Removal of nitric oxide in flue gases by multi-point to plane dielectric barrier discharge

An experimental study on the removal of NO/sub x/ in flue gas has been carried out using plasma chemical reactions in a dielectric barrier discharge. A multipoint-to-plane geometry is used for the electrode used to lower the operating voltage. The effect of the multipoint electrode configuration on the characteristics of a discharge and NO/sub x/ removal has been investigated. Plasma is produced in a narrow gap by a dielectric barrier discharge at low applied voltage with sinusoidal waveform of 23 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 /spl mu/J/point at 2.7 kV. In regard to the multipoint electrode configuration, the consumed energy can be increased by reducing the angle of the point. However, the energy efficiency of NO removal becomes small if the point angle is small. It also decreases 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 completely depleted by the multipoint-to-plane barrier discharge for electrical load below 35% of the rated output.