Measurement of Catalytic Converter Performance Using Exhaust Gas Sensors with Modified Characteristics

Legislation known as on-board diagnostics (O.B.D.) is to be introduced which will require automatic detection of failure in the catalytic converter. This is not straightforward because of uncertainty over which parameters would be good indicators of catalyst deterioration and the inavailability of suitable sensors.

A feasibility study examined the potential of applying concepts more commonly used for the general purpose gas sensor to the catalyst monitoring problem. The indications are that new exhaust sensors could be developed which would not disregard important information contained in the exhaust stream as do conventional exhaust sensors based upon titania and zirconia.