The flow in the automotive catalytic converter is, in general, not uniform. This significantly affects cost, service life, and performance, in particular, during cold startup. The current paper reports on a device that provided a large improvement in flow uniformity. The device is to be placed in the converter inlet diffuser and is constructed out of ordinary screens. It is cheap and easy to install. Moreover, the device does not present most of the undesired effects, such as increase in pressure drop and time to light off, often observed in other devices developed for the same purpose.
Issue Section:
Technical Briefs
1.
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, G. N.
, Konstantas
, G. S.
, and Stamatelos
, A. M.
, 2004, “Three-Way Catalytic Converter Modeling as a Modern Engineering Design Tool
,” Trans. ASME: J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power
0742-4795, 126
(4
), pp. 906
–923
.2.
Tsinoglou
, D. N.
, and Koltsakis
, G. C.
, 2005, “Influence of Pulsating Flow on Close-Coupled Catalyst Performance
,” Trans. ASME: J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power
0742-4795, 127
(3
), pp. 676
–682
.3.
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, J. S.
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, T. C.
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, W. R.
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, W.
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, T.
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,” Energy Convers. Manage.
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, pp. 2010
–2031
.6.
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, G.
, Rocco
, V.
, and Maggiore
, M.
, 1991, “A Study of Inlet Flow Distribution on Catalytic Conversion Efficiency
,” Trans. ASME: J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power
0742-4795, 13
(113
), pp. 419
–426
.7.
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, J. P.
, and Socha
, L. S.
Jr., 1991, “The Design of Automotive Converter for Improved Pressure Drop and Conversion Efficiency
,” SAE Technical Report No. 910371.8.
Bressler
, H.
, Rammoser
, D.
, Neumaier
, H.
, and Terres
, F.
, 1996, “Experimental and Predictive Investigation of a Close Coupled Catalytic Converter With Pulsating Flow
,” SAE Technical Report No. 960564.9.
Zhao
, F. Q.
, 1997, “Transient Flow Characteristics Inside the Catalytic Converter of a Firing Gasoline Engine
,” SAE Technical Report No. 971014.10.
Jeong
, S. J.
, and Kim
, W. S.
, 2001, “A Three-Dimensional Numerical Study of the Effect of Pulsating Flow on Conversion Efficiency Inside a Catalytic Converter
,” Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng., Part D (J. Automob. Eng.)
0954-4070, 215
, pp. 45
–61
.11.
Arantes
, E. M. R.
, and Medeiros
, M. A. F.
, 2004, “Optimization of the Flow in the Catalytic Converter of Internal Combustion Engines by Means of Screens
,” Tenth Brazilian Congress of Thermal Engineering and Sciences
, Rio de Janeiro
, Brazil
.12.
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, R. D.
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,” Prog. Aerosp. Sci.
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, pp. 59
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.Copyright © 2008
by American Society of Mechanical Engineers
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