| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently purify exhaust gases by emitting and diffusing ultraviolet(UV) rays to the inside of a light transmissive catalyst carrier from an UV ray radiating means, efficiently radiate a photocatalyst deposited in the whole body of the catalyst carrier, and drawing the strongly oxidizing function of all of the photocatalyst while avoiding vain use. SOLUTION: A front catalyst converter 5 comprises a tubular body cover 11 with a widened diameter in a middle of an exhaust gas pipe 2 and a photocatalyst carrier 15 and three optical fibers 3 having one end parts supported by a heat resistant ring 12 and the carrier and the fibers are installed in the part with a widened diameter. The other end parts of the optical fibers 13 are connected with a light source part 14 provided with a UV ray radiating lamp in an engine room. The UV lamp is operated when the exhaust gas temperature is lower than a prescribed value at the time of starting the engine. The catalyst carrier 15 has a honeycomb structure cylindrical body and layers of a photocatalyst formed to be flat and having strongly oxidizing function by radiation of UV rays L on the surfaces of respective exhaust gas passing routes partitioned from one another by partitioning walls W. Except the front side, the outer circumferential part of the carrier 15 is treated for light reflection, so that UV rays L most efficiently enter the carrier and are diffused in the carrier and draw the strongly oxidizing function out of all of the photocatalyst and consequently, an exhaust gas is efficiently purified. |
