Tuesday, April 1, 2014
What Part of the Car Does the Catalytic Converter Belong To
The catalytic converter is part of an automobiles exhaust system. Its function is to convert carbon monoxide and other organic compounds into less environmentally harmful emissions, such as carbon dioxide and water. The catalytic converter helps reduce automotive pollutants and toxic emissions.
History
In the late 1960s, California and other states began requiring the automotive industry to reduce the level of emissions released by cars and trucks. By 1975, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and federal government established stringent regulations for the reduction of emissions. As a result, automotive engineers designed and developed an external converter through which gases would pass and be altered to less harmful products. Today nearly all internal combustion engine vehicles use catalytic converters.
Defining a Catalyst
A catalyst is a substance that allows a chemical reaction to occur at a faster rate or different temperature than it would under normal conditions. In a cars catalytic converter, the surface of the converter (part of the exhaust system) is coated with platinum or rhodium which serves as the catalyst in combination with high heat.
What Happens
Automotive exhaust, which is produced by the internal combustion engine, is a combination of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, organic compounds and water vapor. As the exhaust passes through the catalytic converter, it undergoes a chemical reaction when it comes into contact with the catalyst. The catalyst separates the nitrogen atoms from the oxygen and alters the other organic compounds. The gases are modified into less harmful byproducts and released into the environment.
Location
While the exact location varies by make and model of vehicle, the catalytic converter is mounted with the exhaust system. Typically, it is placed near the vehicles engine between the exhaust manifold and the exhaust pipes where fumes can pass through it before being released into the environment. Heat plates separate the catalytic converter from the exhaust manifold, protecting the vehicles engine from high heat.
