NOX reduction aftertreatment system using nitrogen nonthermal plasma desorption

In the flue emission from an internal combustion system using diffusing combustion such as coal or oil fuel boiler, incinerator, or diesel engine, around 10% oxygen is usually included. It is difficult to reduce the NOx in the emission completely using catalysts or plasma alone because part of the NO is oxidized under an O-2-rich environment. In order to overcome these difficulties, we proposed a new aftertreatment system of NOx included in the exhaust gas of the combustion system using nonthermal plasma (NTP) desorption and reduction. In this system, exchangeable adsorbent columns are equipped. First, the exhaust gas including NOx is adsorbed to an NOx adsorbent for a period of Delta t(a). After the period of Delta t(a), the path of the exhaust gas is changed with a pair of rotary valves and NOx adsorbent is changed. The adsorbed NOx is desorbed from the adsorbent and reduced by applying NTP for a period of Delta t(d) using N-2 or low-oxygen-concentration gas. The exhaust gas is always kept clean by the exchange of adsorbent. Further, total electric energy can be reduced because NTP is not applied for Delta t(a). This system can be operated at atmospheric temperature because no catalyst is used. As an initial step to realize such kind of aftertreatment system, the basic characteristics of the N-2 NTP desorption and NOx reduction were examined experimentally using a pulse corona NTP reactor. After several adsorption/desorption processes, the amount of NOx adsorbed becomes equal to that of the NOx desorbed, that is, all the NO, was desorbed in a single desorption process. It is confirmed that the NOx complete reduction using N-2 NTP desorption is possible not only for a simulated exhaust gas but for a real diesel engine gas. The effective specific energy density can be decreased down to 22 Wh/m(3).