NO/sub 2/ removal by magnetic field enhanced plasma reactor

Summary form only given. Large quantities of Carbon Oxides (CO/sub x/), Sulfide Oxides (SO/sub x/), and Nitride Oxides (NO/sub x/) are the main cause for acid rains, photochemical smog and greenhouse effects. The energetic free electron induced plasma process is one of the most effective methods of reducing SO/sub x/, NO/sub x/ and CO/sub 2/ from industrial flue gases. This paper describes the development of the magnetic field enhanced plasma reactor for dissociation of atmospheric pollutant gases by a corona discharge. The reactor consists of two coaxial, specially designed cylindrical electrodes. The inner electrode possesses many sharpened pyramids in order to initiate corona electric discharge. A dielectric barrier (2 mm thick Pyrex glass tube) is positioned between the coaxial electrodes. An AC barrier corona discharge at atmospheric pressure is generated by application of high voltage to the inner electrode while the outer electrode is grounded. The discharge current originating from the inner electrode sharp points flows in a radial direction through the glass tube wall and terminates at the grounded outer electrode. Discharge by-products of gas mixtures of N/sub 2/ and NO/sub 2/ (0.3%) are measured by a mass spectrometer in order to investigate the effect of a surface multidipole magnetic fields on the corona discharge and on the pollutant gas reduction.