Effect of various hydrocarbons on the plasma DeNOx process 2001-01-3515

Effect of various hydrocarbons on the plasma DeNO_x process in simulated diesel engine operating conditions is investigated experimentally and theoretically. This paper shows the results of an extensive series of experiments on the NO_x conversion effect of various hydrocarbons (methane, ethene, propene, propane) in the plasma. The effects of energy density, temperature, and the initial concentrations of hydrocarbon and oxygen are discussed and the results for each hydrocarbon are compared with one another. The energy required to convert one NO molecule is measured 13.8eV, 16.1eV, 23.2eV, 45.6eV for propene, ethene, propane, methane, respectively when energy density of 25.4J/L is delivered to the mixture of 10% O₂, base N₂ with 440ppm NO and 500ppm hydrocarbon at 473K, while it is 143.2eV without hydrocarbon. The best NO_x conversion effect of propene among the mentioned hydrocarbons is due to the highest reaction rates of propene with O and OH. The second is ethene, the third propane, and the last is methane that has the lowest reaction rate.