C+-+Catalytic+Converter

**Background Information: ** · First made in 1975 by John J. Mooney and Dr. Carl D. Keith. It was dedicated to stop air pollution · A device used to reduce the toxicity of emissions from an internal combustion engine · Works by using a specific catalyst to inspire a chemical reaction · Convert toxic by-products from engines into less toxic substances · In order to control emissions, amount of fuel used is carefully controlled · Air-to-fuel ratio close to the //stoichiometric point// · Ideal ratio of air to fuel. At this ratio, all of the fuel will be burned using all the oxygen in the air. · For gasoline, ratio = 14.7 : 1. Meaning each mole of gasoline, 14.7 moles of air will be combusted · Not constant, can easily be changed · Preheating can increase efficiency · Catalytic Converters in Diesel engines aren’t as efficient. Diesel engines are cooler run cooler engines. · Even though it take away the toxins, but a major producer of CO2 · Scientists are trying to find a way to conquer both problems without any compromises **How it Works: ** · The main emissions of a car are: N2(g), CO2(g) and H2O(g) · <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Not considered to be health hazards, but CO2 contributes to global warming · <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Since combustions are never perfect, smaller amounts of more harmful toxins are released. The catalytic converter is made to reduce them · <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">CO: poisonous gas that is colourless and odourless · <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Hydrocarbons: smog, evaporated unburned fuel, harmful · <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">NO & NO2: contributor to smog and acid rain · <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">2 different kinds of catalysts are needed. Reduction catalyst and oxidation catalyst · <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Consist of ceramic structure coated with a metal catalyst. Usually platinum, rhodium and/or palladium. Gold may also be used. Cheaper than those materials and reduce 40% more toxins · <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Expose maximum surface area of catalyst to the exhaust stream while minimizing catalyst required · <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Modern cars have //three-way catalytic converters//. 3 regulated commissions. · <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">First stage, reduction catalyst. Uses Pt & Rb to reduce NO & NO2 · <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">NO à <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> N2 + O2 2NO2 à <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> N2 + 2O2 · <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When NO or NO2 contacts the catalyst, catalyst rips N atoms out of molecule, freeing the O2. The N then bond with other N to for N2   · <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Second stage, oxidation catalyst. Uses Pt & Pd to reduce hydrocarbons and CO   · <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">2CO + O2 à <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> 2CO2 · <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">CxH2x+2 + [(3x+1)/2]O2 → xCO2 + (x+1)H2O · <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Reduces unburned hydrocarbons and CO by burning them over a catalyst · <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Third stage, control system. Monitors the exhaust stream, control fuel injection system. · <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A sensor will tell the engine computer how much oxygen is in the exhaust. Oxygen can be increased or decreased by adjusting the air-to-fuel ratio. It makes sure that the engine is running close to stoichiometric point, and it also make sure there are sufficient oxygen to combust the hydrocarbon and CO
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Catalytic Converter Fact Sheet **

**<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Bibliography ** <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Who Invented the Catalytic Converter? | eHow.com. (n.d.). //eHow | How To Do Just About Everything! | How To Videos & Articles//. Retrieved November 29, 2010, from <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[] <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Nice, K. (n.d.). HowStuffWorks "Car Engine Emissions". //Howstuffworks "Auto "//. Retrieved November 29, 2010, from <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[] <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Catalytic converter - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). //Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia//. Retrieved November 30, 2010, from <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[] <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Anglin, D. L. (2010). Catalytic Converter. //Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia.// Retrieved November 30, 2010, from Grolier Online http://gme.grolier.com/article?assetid=0054700-0