Removal of SO{sub 2} and NO{sub x} using a pulsed streamer corona discharge process

Conference · Sun Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1997

OSTI ID:478188

Lee, Y K; Mok, Y S; Ham, S W

Global warming, air pollution and acid rain are now recognized as serious environmental problems. SO{sub 2} and NO{sub x} causing acid rain are emitted from many sources, including coal-burning power plants, iron and steel plants, paper mills, and automobile exhaust. The most common process for DeSO{sub 2} is absorption using lime or limestone which requires disposal of gypsum and treatment of waste water, and the most advanced DeNO{sub x} process is selective catalytic reduction using expensive catalyst. Although these processes are currently used, development of effective techniques for simultaneous DeSO{sub 2} and DeNO{sub x} is necessary with respect to investment and operational costs. Pulsed streamer corona discharge process as a non-thermal plasma technique is considered to be a cost-effective process to remove SO{sub 2} and NO{sub x} simultaneously. Pulsed streamer corona discharge process is based on corona discharge that produces high energy electrons, radicals, ions and excited molecules converting SO{sub 2} and NO{sub x} into collectable aerosols. Since this process has the same wire-plate electrode arrangement as in an electrostatic precipitator, an electrostatic precipitator can be used for this process with a slight retrofit. This study describes the present status of the process development in the field of DeSO{sub 2} and DeNO{sub x}. To evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of the process, pilot-scale tests should be carried out. The results suggest that this process will be applicable to flue gas purification. However, several problems regarding a scale-up should be solved before commercialization, and the technical solutions should be found for the problems anticipated in the retrofit of existing electrostatic precipitators. As well, commercial application of this process requires the improvement of pulsing technology to increase the pulse peak voltage, decrease its width and increase the lifetime of pulse generation switch.

• OSTI ID: 478188
• Report Number(s): CONF-961173--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CORONA DISCHARGES
DENITRIFICATION
DESULFURIZATION
ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATORS
FLUE GAS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PULSE TECHNIQUES