Multiparametric investigation on NOx removal from simulated diesel exhaust with hydrocarbons by pulsed corona discharge

The influence of temperature and hydrocarbon additives on NOx removal and CO production has been studied by numerical modelling and process experiments for a synthetic gas mixture consisting of N-2, O-2, H2O and CO2 in a pulsed corona reactor. The NO reduction of more than 99% was achieved at the energy cost of similar to14 eV per NO molecule in the presence of 550 ppm C3H6 additive at T=393 K. The simulated results agree well with the experimental data measured in the NO and NOx removal and C2H4 and C3H6 decomposition. Within a limited framework of non-uniform modelling approach, the temperature effect on the streamer nature discharge has been taken into account. Main reaction paths for the C2H4 and C3H6 decomposition and leading reactions of NOx conversion, CO, CH2O, CH3CHO productions are presented. Calculated concentrations of some by-products are given. The effect of the C3H6 + O reaction on the NOx oxidation and C3H6 decomposition using several channels and their rate constants taken from the literature has been examined numerically. The best fitting data for the C3H6 + O reaction are chosen.