The Effect of Three-way Catalyst Selection on Component Pressure Drop and System Performance

The objective of this paper is to provide an estimate of the potential effect of substrate and exhaust system backpressure on engine performance. Parameters include fuel consumption, CO₂ emissions, and horsepower. Results were obtained on an engine test stand, and statistical analysis was used to understand the relationships between variables. Tradeoffs between catalyst substrate selection and engine performance for the particular engine used in this study are described. Finally, the potential impact of exhaust system backpressure on real world driving conditions is discussed.