What Causes Low Efficiency in Three-Way Catalytic Converters?
1 Answers
Low efficiency in three-way catalytic converters is due to blockages in the system. When blocked, the vehicle's exhaust flow becomes restricted, affecting performance and increasing fuel consumption. In such cases, it's essential to determine the severity of the blockage. For mild to moderate blockages, specialized machines designed to oxidize and clean the three-way catalytic converter can be used for repair. However, severe blockages require immediate replacement of the converter. Ignoring low efficiency can render the three-way catalytic converter non-functional, leading to excessive exhaust emissions. The primary causes of reduced efficiency are aging or clogging of the converter, which not only significantly increases fuel consumption and reduces power but also results in excessive emissions. In severe cases, the exhaust pipe may overheat and turn red, posing a risk of vehicle fire. Working Principle of Three-Way Catalytic Converters: When engine exhaust passes through the exhaust pipe, the catalytic agents in the three-way catalytic converter enhance the activity of CO, HC, and NOx, facilitating oxidation-reduction reactions. CO is oxidized into colorless, non-toxic CO2 at high temperatures, HC compounds are oxidized into H2O and CO2, and NOx is reduced into N2 (nitrogen) and O2 (oxygen). This process effectively purifies the engine's exhaust emissions.
