PRE-RELEASE
Detailed description
| Detailed description |
The crankcase gases formed are first passed to an oil trap integrated in the timing cover where the gases are separated from the oil. The oil runs back to the engine oil pan while the gases are passed to the engine cylinders.
The crankcase ventilation system works in two different ways, depending on whether the engine is working at low or high load.
Function, low engine load
At low engine load, the pressure in the intake manifold is relatively low and a strong negative pressure predominates. The crankcase gases are passed from the oil trap via a duct in the cylinder head to a check valve fitted in the intake manifold. From the check valve the gases are passed through a duct which opens into the intake manifold. In the intake manifold the crankcase gases are mixed with the intake air and passed into the engine cylinders where they are burned.
Function, high engine load
At high engine load, the pressure in the engine intake manifold is relatively high. There is therefore no reduced pressure which can draw the crankcase gases into the intake manifold. The check valve in this case is closed. The crankcase gases are passed from the oil trap via a hose to the turbo inlet, where reduced pressure predominates. Here the crankcase gases are mixed with the turbo intake air and passed to the engine cylinders via the engine intake manifold.
| Evaporative emission system |
General
Hydrocarbons from fuel evaporation in the fuel tank are passed through a pipe to a carbon filter and stored there. The fuel vapours are drawn through the evap canister purge valve into the engine and burned. The purge valve is controlled by the engine control module and the flow adjusted so that it always accounts for a specific proportion of the total flow which is consumed by the engine.
For further information on the purge valve and its control system, see Trionic T8.
Evaporative emission canister
The evaporative emission canister consists of a container filled with active charcoal, the purpose of which is to store temporarily the fuel vapours from the tank. The container has connections for an inlet from the tank and an outlet to the purge valve, and there is also a fresh air opening. Air is drawn in through the opening via the active charcoal to the intake manifold.
To prevent carbon powder penetrating the evap canister purge valve and causing a leak, the evaporative emission canister has a fine-mesh sieve in the upper part.
Emptying the evaporative emission canister
When the engine is started, ambient air is drawn through the evaporative emission canister via the purge valve and a check valve into the intake manifold. The fuel vapours follow and are burned in the engine. To prevent flow in the wrong direction, a check valve is included in the system.
| Catalytic converter |
The catalytic converter consists of a ceramic carrier coated with a porous layer containing the catalytic materials rhodium and platinum.
The catalytic converter has a high conversion rate within a very narrow range. If the fuel-air mixture is not kept within this range, one or more gases will inevitably exceed the permitted values. A closed loop fuel injection system guarantees that the fuel-air mixture remains correct.
Assuming that the closd loop fuel injection system gives optimum fuel-air mixture conditions, the catalytic converter reduces nitrous oxides (NO x ) and oxidises carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons (HC). The end products are carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), water (H 2 O) and nitrogen (N 2 ).
The condition for a catalytic converter to reduce emissions is that a car is only filled with lead-free petrol. This is because lead will destroy the active elements of the catalytic converter.
| Closed loop fuel injection system. |
General
The system is regulated electronically by two oxygen sensors placed in the exhaust pipe before and after the catalytic converter. The car has a catalytic converter which contains an insert made of ceramic. The insert walls are coated with a catalytic material, platinum and rhodium. The catalytic converter has a high conversion rate within a very narrow range. If the fuel-air mixture is not kept within this range, called lambda 1, one or more gases will inevitably exceed the permitted values. A closed loop fuel injection system guarantees that the fuel-air mixture always remains correct.
Assuming that the closed loop fuel injection system gives optimum fuel-air mixture conditions, where the carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons (HC) are oxidised, the catalytic converter can also reduce the quantity of nitrous oxides (NOx). The end products are carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), water (H 2 O) and nitrogen (N 2 ). The condition for a catalytic converter to reduce emissions is that a car is only filled with lead-free petrol. This is because lead will destroy the active elements of the catalytic converter.
Oxygen sensor
The oxygen sensor consists of a primary cell with solid electrolyte. The electrolyte is a ceramic (zirconium dioxide (Z r O 2 )) and the temperature is stabilised by the addition of a small quantity of yttrium oxide (Y 2 O 3 ). The electrolyte is tubular and hollowed out at one end.
To function well, the catalytic converter needs an air/fuel ratio of precisely 14.7:1.
When the engine runs lean, the oxygen content in the exhaust gases increases and the oxygen sensor output voltage is then around 0.1 V (lambda over 1). The engine control module responds by extending the injection time.
When the engine runs rich, the oxygen sensor output voltage is around 0.9 V (lambda under 1) and the injection pulses are shortened.
The working range of the oxygen sensor is between 200°C and 850°C (392°F - 1562°F) and it is therefore fitted with electric preheating. The preheating is controlled by the system control module. At high load and high engine speed, the exhaust gas temperature is high and preheating is disconnected.
For further information on the closed loop system see Group 2 “Engine control system”.
