How does a catalytic converter work on a car?

Question

Can anyone explain how a catalytic converter works on a car?, in detail if you can plz

Answer 1

The actual ceramic substrate is coated with an ultra thin gaseous coating of platinum. As the hot exhaust gasses flow through the fine ceramic cells and the harmful oxides of gasoline combustion are converted to nitrogen. The platinum coated substrate is ultra-hot when the engine is running. It's encased in a stainless steel to preserve the converter for the life of the car.
Log on to: corning.com there will be pictures of the substrates. They make them for gasoline engines around the world. Across a major highway Upstate NY. a new diesel converter plant is in operation.

Answer 2

the catalytic converter works by reducing exuast flow which causes a build up of heat in a concentrated area, temperatures that are well above normal in other areas of the engine or exuast system. the high temp combined with the converter help to reduce harmful particulates in the exuast gas and further reducing the harmful matter from entering our air.

Answer 3

Well i will tell you my story lets just say this happened in a state far far away real far not in Oregon nope not here.I had a chevy van and I was told my cat was bad I couldn't afford a new one so I drove and drove and drove. One day I parked at a place lets say maybe a park a forrest I was parked there with the engine running for 20 minutes And next thing you know theres fire around my van I pulled back and the grass is on fire I looked under my van and my cat was red hot with a hole in it. There was fire everywhere the horror the horror. Get a new cat now or you might just die!!!!

Answer 4

Availability information may be found in the Availability, Publisher, Research Organization, Resource Relation and/or Author (affiliation information) fields and/or via the "Full-text Availability" link. For a journal article, please see the Resource Relation field.
Title Catalytic converter
Creator/Author Kawata, M. ; Shinichi, Y.
Publication Date 1984 Jan 10
OSTI Identifier OSTI ID: 6609504
Report Number(s) US 4425304
Resource Type Patent
Resource Relation Pat. File: Priority date 20 Jan 1981, Japan; PAT-APPL-338953
Subject 500200 -- Environment, Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989) ;330700 -- Advanced Propulsion Systems-- Emission Control; ;CATALYTIC CONVERTERS-- DESIGN;EXHAUST GASES-- PURIFICATION; AIR POLLUTION CONTROL;AXIAL SYMMETRY;FLUID FLOW;INTAKE STRUCTURES;METALS;OUTLET STRUCTURES;PRESSING;SHEETS
Related Subject CONTROL;ELEMENTS;EQUIPMENT;FABRICATION;FLUIDS;GASEOUS WASTES;GASES;MATERIALS WORKING;MECHANICAL STRUCTURES;POLLUTION CONTROL;POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT;SYMMETRY;WASTES
Description/
Abstract A catalytic converter comprises a generally elongated housing having gas inlet and outlet at its opposite ends, at least first and second catalyst carriers held in position inside the housing in axially spaced relation, a spacer assembly positioned inside the housing between the first and second catalyst carriers for holding them in the axially spaced relation, and an air supply piping having one end adapted to be fluid-connected to a source of fresh air and the other end communicated to the space between the catalyst carriers.^The spacer assembly has an axial and a transverse passages defined therein and is constituted by a pair of spacer components prepared from a metal sheet by the use of any known press work.
Country of Publication United States
Language English
Format Pages: v
Rights Toyo Kogyo Co., Ltd. (Japan)
System Entry Date 2001 May 13




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Answer 5

We could explain it, but it is easier to see it with examples. Howstuffworks.com usually does excellent writeups on subjects like this.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/catalytic-converter.htm

Answer 6

It Filters the exaust comeing out of your motor.

Answer 7

it tents to meeaaww if clapped