Many times drivers and even specialty shops confuse the particulate filter and catalytic converter and think they are the same part. In reality, they are two distinct pieces that have a different mode of operation.
In order to comply with the requirements imposed by the authorities regarding the emissions of noxes, car manufacturers have designed various systems to limit exhaust gases.
That’s how the catalytic converter was introduced, and later the particulate filter. The two components have a similar role, but are distinct and operate differently and independently of each other.
What is the catalyst
The catalytic converter is a part in your car’s exhaust system that converts harmful gases into less polluting emissions. The technical name is “catalytic converter”.
It is generally cylindrical in shape and has a honeycomb system inside. With the help of chemicals, it converts the harmful gases resulting from burning the fuel before they are released into the atmosphere.
Many of the catalysts contain rare metals such as platinum, rhodium and palladium. They have the role of generating the chemical reaction necessary to convert the noxes into water, carbon dioxide and nitrogen gas. This reaction occurs due to the high temperature of the exhaust gases. That is why the catalytic converter is mounted as close as possible to the engine.
Nowadays, most cars, regardless of whether they have petrol or diesel engines, have a catalytic converter.
What is a particle filter?
The particle filter is a mechanical system specific to turbo diesel engines. Its name is Diesel Particulate Filter – DPF. Or, in the case of gasoline engines, Gasoline Particulate Filter – GPF.
The filter consists of a ceramic core with cylindrical holes through which the exhaust gases pass. It is therefore also part of the car’s exhaust system. Diesel cars in particular have a particle filter, which is installed immediately after the catalytic converter.
The role of the DPF or GPF is to hold soot in the filter until a predetermined fill level is reached. The system will then trigger a regeneration process, whereby the collected particles are burned at high temperatures to be destroyed.
Basically, the role of the DPF or GPF is to prevent the particles resulting from the combustion of diesel or gasoline in the engine from being released into the atmosphere.
The difference between a particulate filter and a catalytic converter
The particle filter and the catalyst have the same role, to reduce the emissions of harmful gases and particles into the atmosphere. Both are part of the exhaust system of cars and filter the exhaust gases.
But these are the only similarities between the two pieces.
The role of the catalyst is to transform harmful gases into less dangerous gases through a chemical process. While the particulate filter captures and destroys solid particles resulting from fuel combustion.
Source: www.promotor.ro
