There are millions of vehicles on the road in the India, and each one is a source of air pollution.

To solve those problems, cities, states and the Central Government create clean-air laws that restrict the amount of pollution that Vehicles can produce. In 1975 a new device was invented i.e. catalytic converter. The job of the catalytic converter is to convert harmful pollutants into less harmful emissions before they ever leave the vehicles exhaust system.

Pollutants Produced by a vehicle Engine In order to reduce emissions, modern engines control the amount of fuel they burn. They try to keep the air-to-fuel ratio very close to the stoichiometric point, which is the ideal ratio of air to fuel. Theoretically, at this ratio, all of the fuel will be burned using all of the oxygen in the air. For patrol, ratio is 14.7:1, The fuel mixture actually varies from the ideal ratio quite a bit during driving. Sometimes the mixture can be lean (an air-to-fuel ratio higher than 14.7), and other times the mixture can be rich (an air-to-fuel ratio lower than 14.7).

The main emissions of a vehicle engine are: Nitrogen gas (N2) - Air is 78-percent nitrogen gas, and most of this passes right through the vehicle engine. Carbon dioxide (CO2) - This is one product of combustion. The carbon in the fuel bonds with the oxygen in the air. Water vapor (H2O) - This is another product of combustion. The hydrogen in the fuel bonds with the oxygen in the air. These emissions are mostly benign, although carbon dioxide emissions are believed to contribute to global warming. Because the combustion process is never perfect,

some smaller amounts of more harmful emissions are also produced in vehicle engines. Catalytic converters are designed to reduce all three: Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas that is colorless and odorless. Hydrocarbons or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a major component of smog produced mostly from evaporated, unburned .fuel. Nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2, together called NOx) are a contributor to smog and acid rain, which also causes irritation to human mucus membranes.

CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
A catalytic converter helps in preventing emission of noxious gasses into the atmosphere. It is tuber in shape and compresses a honeycomb metallic or ceramic disc, coated with noble metals like platinum palladium and Rhodium. Noble metals play the role of catalysts in reaction which renders exhaust components like carbon monoxide and hydro-carbons harmless by converting them into carbon dioxide and water respectively. These metals are spread over a large surface to provide intimate between exhaust gases and catalysts. Catalytic converters are required to simultaneously remove targeted pollutants, resist catalyst poisoning and last long. There are two types of catalytic apparatuses in Automobiles:-

1) Two Way System. Using platinum and palladium which removes only carbon dioxide and hydro carbons leaving Nitrogen unchanged.

A two-way (or "oxidation") catalytic converter has two simultaneous tasks: Oxidation of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide: 2CO + O2 2CO2 Oxidation of hydrocarbons (un-burnt and partially burnt fuel) to carbon dioxide and water: CxH2x+2 + [(3x+1)/2]O2 xCO2 + (x+1)H2O (a combustion reaction) This type of catalytic converter is widely used on diesel engines to reduce hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions.

CATALYTIC CONVERTER

2) Three way catalytic system Employ platinum, palladium to remove all three pollutants simultaneously. The specific reactions vary with the type of catalyst installed. Most present-day vehicles that run on gasoline are fitted with a "three way" converter, so named because it converts the three main pollutants in automobile exhaust: an oxidizing reaction converts carbon monoxide (CO) and unburned hydrocarbons (HC), and a reduction reaction converts oxides of nitrogen (NOx) to produce carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen (N2), and water (H2O).

Since 1981, "three-way" (oxidation-reduction) catalytic converters have been used in vehicle emission control systems The reduction and oxidation catalysts are typically contained in a common housing, however in some instances they may be housed separately. A three-way catalytic converter has three simultaneous tasks: Reduction of nitrogen oxides to nitrogen and oxygen: 2NOx xO2 + N2 Oxidation of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide: 2CO + O2 2CO2 Oxidation of unburnt hydrocarbons (HC) to carbon dioxide and water: CxH2x+2 + [(3x+1)/2]O2 xCO2 + (x+1)H2O.

One of its biggest shortcomings is that it only works at a fairly high temperature. When a vehicle is started from cold, the catalytic converter does almost nothing to reduce the pollution in exhaust. One simple solution to this problem is to move the catalytic converter closer to the engine. This means that hotter exhaust gases reach the converter and it heats up faster, but this may also reduce the life of the converter by exposing it to extremely high temperatures.

Preheating the catalytic converter is a good way to reduce emissions. The easiest way to preheat the converter is to use electric resistance heaters. Unfortunately, the 12-volt electrical systems on most light vehicles don't provide enough energy or power to heat the catalytic converter fast enough. Most people would not wait several minutes for the catalytic converter to heat up before starting their car. Hybrid cars that have big, high-voltage battery packs can provide enough power to heat up the catalytic converter very quickly.

Catalytic converters in diesel engines do not work as well in reducing NOx. Diesel engines run cooler than SI engines, and the converters work better as they heat up. Some experts have come up with a new system that helps to combat this. They inject a urea solution in the exhaust pipe, before it gets to the converter, to evaporate and mix with the exhaust and create a chemical reaction that will reduce NOx. Urea, also known as carbamide, is an organic compound made of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and hydrogen. Urea reacts with NOx to produce nitrogen and water vapor, disposing more than 90 percent of the nitrogen oxides in exhaust gases

 Catalytic converter fitted vehicles can use only unladed petrol. Leaded petrol is harmful for converter because lead poisons the noble metals in the device and reduces its potency. It has few drawbacks, also
It is costly affair. Useless for short journeys. May fail without being noticed by driver.

UNLEADED PETROL
The regular petrol sold presently at majority of the pumps in the country has lead in the form of TETRA ETHYL LEAD (TEL). Lead is an environmentally toxic chemical therefore it is being phased out of petrol and the petrol is reformulated to lead free petrol which is known as unleaded petrol.

Since 1923 lead is blended in petrol as an additive at the end stage of its production in the refineries in the form of Tetra Ethyl Lead. The purpose of adding TEL to petrol is to improve its combustion quality there by improving its octane number and in turn anti knocking values.
Although, TET performs will as an antiknock ingredient, it pollutes the air with, poisonous lead compounds. Lead effects learning & intellectual ability of children. It also prevents use of catalytic converters.

 To do away with this public health hazarded, concept of Lead free petrol comes which contains a relater proportion of anti-knock hydrocarbons. Todays design allows for use of petrol without lead compounds. These unleaded petrol arte made with hydrocarbons that have high antiknock properties. Some refiners also add special oxygen containing chemicals to these fuels to increase their octane numbers.

UNLEADED PETROL & CATALYTIC CONVERTER FACTS THAT ONE MOST KNOW

1) Catalytic converter fitted vehicle are raner vehicles an noxious emissions from such vehicles are low. 2) From 1.4.1995 all new four wheeler vehicles which run on unleaded petrol and are fitted with catalytic converter alone would be registered in the four metro cities.

3) New four wheeler petrol vehicles sold any where in the country from April 1st 1995 would be eligible for registration in a foresaid metro cities only if they are fitted with catalytic converters.

A CATALYST IS A SUBSTANCE THAT HELPS TO MAKE A CHEMICAL REACTION IN BECOMING A PART OF IT BUT ULTIMATELY IT REMAIN UNCHANGED. THE CATALYST ELEMENTS USED IN THE C C ARE PLATINUM,PALLADIUM, AND RHODIUM.THESE ELEMENTS ARE USED ALONE OR IN COMBINTION TO CHANGE THE UNDESIRABLE CO, HC AND NOX INTO HARMLESS VAPOUR,,NITROGEN, OXYGEN AND LESS HARMFULL CO2. THESE RARE METAL ELEMENTS THINLY COATED BY A SUBSTRATE SUPPORTED INSIDE THE CONVERTER SHELL. THE NEUTRAL SUBSTRATE IS CERAMIC MATERIAL DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND THE HIGH TEMPERATURE OF THE EXHAUST GASES AND THE ADDITIONAL HEAT IS CAUSED BY THE CHEMICAL CHANGES OF CATALYTIC REACTION.

CATALYST

 The NOx CO AND HC MOLECULES ENTER THE CC AND CONTACT AND ATTACH THEMSELVES TO THE RARE METAL THAT COVERS THE SUBSTRATE.WHEN HEAT IS APPLIED CATALYTIC PROCESS STARTED AND THE MOLECULES TO REARRANGE THEMSELVES INTO THE LESS HARMFUL ELEMENTS. OXIDATION PROCESS-THE PROCESS THROUGH WHICH HC AND CO ARE CONVERTEDTO RELATIVELY HARMLESS BY-PRODUCTS IS CALLED OXIDATION. HC AND HEAT+ OXYGEN _____MILD REACTION HC AND CO+HEAT+OXYGEN (PT/PD) __------STRONG REACTION H2O+CO2. PLATINUM OR PALLADIUM ADDS OXYGEN HC+CO+HEAT+OXYGEN-------H2O+CO2

 REDUCTION PROCESS:THE PROCESS THROUGH WHICH THE NOX IS REDUCED IS CALLED REDUCTION RHODIUM REMOVES OXYGEN NOX+HEAT--------NOX{LOWER LEVEL}-----NITROGEN + OXYGEN REDUCTION IS THE REMOVAL Of OXYGEN FROM THE EXHAUST GASES. THE ACTION TAKES PLACE IN THE THE CONVERTER WHEN THE GASES PASSES THROUGH THE CATALYSTS (RHODIUM) REDUCED THE NOX TO HARMLESS NITROGEN AND OXYGEN

CATALYTIC CONVERTER

 CONVERTER HAS A REDUCING CHAMBER FOR BREAKING DOWN NOX AND AN OXIDISING CHAMBER FOR OXYDISING HC AND CO THE EXHAUST PASSES THROUGH THE REDUCING CHAMBER FIRST .ADDITIONAL OXYGEN IS INTRODUCED INTO THE OXYDISING CHAMBER TO MAKE IT MORE EFFICENT.A TWOWAY CONVERTER OXIDISES HC AND CO;A THREE WAY CONVERTER OXIDISES HCAND CO AND REDUCES NOX.

DEFECTS IN CATALYTIC CONVERTER CLOGGING. POISONING BAD EXHAUST VALVE ON THE ENGINE. FOULED PLUGS CAUSING UNBURNED FUEL TO OVERHEAT THE CONVERTER.

CATALYTIC CONVERTER CHECK

1 INSERT AN EXAUST GAS SAMPLE PROBE INTO THE TAIL PIPE AT LEAST 6 INCHES.THE ENGINE MUST BE AT NORMAL OPERATING TEMPT AT CURB IDLE. 2 THE CO-READING ON ANALYSER MTR SHOULD BE WITH IN A RANGE BETWEE0.I TO .3 3 IF THE READING IS OVER REPAIR OR ADJUSTMENT MIGHT BE NEEDED TO CORRECT EXCESSIVE EMMISSION BECAUSE THE CC IS NOT OXIDISING FUEL FROM ENGINE.THE CC MIGHT BE FAULTY.

REPLACING A CATALYTIC CONVERTER

THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF REPLACEMENT: INSTALLATION KITS-SUCH KITS INCLUDE ALL NECESSARY COMPONENT FOR THE INSTALLATION DIRECT FIT CATALYTIC CONVERTER

PRECAUTION WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY

THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS BEEN FITTED TO PRTROL VEHICLES FOR A NUMBER OFYEARS AND IS A LEGAL REQUIREMRNT.ALTHOUGH FAIRLY BASIC IN CONSTRUCTION, AND MAINTENANCE FREE, BUT THERE ARE SOME PREACAUTIONS THAT ONE CAN UNDERTAKE TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF THE UNIT FITTED TO VEHICLE. NEVER USE LEAD REPLACEMENT FUEL IN CAR WITH A CATALYTIC CONVERTER..

 If the vehicle has a misfire, do not drive it until it has been rectified. If the ignition system is at fault then unburnt fuel will be going into the catalyst. Never push-start or tow-start the vehicle - this will again put unburnt fuel into the catalyst and damage it. A reaction called thermal aging takes place which, put simply, overheats the catalyst. If the engine puts out excessive blue smoke, then the vehicle should not be driven as damage could result.

 Frequent cold starts one after another should be avoided. Actuation of the starter for a long time during starting should be avoided, as fuel is being injected into the engine. Fuel can coat the metals in the catalytic converter giving rise to problems. Do not allow the fuel tank to become empty (irregular fuel supply leads to engine overheating). Never use fuel or engine oil additives. The catalytic converter operates at high temperatures - do not park over dry grass after the vehicle has been on a run. The catalytic converter should last around 50,000 100,000 miles on a well-maintained and driven vehicle

DRAWBACKS
IT IS A COSTLY AFFAIR. USELESS FOR SHORT JOURNEYS AS IT STARTS WORKING AT250 DEGREE CENT. MAY FAIL WITHOUT BEING NOTICED BY DRIVER.

UNLEADED PETROL AND CATALYTIC

CC FITTED VEHICLE ARE CLEANER VEHICLE AS NOX EMISSION FROM SUCH VEHICLE ARE LOW. FROM 1.41995. ALL NEW FOUR WHEELER WHICH RUN ON UNLEADED PETROL FITTED WITH CC ALONE WOULD BE REGISTERED IN THE FOUR METROCITIES IF YOUR VEHICLE IS FOUND VIOLATING THE EMISSION STANDARD YOU WILL BE FINED RS 1000/-FOR THE FIRST OFFENCE ANDRS2000/FOR THE SECOND AND SUBSEQUENT OFFENCES.

CONVERTER