Automotive catalyst - what is it? Automobile catalyst: the principle of operation, price, reviews

To reduce harmful toxic emissions into the atmosphere when fuel is burned in an automobile exhaust system, installation of such a device as an automobile catalyst is provided. What it is? If to use chemical terms, the catalyst is a substance that accelerates the processes of chemical reactions, but at the same time it does not itself react. The main catalysts are metals: nickel, rhodium, copper, chromium, palladium and gold. The basis of the principle of the automotive catalytic device is the ability of catalyzing materials to accelerate chemical reactions.

An automotive catalyst is installed on the exhaust pipe immediately after the exhaust manifold, less often at the reservoir itself. This is due to the operating temperature of the device, which works much more efficiently at three hundred degrees. The disadvantage of such a location is the short life of the catalyst, due to the same high temperature.

Harmful substances

In the process of burning fuel in engine cylinders, harmful and toxic substances form in the exhaust gases. At the same time, they negatively affect the human body and nature as a whole. The main harmful components are: hydrocarbon (main component of exhaust), nitric oxide (an additional component of exhaust gases), carbon monoxide (toxic gases, odorless and colorless).

Automotive catalyst - what is it?

As a rule, a modern catalyst is a three-component type device. So, it is equipped with converters in the amount of three pieces, each of which reduces the release of a certain substance into the atmosphere. The auto part is a metal flask made of stainless steel, inside of which there are a number of honeycomb or ceramic beads.

The catalyst honeycombs are made of metal or ceramic material and have a spraying agent. In general, rhodium, platinum and palladium are used for the sputtering. At the moment, gold has been used more often for sputtering, since it is cheaper than other materials for such a detail as a car catalyst. What is this - the construction of ceramics? It is more widespread because of its cheapness, but it has one minus - fragility. A small blow is enough to make the honeycombs damaged. Overcoming large irregularities in the roadway or obstacles in the form of curbs, it is possible to damage the part. In this case, drivers often do not notice the fact of damage to the catalyst.

Principle of operation

Two types of converter are used in the converter: they are substances of reducing and oxidizing properties (both are mounted on an automotive catalyst). The precious metals deposited on the honeycombs have a restoring property. These are rhodium and platinum, which reduce the amount of nitrogen oxide emissions. This process occurs as follows: at the moment of the collision of the molecules of dioxide or nitrogen oxide with the molecules of platinum, the nitrogen atom is separated and oxygen is released. Further, the nitrogen atom comes into contact with another nitrogen atom, resulting in the formation of nitrogen gas.

Oxidative process is carried out due to the use of palladium. In turn, this catalyst reduces the volume of unburnt fuel and carbon monoxide in the exhaust gases by burning them. In addition, this catalyst contributes to the formation of carbon dioxide after the reaction between nitrogen oxide and oxygen, which did not have time to burn. Simply put, as a result of these reactions, harmful substances are burned and converted into ordinary water, carbon dioxide and nitrogen.

The main causes of catalyst failure

Depending on the design and materials used, the catalysts have their own characteristic damages and cause the failure.

Ceramic type:

• Damage from impact loads.
• From the impact of water, which falls on a hot device.
• Damage from the explosion in the catalyst. Typically, it is due to a faulty ignition system - later ignition.

Other types of devices:

• Low quality fuel.
• Excessive wear of the piston rings.
• The possibility of getting into the exhaust system of various chemical liquids.
• Poor fuel-to-air mixture.
• Overheating of the catalyst device.

Symptoms of a defective device

The fact that the car is a faulty car synthesizer catalyst, reviews of motorists converge to one, and are usually very similar. Firstly, it's extraneous sounds in the case, which say that the honeycomb parts have mechanical damages. The following is a noticeable drop in the power characteristics of the car's engine and its unstable operation at idle. Also there is a possibility of a strong overheating of the device due to clogged cells and poor exhaust gas capacity.

What to do if it is broken

Often, the failed catalyst is replaced with a new one. It is not possible to repair the device, and if you still try to repair it, it will be quite difficult and expensive. At the same time, its performance will be significantly reduced. On a new catalyst, the car price depends on the brand and model of the car. If we consider the standard catalysts of budget cars, they can reach a price of up to 15 thousand rubles, taking into account the installation.

Basically, the guarantee for this product is small. According to dealers, there are many factors that affect the duration of the device, and they can not be controlled. Automotive catalyst, whose composition of materials is of high cost, is a complex construction in terms of manufacturing and can not have a low cost. Therefore, there are several options for replacing the damaged catalyst, which you can offer at the workshop:

• Mounting the universal device. It is a catalyst flask with no internal filling of honeycombs.
• Mounting in the exhaust system of the flame arrester. In this case, the catalyst must be completely eliminated from the system. In this case, the exhaust gases are not cleaned, and the flame arrester itself balances the exhaust gas flow and reduces the formation of extraneous noise.

Automobile synthesizer of catalyst "ASK"

This device is a conventional split-type fuel filter, consisting of two replaceable parts-cartridges. A catalyst synthesizer is installed in the fuel system of the car engine. To establish the catalytic process, a cartridge is installed at number one, which operates within twenty minutes. After that, a second cartridge is installed in its place, which carries out the catalytic process for ten thousand kilometers of the car. Then, the process of alternately installing the cartridges is repeated. Typically, the working life of the device is approximately thirty replacements of cartridges or two hundred thousand runs.

Automotive catalyst synthesizer has many positive effects on engine performance:

• Facilitates engine start-up and its warm-up in the cold season.
• Reduces the possibility of clogging fuel injectors.
• Promotes fuel economy.
• Smoke and emissions of harmful substances are reduced.
• Increases the life of the engine as a whole.
• Improves the process of ignition in cylinders.

The purchase of such a device will help significantly save costs when operating a car, as evidenced by the positive feedback from drivers. The automobile synthesizer of the catalyst has a cost in the region of three and a half thousand rubles, but it all depends on the quality and the manufacturer of the product.

Recycling and processing of catalysts

In view of the fact that the design of the device provides for the use of expensive metals, and the part itself has a significant cost. Now there are many official firms that deal with the recycling of devices. Recycle car catalyst - what is it? This phenomenon is based on the process of obtaining precious metals in honeycombs. There are several ways of processing, but they are all quite complex and laborious, so it is impossible to extract the same platinum at home. The best option is to sell the unsuitable device to processing enterprises. The processing of automotive catalysts at enterprises is carried out in accordance with all norms and requirements of environmental standards with the use of special production technologies.

Conclusion

Proceeding from what has been said, it can be safely noted that such a device, as a catalyst, is of particular importance, both for the full operation of the car and for the environment. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor its condition and make a timely replacement in the event of a breakdown of this part.