21 November 2009 | |
admin
Global warming has now becoming a major issue and most of the time the common culprit is air pollution due to the harmful emissions of cars. That is why numerous car companies have come up with different ways to battle this issue. One recent solution is the introduction of hybrid cars in the market. Not only does it cost less because it uses less gas, it also helps the environment. Another common alternative is the installation of catalytic converters.
Saturn catalytic converters basically reduce harmful emissions of vehicles. In order to reduce emissions, modern car engines carefully control the amount of fuel they burn. They try to keep the air-to-fuel ratio very close to the calculated ideal ratio of air to fuel called, stoichiometric point. Most cars today are equipped with a three-way catalytic converter. This refers to the three emissions it helps to reduce, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and NOx molecules. A catalytic converter uses two different types of catalysts, a reduction catalyst and an oxidization catalyst. Both consist of a base structure coated with a catalyst such as platinum, rhodium and/or palladium. The purpose is to create a structure that exposes the maximum surface area of the catalyst to the exhaust flow, while also minimizing the amount of catalyst required. Inside Saturn catalytic converters are honeycomb set of passageways or small ceramic beads coated with catalysts. A chemical reaction then takes place to make the pollutants less harmful.
Saturn catalytic converters operate in three stages. The first stage is the reduction catalyst, where platinum and rhodium are used to help reduce the NOx emissions. Next, it reduces the unburned hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide by burning them over a platinum and palladium catalyst. The final stage is a control system that monitors the exhaust stream and uses this information to control the fuel injection system.
Through the help of various innovations like Saturn catalytic converters, problems regarding the environment will not be hard to fight. All Saturn vehicles are equipped with high quality Saturn catalytic converters that will release less harmful emissions.
Anthony Fontanelle is a 35-year-old automotive buff who grew up in the Windy City. He does freelance work for an automotive magazine when he is not busy customizing cars in his shop.
18 November 2009 | |
admin
Vehicles today are fast becoming a necessity rather than a luxury. The increasing demand for automotive vehicles has greatly affected the environment and the amount of air pollution is steadily growing. To help solve this problem, car companies, like Acura, are tapping into their resources to produce environment-friendly cars. One of the earliest solutions that worked was the installation of catalytic converters into the vehicles.
The Acura catalytic converter has contributed a great deal in reducing toxic emissions in the atmosphere. It is the stainless steel box mounted in the exhaust system. A catalytic converter contains a catalyst made from a metal such as platinum, palladium or rhodium. A catalyst is defined as anything that induces or accelerates a change. The base of the Acura catalytic converter is protected from vibration and shock by a resilient ceramic or metallic mat. Catalytic converters have been used on cars since 1975. Back then only one catalytic converter was installed; today, cars may have two or more depending on the engine configuration and manufacturer. The Acura catalytic converter changes poisonous gases to harmless carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen, and water. Most cars today are equipped with a three-way catalytic converter. This refers to the three emissions it helps to reduce, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and oxides of Nitrogen or NOx molecules. This type of catalytic converter uses two different types of catalysts, a reduction catalyst and an oxidization catalyst. Both consist of a base structure coated with a catalyst such as platinum, rhodium or palladium. The purpose is to create a structure that exposes the maximum surface area of the catalyst to the exhaust flow, while also minimizing the amount of catalyst required. Inside the catalytic converter is a honeycomb set of passageways or small ceramic beads coated with catalysts. A chemical reaction takes place within to make the pollutants less harmful.
An Acura catalytic converter operates in three stages. The first stage is the reduction catalyst. It uses platinum and rhodium to help reduce the nitrogen oxides emissions. Next, it reduces the unburned hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide by burning them over a platinum and palladium catalyst. This catalyst aids the reaction of the carbon oxides and hydrocarbons with the remaining oxygen in the exhaust gas. The final stage is a control system that monitors the exhaust stream. Produced results of this activity influences the way the fuel injection system is controlled. Still, unlike other cat-cons, high maintenance is not needed for an Acura catalytic converter. It just needs to be checked once in a while to ensure its efficiency. If vehicle performance begins to turn rough or if the car produces smoke from the tailpipe, it is recommended to have the vehicle check by a mechanic. Symptoms of a faulty or failing converter may include failing an emissions test, poor performance, increased engine temperature along with bucking of the car or hesitation. Neglecting these warning signs can cause expensive damage to the converter and may require a replacement.
Evander Klum is a Business Administration graduate who hails from Alabama. He enjoys extreme sports and he is also a car racing fanatic. At present, he works as a marketing manager at an advertising agency in Cleveland.