NOx Decomposition by DC Positive Streamer Corona Using Reticulated Vitreous Carbon and Tungsten Wire High Voltage Electrodes 2002-01-1661

The removal of nitric oxide (with various inlet concentrations) from gas mixtures consisting of N₂, O₂, CO₂, water vapor, and ethanol was studied using electric discharge reactors using either reticulated vitreous carbon (RVC) or tungsten (W) wire as high voltage electrodes and a stainless steel grounded plate. A positive streamer corona was generated by a DC power supply and stabilized by the addition of CO₂ and H₂O to the reactor. NO removal of 100% (100 ppm NO leading to 60 ppm NO₂) required approximately 30 J/L (with 33 g/kWh NO removal) in the W-wire reactor while in the RVC reactor 45 J/L was required to remove 100% NO with 40 ppm NO₂ formation. Ethanol vapor addition into the W-wire discharge reactor reduced the energy cost over the RVC reactor by 45%.