Catalytic Converter Research Paper

The catalytic converter was invented by a French mechanical engineer Eugene Houdry in the year 1930. A catalytic converter is a automobile pollution control device. It converts more toxic pollutants from automobile emissions into the less toxic pollutants. A catalytic converter used in a internal combustion engine fueled by either gasoline (petrol) or diesel. The catalytic converter is generally divided into three parts (Robert et al. 2005).

1) Two way catalytic converter

2) Three way catalytic converter

3) Four way catalytic converter

The two way catalytic converter is generally convert Carbon monoxide (CO) and Hydrocarbons (HC) into carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O). The three ways catalytic converter is also reduces oxides of nitrogen

The construction of catalytic material is a complex process (Praserthdam and Majitnapakul 1994).

I. The catalyst support: - The catalyst support is generally made up of ceramic monolith particularly high heat resistance with a honeycomb structure. The catalyst support provides a large surface area. II. The wash coat: - The wash coat of a catalytic converter is generally made of disperse of large surface area. Aluminum oxide, titanium dioxide, silicon dioxide, or a mixture can be used in the wash coat. The wash coat material is generally selected over rough irregular surface with high surface area.

III. The Catalyst:- The catalyst is generally selected for oxidation of pollutants to converts high pollutants toxic gases in to low toxic

The stoichiometric quantity of air is needed to completely burn the fuels. The types of pollutants is also depends upon quality of fuels, volatility and types of minerals and impurity is present in fuels (Pundir 2000). The main factors from automobile exhaust induced toxic to human health and living things are physical and chemical property of pollutants, concentration of pollutants and proportion of population exposed. To controlling the formation of pollutants it is necessary to proper maintain of the vehicles and use a durable, economical, long time stable and easily available catalyst in automobile catalytic converter system. The catalytic converter is a device it placed in the vehicle exhaust pipe for converting HC, CO and NOx into less harmful gas (Satterfield