NOx Decomposition by DC Positive Streamer Corona Using Reticulated Vitreous Carbon and Tungsten Wire High Voltage Electrodes

The removal of nitric oxide (with various inlet concentrations) from gas mixtures consisting of N₂, O₂, CO₂, water vapor, and ethanol was studied using electric discharge reactors using either reticulated vitreous carbon (RVC) or tungsten (W) wire as high voltage electrodes and a stainless steel grounded plate. A positive streamer corona was generated by a DC power supply and stabilized by the addition of CO₂ and H₂O to the reactor. NO removal of 100% (100 ppm NO leading to 60 ppm NO₂) required approximately 30 J/L (with 33 g/kWh NO removal) in the W-wire reactor while in the RVC reactor 45 J/L was required to remove 100% NO with 40 ppm NO₂ formation. Ethanol vapor addition into the W-wire discharge reactor reduced the energy cost over the RVC reactor by 45%.