Non-thermal Plasma Process for simultaneous removal of SO₂/NOx from a Sintering Plant of Steel Works

For the simultaneous removal of $SO_2$/NOx from an iron-ore sintering plant, industrial plasma experiments have been conducted with a flue gas flow rate of $5,000Nm^3/hr$. The maximum 40kW power using the magnetic pulse compression (MPC) system generates a peak value of 100-150kV pulse voltage with its risetime of 200nsec and full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 500nsec, and with a frequency <300Hz. The plasma reactor module adopts a wire-plate structure with a gap of 200-400mm ID between plates. Initial concentrations of $SO_2$ and NOx were around 100-150ppm, respectively in the presence of 15% $O_2$ and <10% $H_2O$. Various reaction parameters such as specific energy ($Whr/Nm^3$), $NH_3$ injection with corona discharge, flow rate and injection of hydrocarbons were investigated for $SO_2$/NOx removal characteristics. About 90/65% of $SO_2$/NOx were simultaneously removed with a specific energy of $3.0Whr/Nm^3$ when both $NH_3$ and hydrocarbons were injected. Practical implications that the pilot-scale plasma results provide are further discussed.