A new catalytic converter that could cut fuel consumption and manufacturing costs has been designed by a scientist from Imperial College London.
A catalytic converter is the component in a vehicle’s exhaust system that eliminates some harmful emissions. Tests suggest that the new prototype could reduce fuel consumption in a standard vehicle by up to three per cent. It could also deliver environmental benefits by reducing the amount of CO that each vehicle emits.
The new design uses up to 80 per cent less rare metal, a development that could significantly reduce costs for vehicle manufacturers. Catalytic converters are expensive to manufacture because they use precious metals such as platinum to eliminate emissions. These metals currently account for up to 60 to 70 per cent of the cost of the component.
The prototype is also predicted to perform better than existing models because the rare metal degrades less over the lifetime of the component. Laboratory tests suggest that it deteriorates by only four per cent over a distance of 100,000 kilometres, compared to 35 per cent for a standard catalytic converter.
The prototype device was developed by Dr Benjamin Kingsbury, Professor Kang Li and Dr Zhentao Wu who are all from the Department of Chemical Engineering.
Dr Kingsbury says: “Catalytic converters are the most important component in a vehicle for controlling exhaust emissions. Yet their design has not changed since they were first developed in the 1940s. The prototype I have developed could make cars cheaper to run because they use less fuel. It could potentially help manufacturers to reduce their costs. Drivers could also be a major beneficiary of this device, which could save on fuel costs and ultimately lead to reduced CO emissions.”
The Latest on: Catalytic converter
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Catalytic converter” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Catalytic converter
- EMCC hosting ‘etching’ event to prevent vehicle catalytic converter theftson April 18, 2024 at 6:01 pm
“The Criminal Justice Academy students are going to help liaison people over to our shop and the Automotive students are going to etch the converter per state law on the vehicles that need to have ...
- "Robbin Hood" Pleads Guilty, Catalyst of Catalytic Converter Thefts in Massachusetts and New Hampshire Admits to Federal Chargeson April 18, 2024 at 8:10 am
Rafael Davila pleads guilty to federal charges stemming from catalytic converter thefts across Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
- Leader of a regional catalytic converter theft crew pleads guiltyon April 18, 2024 at 5:50 am
Rafael Davila was said to be responsible for the planning of and transportation of each targeted theft, determining price values for stolen converters and purchasing needed materials.
- Bronx welder creates 'cat safe' invention to stop catalytic converter thefton April 18, 2024 at 5:11 am
Catalytic converter thefts have been on the rise for years now. It’s a valuable exhaust emission control device made with precious metals that thieves can turn around and sell for up to $1,000. The ...
- Mass. man who oversaw theft of hundreds of catalytic converters pleads guiltyon April 18, 2024 at 3:42 am
Since the arrests, there has been a "precipitous decline" in catalytic converter thefts reported in Massachusetts, officials said.
- More tools on the way to combat catalytic converter theft in Washingtonon April 17, 2024 at 4:32 pm
Lawmakers are hoping recently passed legislation will stem the tide of stolen catalytic converters in Washington state.
- Mass., NH catalytic converter theft ringleader pleads guilty, feds sayon April 17, 2024 at 3:00 pm
The ringleader of a group that appears to have been responsible for most of the catalytic converter thefts in the Greater Boston area in the last few years has pleaded guilty, federal prosecutors said ...
- Free Bangor event can help you protect your catalytic converter from thieveson April 17, 2024 at 7:37 am
Catalytic converters contain valuable precious metals and are fairly simple to remove from cars, making them a popular target for thieves.
- Thieves target catalytic converters in Chicago's Hyde Parkon April 16, 2024 at 12:14 pm
Chicago Police are warning Hyde Park neighborhood residents after thieves stole several catalytic converters in April. In each incident, the catalytic converters were taken from parked vehicles at the ...
- Springfield man sentenced to 47-months in prison for his role in stealing $2 million in catalytic converters in Mass., N.H.on April 11, 2024 at 7:40 pm
Zachary Marshall, 26, was also sentenced to three years of supervised probation for his role in the seven member organized theft crew that stole nearly $2 million in catalytic converters in ...
via Bing News