What is the purpose of a car's three-way catalytic converter?
2 Answers
Automobile three-way catalytic converter is the most important external purification device installed in the automobile exhaust system, which can convert harmful gases such as CO, HC and NOx emitted by automobile exhaust into harmless carbon dioxide, water and nitrogen through oxidation and reduction. The relevant information about the three-way catalytic converter is as follows: 1. Introduction: The three-way catalytic converter is the most important external purification device installed in the automobile exhaust system, which can convert harmful gases such as CO, HC and NOx emitted by automobile exhaust into harmless carbon dioxide, water and nitrogen through oxidation and reduction. 2. Working principle: When high-temperature automobile exhaust passes through the purification device, the purifying agent in the three-way catalytic converter will enhance the activity of CO, HC and NOx, promoting certain oxidation-reduction chemical reactions.
Last time I met a long-distance driver at a highway service station and we talked about this. The three-way catalytic converter is essentially an advanced exhaust filter, now mandatory for all gasoline vehicles. It's located in the middle section of the exhaust pipe - that large metal canister that feels scalding hot to touch. Inside, there's a honeycomb-like ceramic structure coated with precious metals like platinum and palladium, specifically designed to convert toxic gases such as carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide and water. If this thing gets clogged, the car will feel sluggish and guzzle fuel, with exhaust smelling like rotten eggs. Remember never to use substandard gasoline - fuel from shady gas stations mixed with manganese additives can destroy the catalytic converter in just three months, and replacing it with an OEM part could cost half the car's value.
