Development of a cost effective catalytic converter for diesel automobiles

Abstract

The purpose of the work presented in this paper is to find and suggest a suitable solution to the exhaust pollution coming from the Diesel Automobiles particularly in the metro cities. Due to incomplete combustion of fuel oil pollutants like CO, HC, NOx are released into atmosphere causing negative impact on air quality, environment and human health. Researchers all over the world concentrated on how to reduce the pollutants. Euro norms specify the allowable percentages of CO, HC and NOx in the exhaust gases. Euro norms being implemented in the developed countries have given stringent values which has led to the development of catalytic converter which is an added equipment in automobile. Hitherto in the catalytic converters supplied in modern cars, Platinum and Rhodium metals are used for coating monoliths. These metals are rare and hence expensive. In the research carried out by the authors, suitable monolith substrates are tested and used in the catalytic converters with coating materials like CeO2, ZrO2 over clay marbles, Copper Monolith and SS Discs which help NOx¬ abatement and oxygen storage. These were designed, fabricated and tested on automobiles. The results are encouraging showing marked fall of pollutants in exhaust gases.