NO/sub x/ and SO/sub 2/ removal by pulsed power at a thermal power plant

Recently various methods involving gas discharges and electron beams have been studied for the removal of NO/sub x/ and SO/sub 2/ from flue gases. The recent development of repetitive pulsed power generators gives the pulsed streamer corona discharges a chance of success in the removal of NO/sub x/ and SO/sub 2/. Experiments for the removal of NO/sub x/ and SO/sub 2/ using actual flue gases were performed at a thermal power plant. The results showed that about 90% of NO and about 50% of SO/sub 2/ were removed at a flow rate of 0.8 l/min and a repetition rate of 7 pulses per second (pps). The removal ratio of NO varied inversely proportional to the gas flow rate. The energy efficiency of NO removal was 900 /spl mu/mol/Wh when 50% of NO was removed.