Economic study of the tunable electron beam plasma reactor for volatile organic compound treatment

A tunable electron beam generated plasma system has been developed for sele ctive cold plasma treatment of dilute concentrations (1-3,000 ppm range) of hazardous compounds in gaseous waste treatment. This system, referred to a s the Tunable Hybrid Plasma (THP), has shown a high degree of efficiency an d effectiveness in both laboratory and field tests. Decomposition energy re quirements are in the 100 eV per molecule range for treatment of carbon tet rachloride and 10 eV for treatment of trichloroethylene. A cost comparison has been made between the Tunable Hybrid Plasma (THP) tec hnology and three conventional technologies used for emission control of vo latile organic compounds (VOCs): granular activated carbon, thermal inciner ation, and catalytic oxidation. In addition to its environmentally attracti ve features, THP technology has the potential to be lower cost than other t echnologies over a range of concentrations and flow rates. Cost projections for the THP system for decomposition of trichloroethylene are around 50 ce nts/lb for initial concentrations in the few hundred ppm range and flow rat es of 5,000 cfm or greater and around $1/lb for 1,000 cfm flow rates. Cost projections for carbon tetrachloride and trichloroethane decomposition usin g the THP technology are several dollars per pound. The costs for THP treat ment are generally significantly lower than costs for use of granular activ ated carbon and are also quite competitive with costs for thermal incinerat ion and catalytic oxidation.