its your
catalytic converter (colloquially, "cat" or "catcon") is a
vehicle emissions control device which converts
toxic byproducts of
combustion in the exhaust of an
internal combustion engine to less toxic substances by way of
catalysed chemical reactions. The specific reactions vary with the type of catalyst installed. Most present-day vehicles that run on
gasoline are fitted with a "three way" converter, so named because it converts the three main pollutants in automobile exhaust: an
oxidizing reaction converts
carbon monoxide (CO) and
unburned hydrocarbons (HC) to
CO2 and water vapour, and a
reduction reaction converts
oxides of nitrogen (NOx) to produce CO2,
nitrogen (N2), and
water (H2O).
[1]
The first widespread introduction of catalytic converters was in the
United States market, where 1975
model year gasoline-powered automobiles were so equipped to comply with tightening
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations on automobile exhaust emissions.
[2][3][4][5] These were "two-way" converters which combined
carbon monoxide (CO) and
unburned hydrocarbons (HC) to produce
carbon dioxide (CO2) and
water (H2O). Two-way catalytic converters of this type are now considered obsolete, having been supplanted except on
lean burn engines[
citation needed] by "three-way" converters which also reduce
oxides of nitrogen (NOx).
[2]
Catalytic converters are still most commonly used in
exhaust systems in
automobiles, but are also used on
generator sets,
forklifts, mining equipment,
trucks,
buses,
locomotives,
motorcycles,
airplanes and other engine-fitted devices. They are also used on some wood stoves to control emissions.
[6] This is usually in response to
government regulation, either through direct environmental regulation or through health and safety regulations.
Catalytic oxidization is also used, but for the purpose of safe,
flameless generation of heat rather than destruction of pollutants, in
catalytic heaters.
A water-fuelled car is a automobile that is claimed to use water as its fuel or produces fuel from water onboard,
with no other energy input. Water-fuelled cars have been mentioned in
newspapers, popular science magazines, local news coverage, and the internet
(YouTube); at least some of the claims were found to be tied to investment frauds. This
article focuses on vehicles which purport to extract their energy directly from
water, a process which would violate the first and/or second law of thermodynamics
In addition to claims of cars that run exclusively on water, there have also
been claims that burning hydrogen or oxyhydrogen in addition to petrol or diesel
fuel increases mileage. Around 1970, Yull Brown developed
technology which allegedly allows cars to burn fuel more efficiently while
improving emissions. In
Brown's design, a hydrogen oxygen mixture (so-called "Brown's Gas") is generated
by the electrolysis of water, and then fed into the engine through the air
intake system. Whether the system actually improves emissions or fuel efficiency
is debated. Similarly, Hydrogen Technology
Applications claims to be able increase fuel efficiency by bubbling "Aquyen"
into the fuel tank.
A number of websites exist promoting the use of oxyhydrogen (often called
"HHO"), selling plans for do-it-yourself electrolysers or entire kits with the
promise of large improvements in fuel efficiency. According to a spokesman for
the American Automobile
Association, "All of these devices look like they could probably work for
you, but let me tell you they don't."
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