What is a thermal reactor?
An exhaust manifold specially designed to sustain the combustion process, which reduces emissions of unburned hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide. An air pump is used to supply additional oxygen via nozzles or orifices at the exhaust ports. The inner portion is shaped to induce additional turbulence, maintain high temperature, and retard flow to the exit, giving unburned fuel additional time and means to oxidize, thus reducing unwanted emissions. Thermal reactors were the first commercially implemented emission control devices to work directly upon the exhaust, developed before catalytic converters were technologically feasible. At the time introduced, 1970 for Mazda rotaries, they were considered advanced technology. Mazda began using catalytic converters for Japanese and US 1981 models, but continued using thermal reactors in various other markets until introducing the 2nd generation RX-7.
