Catalitic Converter into power??

[Orefus]

well i have this theory, the catalitic convereter burns excess hydro carbons, but couldnt you use the small hydro carbons for power like maybe a jet engine?

Also catalitic converters create heat energy, cant you some how use that?

[BjD]

They dont burn excess hydrocarbons, catalysts can't withstand the presence of significant quantities of unburned fuel in the exhaust so the fuel injection system is designed to run damn near stoichiometric ie enough air so that all the fuel is burnt. Otherwise the fuel burning in the exhaust would overheat the cat. What small amount of hydrocarbon emission enters the cat wouldnt produce a significant amount of power.

Catalysts do produce heat but need to run hot for the required chemical reactions to take place.

[KnifeEdge_2K1]

catalytic converters do nothing with extra hydrocarbons, they're designed to eliminiate nitrogen oxides (not nos u noobs) NOx which dissociate under presence of uv light into nitrogen and ozone, ozone at ground level is harmful to your health :P

atleast that's how i remember it :P