What Are the Consequences of an Aging Three-Way Catalytic Converter?
1 Answers
The consequences of an aging three-way catalytic converter are as follows: The aging of the oxygen storage capacity of the three-way catalytic converter causes it to fail, preventing the incomplete oxides from undergoing chemical reactions with oxygen inside it to form complete oxides. The resulting consequence is failure to meet emission standards. Additionally, fuel injection correction becomes inaccurate. Extended information: 1. Three-Way Catalytic Converter: The three-way catalytic converter is the most important external purification device installed in a car's exhaust system. It converts harmful gases such as CO (carbon monoxide), HC (hydrocarbons), and NOx (nitrogen oxides) emitted from vehicle exhaust into harmless carbon dioxide, water, and nitrogen through oxidation and reduction reactions. Because this catalytic converter can simultaneously convert the three main harmful substances in exhaust gases into harmless substances, it is called a three-way converter. 2. Working Principle of the Three-Way Catalytic Converter: When high-temperature vehicle exhaust passes through the purification device, the purifying agent in the three-way catalytic converter enhances the activity of CO, HC, and NOx gases, promoting certain oxidation-reduction chemical reactions. Among these, CO oxidizes at high temperatures into colorless, non-toxic carbon dioxide gas; HC compounds oxidize at high temperatures into water (H2O) and carbon dioxide; and NOx is reduced into nitrogen and oxygen. The three harmful gases are transformed into harmless gases, thereby purifying the vehicle exhaust.
