Performance Analysis of Limestone Coated WIREMESH Catalytic Converter for Emission Control of C.I Engine

Exhaust emissions of much concern are Hydrocarbon (HC), Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Carbon Dioxide (CO2) from the automotive vehicles. Catalytic converter oxidizes harmful CO and HC emission to CO2 and H2O in the exhaust system and thus the emission is controlled. There are several types of problems associated with noble metal based on catalytic converter. Catalytic converter with different catalyst for compression ignition engine to reduce pollute gases is chosen for present work. The catalytic converter was designed and developed with different catalyst. These factors encourage for the possible application of Non noble Metal based material such as limestone as a catalyst, which may by proper improvements be able to show the desired activity and can also offer better durability characteristics due to its poison resistant nature. The present work is aimed at using limestone as a catalyst for catalytic converter for measuring the pollutants from the emission like CO, CO2, NOx and HC. The experiment is carried out on four stroke single cylinder CI engine by using limestone based catalytic converter and OEM make. Thus though not a noble metal, limestone works as a catalyst for the conversion of pollutants in exhaust but in a limited proportion. It is therefore concluded that the design and development of perforated limestone plate catalytic converter is feasible since it gave satisfactory results for given operating conditions and reduction of HC, CO, NOx and CO2 emissions. In this study a simple low-cost exhaust gas after-treatment filter using limestone was developed and tested on a single cylinder DI diesel engine coupled with dynamometer under variable engine running conditions. Limestone was placed in cast iron housing through which exhaust gases passes. The concentration of both carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides were measured with and without the filter in place. It was found that both pollutants were decreased significantly when the filter is in place, with no increase in the fuel consumption rate.