Aftertreatment of Carbon Particles Emitted by Diesel Engine Using a Combination of Corona and Dielectric Barrier Discharge

The collection and incineration mechanisms in the particulate matter (PM) after treatment technique proposed by the author were investigated. An experiment for actual exhaust gas was performed by sampling 10 NL/min of exhaust gas from the flue gas from a stationary diesel engine generator. The reactor for PM after treatment comprised a glass tube with surrounding corona needles that projected negative charges. Various combinations of voltages applied to each of the corona needles and the surface electrodes were compared. The results enhanced the hypothesis that negatively charged PM is attracted by the dielectric surface that is positively charged by positive ions supplied by the electrode on the glass surface. Subsequently, conditions for carbon incineration by nonthermal plasma were investigated using a simulated dielectric barrier discharge electrode and carbon black particles applied to the surface. It was found that the gap length over which the carbon-adhered area and the surface electrode face each other is the key factor for the rate of incineration.