System for sensing catalyst coating loss and efficiency

A method for determining when a catalyst coating containing MnO2 applied as a thin layer to the fins of a vehicular radiator ceases to remove ozone from atmospheric air passing through the radiator during the life of the radiator, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a light source and a light detector adjacent to the radiator;
• b) directing light from the light source against at least a portion of a given radiator section;
• c) sensing the light from the light source after it strikes the given radiator section by the light detector;
• d) determining from the intensity of the signal outputted by the light detector whether the light is incident upon the catalyst coating or the radiator section initially underlying the catalyst coating;
• and,
• e) outputting a warning signal if the detector signal indicates the light is incident upon the radiator section initially underlying the catalyst.

A method for determining when a catalyst coating containing MnO2 applied as a thin layer to the fins of a vehicular radiator ceases to remove ozone from atmospheric air passing through the radiator during the life of the radiator, the method comprising the steps of

• providing an insulated conductor having insulation partially removed over an exposed section thereof so that the exposed section has insulation over a portion thereof while the conductor is exposed over the remaining portion of the exposed section;
• embedding the insulated conductor within the catalyst coating so that the conductor insulation is in contact with a radiator section and the exposed portion of the conductor section is embedded within and contacts only the catalyst coating;
• connecting an electrical power source between the insulated conductor and the radiator so that an electrical circuit extending from the power source through the electrical conductor and catalyst coating to the radiator exists;
• and,
• sensing the electrical circuit to determine when a set change in a circuit characteristic selected from the group consisting of i) voltage, ii) resistance, and iii) current occurs;
• and,
• outputting a warning signal when the set change has been sensed.

A method for determining when a catalyst coating containing MnO2 applied as a thin layer to the fins of a vehicular radiator ceases to effectively remove ozone from atmospheric air passing through the radiator during the life of the radiator, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a light source and a light detector adjacent to a radiator face;
• b) directing light from the light source against at least a portion of a given radiator section;
• c) sensing the light from the light source after it strikes the given radiator section by the light detector;
• d) determining if the intensity of the signal outputted by the light detector is within a set range correlated to the efficiency at which the catalyst coating removes ozone;
• and,
• e) outputting a warning signal if the detector signal indicates the incident light signal is within the set range.

A method for determining if an ozone depletion system is functioning to remove ozone from atmospheric air, the ozone depletion system including a catalyst containing MnO2 applied as a coating to a heat exchange surface comprising the acts of:

• a) sensing a physical characteristic of the catalyst coating which is different than the heat exchange surface;
• b) comparing the sensed physical characteristic to a set threshold;
• and,
• c) activating a warning when the set threshold is exceeded.

A method for determining the catalytic activity of a catalyst applied to a substrate over which a stream of fluid contacting the catalyst flows, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a sensor for sensing electrical or light phenomena and generating signals indicative of a physical characteristic of the catalyst;
• b) setting a threshold against which the sensor signals are compared, the threshold indicative of the chemical conversion efficiency at which the catalyst reacts with the fluid stream when the catalyst normally ages to approach a steady state conversion efficiency;
• c) determining from the deviation between the sensor signal and the threshold signal when the sensor signal drops below the threshold signal the quantity of catalyst present on the substrate;
• and
• d) activating a warning when the quantity of catalyst present, as determined in step (c) drops below a set value.

In a system for removing ozone from the atmosphere passing over a heated object in the engine compartment of a vehicle, the improvement comprising:

• a) an ozone depleting catalyst applied to said heated object so that a portion of said atmosphere passing through said engine compartment contacts said ozone removing catalyst;
• b) a sensor associated with said heated object for sensing a physical characteristic of said ozone removing catalyst, said physical characteristic selected from the group consisting of electrical conductivity, electromagnetic radiation absorption, electromagnetic radiation emission and electromagnetic radiation transmission;
• and,
• c) a warning indicator in said vehicle actuated when said sensor output deviates beyond a set limit whereby the ability of the ozone depleting catalyst to remove ozone from said atmosphere is established by sensing said physical characteristic of said ozone depleting catalyst.

A system for removing ozone from atmosphere passing through a radiator having fins in a vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine comprising:

• a) an ozone depleting catalyst applied to said radiator including alpha-manganese dioxides having a molar ratio of oxygen to manganese of from 1 to 2 and a surface area on said fins of at least 100 m2/g;
• b) a sensor associated with said radiator measuring a physical characteristic of said ozone depleting catalyst selected from the group consisting of electrical conductivity, electromagnetic radiation absorption, electromagnetic radiation emission and electromagnetic radiation transmission;
• and,
• c) a warning indicator in said vehicle actuated when said sensor output deviates beyond a set limit whereby the ability of said ozone depleting catalyst to remove ozone from said atmosphere as said catalyst ages is established by sensing said physical characteristic of said ozone depleting catalyst.