Installing a flame arrester instead of a catalyst - basic principles
Many car owners go to great lengths to improve their car's performance, extend its lifespan, and minimize maintenance costs.
Drivers often face the question: catalyst or flame arrester?
To deal with this problem, you need to answer the following questions:
- What is a catalyst?
- What is a flame arrester?
- What are their pros and cons?
Actually, the editors of the Vodi.su portal are very interested in this topic, so we will try to figure it out.
Vehicle exhaust system: catalytic converter
Probably many people remember from a chemistry course that a catalyst is a substance in which various chemical reactions proceed faster.
The combustion of gasoline produces many substances that pollute the atmosphere:
- carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide;
- hydrocarbons, which are one of the reasons for the formation of characteristic smog in large cities;
- nitrogen oxides, which cause acid rain.
Water vapor is also released in large quantities. All these gases gradually lead to global warming. In order to minimize their content in the exhaust, they decided to install catalysts - a kind of exhaust gas filters. They are connected directly to the exhaust manifold, which receives high-pressure exhaust gases from the engine, and these gases are very hot.
It is clear that the exhaust system can have a different configuration, but basically its scheme is as follows:
- spider (exhaust manifold);
- lambda probe - special sensors analyze the degree of afterburning of fuel;
- catalyst;
- second lambda probe;
- muffler.
The computer program compares the readings of the sensors from the first and second lambda probes. If they do not differ, then the catalyst is clogged, so the Check Engine lights up. Another catalyst can also be installed behind the second lambda probe for a more complete exhaust purification.
Such a system is needed in order for the exhaust to comply with the strict environmental standards of the European Union for CO2 content.
Foreign cars mainly use ceramic catalysts, they are designed for an average of 100-150 thousand mileage. Over time, the catalyst becomes clogged, and its cells are destroyed, and the following problems appear:
- reduction in engine power, deterioration in dynamics;
- extraneous sounds - detonation of fuel and ignition of oil that has leaked into the catalyst;
- increased consumption of oil and gasoline.
Accordingly, the driver is interested in solving the problem as soon as possible, but when he comes to the auto parts store and looks at the prices, the sensations are not the best. Agree, not everyone wants to pay from 300 to 2500 euros for one catalyst.
Moreover, even though the warranty covers 50-100 thousand km, you may be denied it due to a banal reason - low-quality domestic spill fuel.
A flame arrester instead of a catalyst
The main tasks that the installation of a flame arrester solves:
- reduction of noise level;
- reduction of energy of exhaust gases;
- decrease in gas temperature.
The flame arrester is installed instead of the first catalyst, while the CO2 content in the exhaust increases - this is the main drawback of its installation.
Noise reduction is due to the double-layer housing. Between the layers of metal there is an absorbing substance, it can be dense non-combustible mineral wool. The requirements for the metal are very high: the inner layer must withstand high temperatures, the outer layer must withstand constant exposure to moisture, dirt, as well as anti-ice reagents, which we wrote about on Vodi.su.
The inner pipe has a perforated surface, due to which the energy and speed of the exhaust gases escaping from the exhaust manifold are extinguished. Thus, the flame arrester also performs the role of a resonator.
It is very important that its volume corresponds to the volume of the engine. If it is smaller, this will lead to the fact that when the engine is started and when the throttle is opened, a characteristic metal rattle will be heard. In addition, engine power will drop, and the exhaust system itself will wear out faster, and banks will simply burn out.
The inner layer of sound insulation absorbs the kinetic energy of the gases, so that the entire exhaust system experiences less vibration. This is positively reflected in its service life.
Choosing a flame arrester
On sale you can find a large selection of similar products.
Among foreign manufacturers, we single out:
- Platinum, Asmet, Ferroz made in Poland;
- Marmittezara, Asso - Italy;
- Bosal, Walker - Belgium and many others.
Usually, recognized manufacturers produce flame arresters for a specific brand of car, although there are also universal ones.
The price level is indicative:
- the catalyst costs from 5000 rubles;
- flame arrester - from 1500.
In principle, there is nothing surprising here, since the catalyst device is rather complicated, while the flame arrester consists of two pieces of pipe with a thick gasket of sound-absorbing refractory material.
There are, of course, cheaper fakes that burn out quickly, but they are not sold in serious stores.
The only negative is the increase in emissions of harmful gases, but in Russia environmental standards are not as strict as in Europe or the USA.
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