Non-thermal plasma remediation of SO2/NO using a dielectric-barrier discharge

Here we report the experimental and simulation results of removal of SO2 and NO from a simulated coal combustion gas using a dielectric-barrier discharge. A Monte Carlo calculation is done to determine the transport properties of the flue gas. Following this, a detailed plasma chemistry calculation is done which takes into account the pulsed nature of the dielectric-barrier discharge. The computed results are in good agreement with the experimental data. We find that in low concentrations (400 ppm for SO2 and 100 ppm for NO) the dielectric-barrier discharge was capable of removing 99% of the SO2 and NO. Due to temperature dependence of the heavy particle reactions, there is a decrease in NO removal as the energy density is increased past an optimum value. (C) 1996 American Institute of Physics.