CATALYTIC CONVERTER FOR VEHICLES

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to emission control devices for motor vehicles, and particularly to a catalytic converter for vehicles.

2. Description of the Related Art

Vehicular exhaust gas treatment systems are used to treat the exhaust gas from an engine of the vehicle. The exhaust gas emitted from a diesel engine is a heterogeneous mixture that contains gaseous emissions, such as carbon monoxide (CO), unburned hydrocarbons (HC) and oxides of nitrogen (NO_x), as well as condensed phase materials (liquids and solids) that constitute particulate matter. Catalyst compositions, typically disposed on catalyst supports or substrates that are disposed within the exhaust gas treatment system, are provided to convert certain or all of these exhaust gas constituents into environmentally safe gas components. For example, diesel exhaust gas treatment systems may include one or more of a precious metal-containing diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) converter for the reduction of CO and excess HC, a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) device for the reduction of NO_x with the assistance of a diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), and a diesel particulate filter (DPF) device for the removal of particulate matter. When periodic regeneration (or soot oxidation) is required, the DOC will oxidize injected diesel fuel, i.e. hydrocarbons, to generate an exothermic reaction to burn off the accumulated soot inside the DPF. The exhaust system requires a hydrocarbon mixer upstream of the DOC and a DEF mixer upstream of the SCR to provide more uniform reductant distribution of the hydrocarbons and the DEF, respectively, for effective DOC and SCR operations. Thus, a catalytic converter for vehicles solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The catalytic converter for vehicles comprises lithium oxide as a catalyst metal that in the presence of alkaline solution, such as urea solution (Adblue™) and at least one activated carbon disc filter, prevents harmful exhaust emissions of vehicles. In the catalytic converter all dangerous air pollutants, (i.e. carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NO_x), and hydrocarbons (HC)) will be converted into non-dangerous pollutants (carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrogen (N₂), and water) in the presence of catalytic metal (lithium oxide) and alkaline solution (Adblue™). The by-products react with alkaline solution to form carbonate residues, which are adsorbed on the activated carbon filter and are easily removed by water washing. The present catalytic converter prevents all environmentally harmful vehicle exhaust gases and by-products from being emitted into the ambient air.

These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The sole drawing FIGURE is a schematic diagram of the catalytic converter according to the present invention, shown with the housing broken away to show details thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present catalytic converter for vehicles has a main body made from stainless steel. It contains at least one activated carbon filter disc to prevent vehicle exhaust emissions. In the catalytic converter, lithium oxide is used as a catalyst metal that in the presence of alkaline solution, such as urea solution (AdblueT™, which is an aqueous solution containing 32.5% high-purity urea and 67.5% deionized water, commonly known as diesel exhaust fluid), converts all dangerous air pollutants, (i.e. carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NO_x), and hydrocarbons (HC)) into non-dangerous pollutants (i.e. carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrogen (N₂), and water). The by-products react with alkaline solution to form carbonate residues, which are adsorbed on the activated carbon filter and are easily removed by water washing. The present catalytic converter prevents all environmentally harmful vehicle exhaust gases and by-products from being emitted into the ambient air.

Referring to the Figure, a catalytic converter is generally shown at 100. The catalytic converter 100 includes an activated carbon disc 10.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.