Removal of nitric oxide in flue gases by multipoint to plane dielectric barrier discharge

An experimental study on the removal of NO, in flue gas has been carried ou t using plasma chemical reactions in a dielectric barrier discharge. A mult ipoint-to-plane geometry is used for electrode to lower the operating volta ge. The effect of the multipoint electrode configuration on the characteris tics of a discharge and NO, removal has been investigated. Plasma is produc ed in a narrow gap by a dielectric barrier discharge at low applied voltage with sinusoidal waveform of 2-3 kV rms Specific energy to reduce NO is 63 eV. Electric energy consumed in the discharge increases linearly with area of multipoint electrode, and is approximately 1 mu J/point at 2.7 kV. In re gard to the multipoint electrode configuration, the consumed energy can be increased by making angle of the point small. However, the energy efficienc y of NO removal becomes small if the point angle is small. It also decrease s with reducing the number of points per unit area. In regard to treatment of exhaust gas from a diesel engine generator (20 kVA), NO can be almost co mpletely depleted by the multipoint-to-plane barrier discharge for electric al load below 35% of the rated output.