaner and contains significantly reduced levels of harmful pollutants.This contributes to improved air quality and reduced environmental impact.

A three-way catalytic converter has three simultaneous tasks reduction of nitrogen oxides to nitrogen and oxygen oxidation of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. Oxidation of unburnt hydrocarbons to carbon dioxide and water,these three reactions occur most efficiently,when the catalytic converter receives exhaust from an engine.

Running slightly above the stochiometric point that is 14.7 Parts air to one fuel by weight for gasoline the ratio for autog gas or liquefied petroleum gas.Natural gas and ethanol fuels is each slightly different,requiring modified fuel system settings when using those fuels.

There are two types of systems running in a catalytic converter lean and Rich that means.

When the system is running lean there is more oxygen than required and when the system is running rich there is more fuel than needed catalytic converters work best.

When the engine runs with just the right mix of air and fuel which is called "stochiometry".

When the engine runs slightly richer than the ideal balance of air and fuel it starts producing more carbon monoxide and unburnt fuel. This happens because there not enough oxygen for complete combustion.

This makes it harder for the Catalyst in the car's exhaust system. To clean up the emissions by converting carbon monoxide and unburnt fuel into less harmful substances in a rich mixture where there is more unburned fuel present.-

Because of less oxygen the combustion process tends to be cooler,which can reduce nox formation.