title: Control of nitric oxide, nitrous oxide, and ammonia emissions using microwave plasmas
abstract: The subject of this paper is mitigation of the undesirable side-effects of selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR) and selective catalytic reduction (SCR): ammonia slip, residual NO(x), and N(2)O emissions. The use of microwave-plasma discharge within the flue gas was explored as a potential pollution-control method. The key issues addressed were: (1) N(2)O, NH(3), and NO removal efficiencies; and (2) sustaining a stable plasma at atmospheric, or close to atmospheric, pressure. In non-oxidizing atmospheres, removal efficiencies were always close to 100% for all species. In the presence of oxygen, however, appreciable amounts of nitric oxide and ammonia were formed. Methods leading to preventing these undesirable effects were examined. In a number of runs, stable plasma operation was attained at pressures close to atmospheric.
authors.affiliation: Advanced Fuel Research, 87 Church Street, East Hartford, CT, USA.
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Wojtowicz
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Miknis
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Grimes
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Serio