Study of NO/NOx removal from flue gas contained fly ash and water vapor by pulsed corona discharge

In this paper, the removal effects of flue gas contained fly ash and water vapor on NO and NOx (NO+NO2) by pulsed corona discharge are studied. It is found that the effect of adsorption and removal of the fly ash from flue gas on NO and NOx is 2–4%, and at the same time the fly ash on the pulsed corona discharge has a restraining function and therefore the removal efficiencies of NO and NOx are reduced. The influences of the water vapor concentration on the chemical adsorption ability of fly ashʹs surface and the removal efficiencies of NO and NOx are also investigated. When the water vapor concentration is increased, the chemical adsorption ability of fly ashʹs surface is strengthened. When the water vapor concentration reaches 15% (V/V) and the input energy per unit volume of flue gas is less than 3 W h/Nm3 (1 Nm3 gas is defined as 1 m3 gas under normality, one atmosphere, 273.15 K), the removal efficiencies of NO and NOx can be improved by 5–15%. When the flue gas residence time is 5.9 s in the reactor and the input energy per unit volume of flue gas is less than 4 W h/Nm3, the removal efficiencies of NO and NOx are 42% and 29% respectively. The results of this study are significant for the industrial application of the removal of NO and NOx by pulsed corona discharge.