IJSRD - International Journal for Scientific Research & Development| Vol.

1, Issue 11, 2014 | ISSN (online): 2321-0613

Performance Analysis of Limestone Coated WIREMESH Catalytic

Converter for Emission Control of C.I Engine
Jay M. Parmar1 Prof. Keyur D. Tandel2
1
PG Student, 2Asst. Professor, Mechanical Dept., G.E.C. Valsad

Abstract--- Exhaust emissions of much concern are engines have negative impact on air quality as well as on
Hydrocarbon (HC), Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Carbon human health. Current study focuses on new developed
Dioxide (CO2) from the automotive vehicles. Catalytic limestone based catalytic converter because existing
converter oxidizes harmful CO and HC emission to CO2 available catalytic converters suffer from various problems
and H2O in the exhaust system and thus the emission is like; poisoning, fracture, melting & higher cost. The
controlled. There are several types of problems associated objective of this paper is to develop cost effective Limestone
with noble metal based on catalytic converter. Catalytic based oxidation catalytic converter to be used with four
converter with different catalyst for compression ignition stroke single cylinder diesel engine.
engine to reduce pollute gases is chosen for present work.
A. EXHAUST EMISSION
The catalytic converter was designed and developed with
different catalyst. These factors encourage for the possible Due to incomplete combustion in the engine, there are a
application of Non noble Metal based material such as number of combustion products like HC, CO, NO x, etc.
limestone as a catalyst, which may by proper improvements Hydrocarbons react in the presence of nitrogen oxides and
be able to show the desired activity and can also offer better sunlight to form ground- level ozone, a major component of
durability characteristics due to its poison resistant nature. smog. Ozone irritates the eyes, damages the lungs, and
The present work is aimed at using limestone as a catalyst aggravates respiratory problems. Nitrogen oxides, like
for catalytic converter for measuring the pollutants from the hydrocarbons, are precursors to the formation of ozone.
emission like CO, CO2, NOx and HC. The experiment is They also contribute to the formation of acid rain. Carbon
carried out on four stroke single cylinder CI engine by using monoxide reduces the flow of oxygen in the blood stream
limestone based catalytic converter and OEM make. Thus and is particularly dangerous to person with heart disease.
though not a noble metal, limestone works as a catalyst for Carbon dioxide does not directly impact human health, but it
the conversion of pollutants in exhaust but in a limited is a ―greenhouse gas‖ that traps the earth’s heat and
proportion. It is therefore concluded that the design and contributes to the potential for global warming.
development of perforated limestone plate catalytic B. CATALYTIC CONVERTER
converter is feasible since it gave satisfactory results for
A Catalytic converter is a device used to reduce the toxicity
given operating conditions and reduction of HC, CO, NOx
and CO2 emissions. In this study a simple low-cost exhaust of emissions from an internal combustion engine. In the
gas after-treatment filter using limestone was developed and catalytic converter, there are two different types of catalyst
at work, a reduction catalyst and an oxidation catalyst. Both
tested on a single cylinder DI diesel engine coupled with
types consist of a ceramic structure coated with a metal
dynamometer under variable engine running conditions.
catalyst, usually platinum, rhodium and/or palladium. The
Limestone was placed in cast iron housing through which
idea is to create a structure that exposes the maximum
exhaust gases passes. The concentration of both carbon
dioxide and nitrogen oxides were measured with and surface area of catalyst to the exhaust stream. The reduction
without the filter in place. It was found that both pollutants catalyst is the first stage of the catalytic converter. It uses
platinum and rhodium to help reduce the NOx emissions.
were decreased significantly when the filter is in place, with
When an NO or NO2 molecule contacts the catalyst, the
no increase in the fuel consumption rate.
catalyst rips the nitrogen atom out of the molecule and holds
Keywords: Exhaust emission, Catalytic Converter, OEM
on to it, freeing the oxygen in the form of O2. The nitrogen
Catco, Modified Catco, Diesel Engine, Limestone Catalyst,
Gas analyzer. atoms bond with other nitrogen atoms that are also stuck to
the catalyst, forming N2. The oxidation catalyst is the second
stage of the catalytic converter. It reduces the unburned
I. INTRODUCTION
hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide by burning (oxidizing)
Main aim is to reduce the emissions like CO, NO x, and HC them over a platinum and palladium catalyst. This catalyst
from exhaust of diesel engine by using of limestone coated aids the reaction of the CO and hydrocarbons with the
wire mesh catalytic converter at economical rate. remaining oxygen in the exhaust gas.
Environmental pollution is one of the biggest problems
faced by human beings in the past decades and in C. CATALYST AND SUBSTRATE PREPARATION
generations to come. Approximately 1/3 of the pollution the 1) Material selection for Catalyst:
air is from the automobile fleet. So it is of substantial The Limestone is used as the oxidizing agent. Its
significance to control automotive pollutions to achieve the nonpoisonous nature, low cost, and availability makes it
goal of cleaner air, which should help for reduction of preferred carrier in oxidation from the stationary pollution
greenhouse gases. Exhaust pollutants from the automobiles sources.

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 Performance Analysis of Limestone Coated WIREMESH Catalytic Converter for Emission Control of C.I Engine
(IJSRD/Vol. 1/Issue 11/2014/0014)

II. MATERIAL SELECTION FOR SUBSTRATE III. EXPERIMENTAL SETUP AND PROCEDURE
The substrate material is stainless steel, as it is widely used A single cylinder four stroke diesel engine coupled with
in the automotive exhaust system not only due to its electrical dynamometer was used for data collection. The
advantages in mechanical and physical properties but also engine is a water cooled, naturally aspirated and DI diesel
low-cost. engine. The main specifications are given in below table:
The stainless steel wire mesh was cut to a circular shape
prior to catalyst coating.

Fig. 6: Engine set up

Parameter Specification
Power 3 KW
Speed 1500 RPM
No. Of cylinder Single cylinder engine
Fig. 1 Wire mesh of stainless steel Bore Stroke 80 110 (mm)
Volume 553 CC
A. FABRICATION AND ASSEMBLY OF NEW CATCO Specific fuel consumption 251.75 g/KWh
FROM OEM CATCO Compression ratio 17:1
Lubricating oil SAE 30
Lubrication system Sump type
Standard injection timing 27˚ before TDC
Standard injection pressure 190 Kgf
Torque at crankshaft drive 2.39 KNm
Table 1: Engine specification
As shown in figure, four stroke single cylinder diesel engine
Fig. 2: OEM Catco, Fig. 3: Coating of limestone is coupled with generator. Power produced by engine will be
supplied to generator by means of coupling joint to produce
electrical power. Amount of power generator in to the
generator will be supplied to load bank which has heaters
which will consume that power. A probe is mounted at
exhaust of Engine which will supply sample of exhaust gas
to the exhaust gas analyzer.

Fig. 4 placing of limestone coated wire mesh catco in

chamber

Fig. 7: Layout of engine set up

Amount of HC, CO & CO present in exhaust can be read at
indicator panel of exhaust gas analyzer.

IV. RESULT AND DISCUSSION

Fig. 5: Modified catco with manometer and temperature From experimental data following analysis can be carried
sensor out when diesel as a fuelled.

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 Performance Analysis of Limestone Coated WIREMESH Catalytic Converter for Emission Control of C.I Engine
(IJSRD/Vol. 1/Issue 11/2014/0014)

Fig. 12: Temp vs CO2 (DIESEL)

Fig. 8: BP vs CO (DIESEL)

Fig. 13: BP vs Back Pressure (DIESEL)

V. CONCLUSION
Fig. 9: BP vs HC (DIESEL)
This study investigated the flow characteristics, the
temperature distribution and conversion efficiency of
catalytic converter. The analysis shows that the flow field in
the catalytic converter is influenced by the flow resistance of
the substrate for a given geometric configuration. The
conversion efficiency depends upon the substrate
temperature and composition of the inlet. By increasing the
temperature the conversion efficiency also increases. At
lower temperature the catalytic converter will be inactive.
The heat release due to chemical reaction does not play a
significant role. It is therefore concluded that the design and
development of perforated limestone coated catalytic
converter is feasible since it gave satisfactory results for
given operating conditions and reduction of CO2, HC, and
CO emissions. Thus the limestone based catalyst system can
Fig. 10: BP vs CO2 (DIESEL)
be the effective approach in place of expensive noble metal
based catalytic converter. Future scope of this work is that
the feasibility of the system of this kind can be checked by
increasing the volume of catalytic converter to get increase
in conversion efficiency. To reduce the cost of platinum
baffle plates of cheaper metals with coating of limestone can
be tried. Installation of catalytic converter can be varied
with respect to its position from engine outlet and its
optimum position can be found out. Flow analysis can also
be performed.

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 Performance Analysis of Limestone Coated WIREMESH Catalytic Converter for Emission Control of C.I Engine
(IJSRD/Vol. 1/Issue 11/2014/0014)

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