| abstract |
An improved non-thermal plasma treatment method and apparatus provide for the pretreatment of nitric oxide-bearing exhaust gas with ethanol, either by vapor absorption or direct vapor injection. Advantageously, the high vapor pressure of ethanol permits a significant portion of the ethanol to be absorbed. Moreover, the solubility of ethanol permits the ethanol to be readily scrubbed from the exhaust gas, along with the nitrogen dioxides converted from the nitric oxides. The non-thermal plasma apparatus comprises a non-thermal plasma reactor having a chamber which provides a plurality of electrodes. The apparatus further comprises an inlet and an outlet connected to the reaction chamber, permitting the exhaust gas to enter and leave the chamber. In one embodiment, the inlet is further connected to a diverter equipped with an injector, which diverts a portion of the gas stream through the ethanol bath before reinjecting the ethanol-bearing gas stream into the inlet. In another embodiment, the inlet is equipped with an injector which receives a supply of ethanol that is sprayed directly into the gas stream. A reservoir stores the ethanol which is delivered to the injector by a metered pump. The apparatus may also include a scrubber and a stack. |