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ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
SILENCER BASICS
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Introduction to the Concept of Internal Painting of Silencers
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Parts of a Silencer
During the exhaust cycle the flue gases which normally contains un-burnt
hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide- CO (due to incomplete combustion of fuel), carbon
dioxide- CO2 (from complete combustion of fuel), oxides of nitrogen- NO x, oxides of
Sulphur - SO/SO2 (due to sulphur content present in the fuel), water-H 2O , compounds
of lead (Pb).
When the engine runs, the transmitted hot air has a temp 100°C to
400°C in various zones. The function of the silencer works better under the hot
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Introduction to the Concept of Internal Painting of Silencers
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condition as there is hardly any accumulation and condensation of flue gases. However,
after the engine stops and the silencer cools to normal ambient temperature there is
condensation of the residual fumes and this initiates the corrosion on the internal
surface of the silencer. The water vapor (H2O) and oxides of sulphur SO/SO2 from the
flue gasses react forming low concentrated sulphuric acid (H2SO4) which is highly
corrosive and attacks the welded areas first. This weakens the welding strength and
affect the steel material causing the pit marks, which leads to formation of holes or
clear apertures.
This in turn reduces the functional life of the silencer due to lot of leakage
current of gases and increases noise pollution. At the same time the initial corrosion
accelerate further due to more attacks during the heating and cooling cycles of the
condensation of the acid fumes. Moisture can also come from the outside in the form of
rain.
It has been discovered that the silencer of the vehicle with more working
duration period has longer life because the condensation of the acid fumes are less
owing to the high temperature and turbulence. However in the vehicles operating for
short duration and longer rest periods are more prone to corrosion because the acid
fumes obtained from the exhaust gas reactions get time to condense and hence
condense for longer duration and amount. On a short trip the water never has a chance
to get hot enough to turn back into water vapor and just stays in the system and rusts
away the pipes. (9)
1. As mentioned earlier, when the vehicle is not running the acid droplets formed by
the chemical reaction of the exhaust gases, starts condensing or accumulating on the
inner side of the silencer. So the metal surface of the silencer starts rusting in the
absence of any protective layer. This weakens the welds and causes pits and holes
and ultimately the baffle breaks away indicating complete silencer failure. The
protective layer of paint will prevent this due to its anti corrosion properties.
2. Noise muffling capacity of the silencer is reduced by corrosion because it causes
prominent holes and pits in the welded areas which causes the leakage of sound
wave without destructive interference. Sometimes the weld becomes so weak that
the baffles and pipes inside the silencers become loose and starts vibrating under the
impact of gases. This causes unpleasant noise and failure of silencer.
3. Owing to corrosion in the silencer the perforations of pipes inside it may get
chocked and prevent smooth passage of gases which will increase back pressure on
the engine reducing its efficiency.
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Introduction to the Concept of Internal Painting of Silencers
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The heat resistant paint to be utilized for painting should be able to satisfy following
criteria,
1. Good etching properties. (So that paint adheres to surface quickly and firmly.)
2. Resistant to acid attacks.
3. Sufficient resistance to alkali attacks.
4. Good heat resistance to avoid being affected by hot flue gases and to prevent the
peel off effect.
The classes of paint according to temperature they can withstand are:
Class I: Up to 250 °C
Class II: 250 °C - 350°C
Class III: Up to 450°C and above.
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Introduction to the Concept of Internal Painting of Silencers
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Spray painting: This method is good for external surfaces. It is not suitable for
internal painting of silencer as
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Introduction to the Concept of Internal Painting of Silencers
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1. Owing to the arrangement of tubes and baffles we cannot insert the spray gun inside
the silencer. Thus the paint cannot reach inside the chambers making this method
unsuitable for this application.
2. For spray painting, a painting containing slower evaporating solvents must be used
which may hamper proper drying of paint and thereby a uniform coat may not be
achieved in the interior parts of silencer.
3. The paint used for spray painting must have lower viscosity, but heat resistant paint
is of high viscosity.
Electroless Plating (EN): It is a chemical reduction process which depends upon the
catalytic reduction process of nickel ions in an aqueous solution (containing a chemical
reducing agent) and the subsequent deposition of nickel metal without the use of
electrical energy. Uniformity of the deposits, even on complex shapes, irregularly
shaped objects, holes, recesses, internal surfaces, valves or threaded parts is the
advantage of this process. This process may seem to serve our purpose, its overriding
costs is the main stumbling block towards the adoption of this technique.
Dipping: It is one of the low cost methods of applying paint coating in which the
articles to be coated are completely immersed in tanks containing the paint. This
method is not suitable for current application as
1. The external surface of the silencer is also unnecessarily coated.
2. Articles should be lowered in the dip tanks fairly slowly to prevent paint splash,
air- bubble formation and carrying entrapped air into the paint, later two may
increase oxidation and solvent evaporation.
3. To obtain satisfactory dip finishes it is necessary to have slow withdrawal of the
articles from dip tanks. There needs a proper balance of speed of production and the
quality of finish desired. (3)
Flow Coating: This method of application involves a solid stream of paint from a
nozzle resembling the spray of water from a hose. Because air is not mixed in; there is
no atomization as in regular spray painting. The arrangement of nozzles, amount of
paint used per article is calculated to have efficient use of paint. The excess paint is
collected and again sent to the main reservoir though filter to be used again. Also this
method overcomes the losses occurring in case of spray painting. Accommodating
some modification this method is found suitable for internal painting of silencers. This
is explained in detail later.
1. In a silencer, after assembly, only tail pipe is available for paint filling and there is
no air vent if CAT is masked. To achieve this, a modification is done in silencer in the
form of a drilled hole on the cover plate near inlet pipe. It serves the purpose as an air
vent as well as helps in proper circulation of air to remove solvent fumes while baking.
This hole can also be used for sending in compressed air for fast draining of paint
instead of using gravity. After painting has been done this can be closed by nut with
asbestos washer or by welding. The diameter of vent hole if required can be reduced.
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Introduction to the Concept of Internal Painting of Silencers
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Masking of CAT
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Introduction to the Concept of Internal Painting of Silencers
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This concept involves the covering of the CAT prior to assembly. The kind of material
to be used must withstand a temperature of 1200C but melt at around 1800C and
pressure of 2 bar due to forced paint filling. This is because drying after pretreatment is
done at 1200C, while baking is done at around 1800C and hence, it is expected that it
should retain its characteristics in the temperature range of 120-1800C.
The advantages are
1. There is no interference in the already established assembly line.
2. Testing of silencer for leakages is to be done once only.
3. Inlet pipe and CAT sub-assembly is not to be painted separately.
Disadvantages
1. An extra operation is added for masking of CAT in production line of silencer.
2. Modification in the cover plate is needed as explained before.
CONSTRUCTION OF SPM
1. Upper paint tank: As shown in the fig. upper paint tank is a tank of capacity 50
liters. This is so placed to provide a sufficient head for paint filling.
2. Collection tank: This tank is placed at the bottom to collect the excess paint from
the upper paint tank as well as the paint after drain off from the silencers. It is covered
from the top to minimize inclusion of dust or any other foreign matter.
3. Pump: It is used to pump the paint from collection tank to upper paint tank through
the paint up pipe. It has a filter at its inlet to filter out the foreign matter from entering
the upper tank. It is made to operate in such order that, after one cycle of filling the
silencers is completed and valves are closed, it starts filling the upper tank.
4. Agitator: The liquid paint in contact with the atmosphere tends to oxidize and
starts to set at the top. To prevent this agitator is used to create turbulence and avoid
paint settlement.
5. Over flow Pipe: In order to achieve proper height of paint in the silencer, correct
height of paint in the upper paint tank is to be maintained every time paint is to be
filled in the silencers. The level is maintained at such a height to perform the
aforementioned function. When the pump fills in paint from the collection tank, as soon
as the required level is achieved, the over flow pipe comes into operation and any
excess paint coming henceforth is sent back to the collection tank.
6. Distribution Pipe: It performs the function of distributing the paint coming from
the upper tank to the 8 nozzles for filling up the silencers. It has valves provided at its 8
outlets. Also it has a 3-way valve to direct the paint either towards the nozzles or
towards the collection tank.
7. Painting Nozzle: Painting nozzle is used to produce a stream of paint to fill up the
silencers. It connected to the tail pipe of the silencer. Number of nozzles can be
provided after making height adjustment in the overflow pipe..
8. Silencer holding fixture: This fixture is designed to be foolproof, capable of
holding the silencer only in a position that it remains vertical and the tail pipe is open
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Introduction to the Concept of Internal Painting of Silencers
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Introduction to the Concept of Internal Painting of Silencers
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FULLY ASSEMBLED
SILENCER
DEGREASING BAKING
INTERNAL PAINTING
ACID CLEANING
OF SILENCER
MASKING OF CATALYTIC
WATER RINSE CONVERTER
PHOSPHATING
COMPLETE DRY OFF
DRYING OF PAINT
Surface coatings are applied in liquid or paste form and must become solid to
fill their proper functions of protection. The transition of these liquids or pastes to
solids or semisolids is called “drying”. Drying operations are classified as air drying
force drying and baking according to the temperature at which they are conducted.
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Introduction to the Concept of Internal Painting of Silencers
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The method of drying and time and temperature used for a given operation
depend on various factors such as the surface to be finished, coating to be applied and
the drying equipment available.
Hot air ovens: The silencers after flash off are put into the oven and baked at 180- 250
C for about 10-15 minutes. Attempt is being made toward shorter, higher bakes for
higher production rates. To achieve this some paints containing heat-stable pigments
and vehicles are being formulated to bake at around 300C. There should be proper
circulation of dust-free to maintain uniform temperature and to replace solvent vapors
by fresh air.
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Introduction to the Concept of Internal Painting of Silencers
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REFERENCES
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Introduction to the Concept of Internal Painting of Silencers