In order for an automobile to run, fuel and air must be burned in the

combustion chamber, producing at least six different emissions, including gases like
carbon monoxide, nitrodgen oxide, and nitrogen monoxide. Theses gases are
harmful to humans and our environment. The car exhaust system is responsible for
converting these emissions into less harmful gases, allowing the car to be safe for
driver and passengers as well as the environment. There are several major
functions of the exhaust system: to channel out the waste products of combustion
out of the engine, to reduce the noise generated by the engine, to clean up the
emissions that are harmful to the environment, and to reduce the pollution and to
increase the efficiency of the engine.

Car Exhaust
System

The exhaust system is comprised mainly of pipes in several different shapes,

each designed to connect to one another, and each shaped to conform to a specific
part of the underside of the car. Most cars have one exhaust system, although
vehicles with eight cylinder engines may have two exhaust systems, one for the
right cylinders and one for the left. In this case, it is significant that both systems
are running efficiently. The exhaust system may essentially consist of the following
components:

EXHAUST MANIFOLD

The exhaust manifold can be made

of steel, aluminum, stainless steel, or more
commonly cast iron. It is attached to the
engine at the cylinder head and collects
engine exhaust gas from multiple cylinders
delivering these emissions to the exhaust
pipe. The manifold also burns any left fuel
that was inadequately burned by the
engine and funnels it down into the main
exhaust system. Due to high temperatures,
excellent oxidation resistance, high-temperature
properties are required.

Exhaust
thermal
Manifold

strength,

fatigue

OXYGEN SENSOR
The oxygen sensor is mounted nearly
the exhaust manifold. It measures how much
oxygen is present in the exhaust and
regulates how much fuel is needed in the
engine to run the car at top performance.
Additionally, this sensor keeps the emissions
in check and alerts the driver when emissions
are too excessive.

Oxygen
Sensor

EXHAUST PIPES
Exhaust pipes are commonly made of steel, stainless steel or aluminized
steel. Aluminized steel and stainless steel are preferable than plain steel because
these two have better corrosion resistance compared to their opposition. The pipes
are used to create an effectively sealed pathway for the exhaust gases. They are
responsible for delivering the burned exhaust gases from the engine and the
exhaust manifold and funneling them towards the cars tailpipe where exhaust
makes its final exit outside the vehicle. There are basically two types of exhaust
pipes: the (a) regular exhaust pipe and (b) the flexible exhaust pipe. The regular
exhaust pipe is solid, typically available in straight lengths, bent configurations and
elbows. On the other hand, the flexible exhaust pipe can be bent with road
conditions and accomodates thermal expansion of the system.

(a) Regular Exhaust

Pipes

(b) Flexible Exhaust

Pipes

CATALYTIC CONVERTER
The catalytic converter is a large metal box mounted between the exhaust
manifold and the muffler. This converter is the most important part of a cars
emission control system. It uses a combination of heat and precious metals to
promote a chemical reaction to convert harmful pollutants into less harmful
emissions before they leave the exhaust system. These harmful emissions are:

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas that is colorless and odorless and
is formed by the combustion of gasolime.
Hydrocarbons or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a major
component of smog produced mostly from evaporated, unburned fuel.
Nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2, together called NOX) are created when the
heat in the engine forces nitrogen in the air to combine with oxygen.

Catalytic
Converter
In the catalytic converter, there are two different types of catalyst at work, a
reduction catalyst and an oxidation catalyst. Both types consist of a ceramic
structure coated with a metal catalyst. The reduction catalyst is the first stage of
the catalytic converter. It uses platinum and rhodium to help reduce the NO X
emissions that are then converted into oxygen gas and nitrogen gas. The second
stage of the catalytic converter is the oxidation catalyst. It reduces the unburned
hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide by burning (oxidizing) the over a platinum and
palladium catalyst. This catalyst aids the reaction of the CO and hydrocarbons with
the remaining oxygen in the exhaust gas.

MUFFLER
The muffler is a device that acts as a silencer to the extremely loud noises of
combustion occurring throughout the exhaust system. It is mounted between the
catalytic converter and tailpipe. Located inside the muffler is a set of tubes. These
tubes called baffles or perforated are designed to create reflected waves that
interfere with each other or cancel each other out dissipating the energy and
reducing the noise. Some mufflers also use fiberglass packing which absorbs the
sound energy as the gases flow through. At the back of the muffler is the resonator
which works best in the frequency range where the engine makes the most noise.
This device calculates the dimensions so that the waves reflected by the resonator
help cancel out certain frequencies of sound in the exhaust. There are several
various design in the construction of engines muffler:

Vector muffler for larger diesel

trucks, uses many concentric cones, or
for
performance
automotive
applications, using angled baffles to
cause exhaust impulses to cancel each
other out.
Spiral baffle muffler for regular
cars, uses a spiral-shaped baffle
system.
Aero turbine muffler creates partial
vacuum at carefully spaced out time
intervals to create negative back
pressure, effectively sucking the
exhaust out of the combustion cylinders.

Muffler
s

TAIL PIPE

The tailpipe is the end of the final length of

exhaust pipe which ends with just a
straight or angled cut where it vents to
open air. The exhaust gases consisting of
less harmful gases along with considerably
low sound waves moves out of the tail pipe
into the atmosphere.

Tail
Pipe

Common Problems In Car Exhaust System

Rust is one of the biggest problems the exhausy system faces. With rust
comes a greater likelihood of cracked or broken exhaust parts causing exhaust leak.
Rust is caused by moisture reacting with the iron in the steel and forming iron oxide.
Moisture, or water vapor is present in the exhaust as a by-product of combustion
and the catalytic converter. Moisture can also come from the outside in the form of
rain. Short trips in a car can cause the water to never get a chance to turn back into
water vapor. The water stays in the system and rusts away the pipes resulting to a

damaged and inefficient exhaust system. Exhaust system leaks can also occur due
to cracks from normal usage.
When an oxygen sensor goes bad, the engine computer doesnt know how to
balance the air-fuel mixture for optimum performance, fuel economy and emissions.
One result is that the computer calls for a mix that is too high on gas and too low on
air, a hotter blend that can clog a catalytic converter. Misfiring spark plugs,
wayward ignition timing and oil or antifreeze in the exhaust system also can
damage catalytic converters. On rare occasions the catalytic coverter will become
clogged and need to be replaced. Symptoms include loss of power, heat coming
from the floor of your car, glowing red converter or a sulfur smell.

References:

How Automotive Exhaust System Works. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/automotive-exhaust-system1.htm
Your Car Exhaust System Explained. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.autorepairkey.com/2011/06/your-car-exhaust-system-explained/
The Exhaust System. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.autoeducation.com/autoshop101/exhaust.htm
Automobile Exhaust System. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.slideshare.net/mayankjaggi1/automobile-exhaust-system28626560