NOx Removal in Jet-Engine Test Cell Exhaust: Proposed Non-Thermal Plasma Systems and Economic Considerations

Incentives for implementing new pollution-control technologies are both regulatory and economic. Given considerable regulatory pressure, e.g., the promulgation of a NESHAPS National Emissions Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants for NOx emissions in CY 2000, new de-NOx technologies are being explored. One major reason for this is that conventional de-NOx methods like wet scrubbers plus Selective Catalytic Reduction -SCR will not work effectively for the low NO concentrations e.g., 50 ppm, high exhaust-gas flow rates -106 Nm3h, and low gas temperatures near ambient characteristic of Jet Engine Test Cells JETCs. Our project is currently evaluating non-thermal plasma NTP technologies for treating jet-engine exhaust and other hazardous air pollutants. In this paper, we will present our initial design options for NTP reactor systems for a field-pilot demonstration on small jet engines e.g., F107 or F112 flow rates 104 Nm3h. The field-pilot demonstration is necessary to provide further data and operating experience to more fully evaluate economic and performance projections for NTP de-NOx technology and to design larger systems with confidence.