Particulate Matter Removal from a Gas Stream using High‐Voltage Discharge Plasma

Abstract

This investigation examines the use of a high‐voltage discharge plasma technology to remove particulate matter from an air stream. Concentrations of the particulate matter were measured at the inlet and the outlet of the discharge plasma with the help of an optical particle counter to determine the particle removal efficiency. The experimental results indicate that the particle removal efficiency of the discharge plasma increased with the discharge voltage. The particle removal efficiency rose as high as 93.1% for 0.3 μm particles as the discharge voltage was increased to 20 kV at an operating frequency of 60 Hz. The influence of the operating frequency on the particle removal efficiency was neglected at discharge voltages of 8 kV and 10 kV when the operating frequencies ranged from 60 Hz to 180 Hz. Furthermore, the particle removal efficiency increased with the reflected power when the discharge voltage was varied. A non‐linear multivariable regression model was fitted to the experimental data. The good fit of the regression model makes it possible to estimate the particle removal efficiency of the high‐voltage discharge plasma.     

燃煤锅炉烟气脱硫技术对颗粒物排放影响研究进展

随着环境问题的日益严峻及燃煤锅炉超低排放工作的实施,由燃煤引起的大气污染问题及脱硫和除尘设备协同脱除污染物的作用逐渐受到关注。由燃煤释放的SO2和颗粒物对人类健康及自然环境造成严重危害,因此对SO2和颗粒物的治理至关重要。笔者综述了湿法烟气脱硫技术如石灰石-石膏法、氨法等,半干法烟气脱硫技术如循环流化床烟气脱硫技术(CFB)、高倍率灰钙循环烟气脱硫(NGD)等以及干法烟气脱硫技术如电子射线辐射法脱硫技术、活性炭(活性焦、活性半焦)吸附脱硫技术等的发展历史、技术特点及适用范围,并对比分析了各脱硫技术对颗粒物排放特性的影响。结果表明,湿法烟气脱硫技术SO2脱除效率最高,尤其是石灰石-石膏法烟气脱硫技术,总效率可达99%以上。入口颗粒物浓度高于5 mg/m^3时,此技术能够协同脱除烟气中的颗粒物,除尘效率可达50%~80%,脱硫前后粒径分布都为典型的双峰分布,且脱硫后粒径峰值向小粒径偏移,硫酸盐成分增加;入口颗粒物质量浓度低于5 mg/m^3时,出口颗粒物浓度可能出现不降反增的现象,另外,由于其投资和运行成本高,多应用于大型燃煤机组和脱硫剂来源丰富的地区,同时湿法烟气脱硫产物还具有一定的经济效益;半干法和干法烟气脱硫技术SO2脱除效率在60%~90%,与湿法脱硫技术相比具有投资和运行成本低,占地面积小和节约水资源等优点,在中小型锅炉领域如燃煤工业锅炉具有较好的应用前景,但大量脱硫产物和脱硫剂随烟气进入除尘设备,浓度高达1 000 g/m^3以上,为除尘设备造成极大的运行压力,加大了投资和运行成本。目前半干法烟气脱硫技术及干法烟气脱硫技术对颗粒物排放特性的影响研究较少,还需在脱硫系统对颗粒物粒径、成分及形貌特性等方面的影响规律做进一步研究。     

DBD反应器中催化剂颗粒直径对放电功率的影响

介质阻挡放电(DBD)协同催化剂可有效脱除NOx ,在一段式DBD反应器中固体催化剂颗粒兼具有放电阻挡介质作用,可有效提高放电功率.今通过建立数学模型以及实验测试研究了在DBD反应器中填充颗粒直径对放电功率的影响规律,研究发现随填料颗粒直径增大,放电功率先增加再降低,并且随输入电压增大颗粒直径对放电功率影响更加显著.因为当填料粒径大于峰值时,在DBD反应器中随粒径增大间隙增加大,在相同条件下间隙电容小于固体颗粒电容,总电容量降低,所以放电功率随颗粒直径增大而降低.当填料粒径小于峰值时,随颗粒直径减小固体颗粒等效电容厚度变小,易被击穿,电容量降低,所以放电功率随颗粒直径减小而降低.随输入电压增大放电增强,有效面积增大,而最大有效放电面积跟填充颗粒直径有关,所以粒径对放电功率影响随输入电压增大而增强.填料颗粒直径对反应器总输入功率影响很小,因为总输入能量不仅消耗于系统放电,而且还使系统产生热量.理论模型和实验测试结果变化趋势基本一致,该结论可为DBD协同催化反应过程中选择适宜催化剂颗粒直径提供理论依据.     

Studies on nitric oxide removal in simulated gas compositions under plasma-dielectric/catalytic discharges

Application of pulsed electrical discharges for gas cleaning is gaining prominence, mainly from the energy consideration point of view. This present paper presents recent work on applying the electrical discharge plasma technology for treating gaseous pollutants, in general, and nitric oxide, in particular, as this is one of the major contributors to air pollution. The present work focuses attention on pulsed electrical discharge technique for nitric oxide removal from simulated gas compositions and study of effect of packed dielectric pellets, with and without a coating of catalyst, on the removal process. Experiments were conducted in a cylindrical corona reactor energized by repetitive high voltage pulses. The effects of various parameters, viz. pulse voltage magnitude, pulse frequency, initial nitric oxide concentration and gas mixture composition on nitric oxide removal efficiency, are discussed. When the reactors were filled with different dielectric pellets like, barium titanate, alumina, and alumina coated with palladium catalyst, the improvement in nitric oxide removal efficiency is studied and discussed. The power dissipated in the reactor and the energy consumed per nitric oxide molecule removed was calculated. Further results and comparative study of various cases are presented in the paper.     

介质阻挡放电协同复合碳材料去除VOCs

挥发性有机物（VOCs）是常见的空气污染物,实验研究低温等离子体催化技术去除以甲苯为代表的VOCs。采用炭粉末、酚醛树脂和致孔有机高分子聚合物的有机溶剂混合物作为前驱物,经过炭化、水汽活化和负载锰催化剂,制备一种基于发泡金属的复合碳材料。采用扫描电子显微镜、XRD、全自动比表面积及微孔孔隙分析仪对材料进行表征。两段式介质阻挡放电反应器结合复合碳材料降解甲苯,前段介质阻挡放电初步降解甲苯,后段复合碳材料利用介质阻挡放电产生的长寿命活性物种和臭氧进一步去除甲苯。输入电压为10 kV时,甲苯去除率约99.4％,CO₂选择性达72.2%,并且有效控制了副产物臭氧。实验结果表明,复合碳材料有望应用于如臭氧和VOCs等的污染控制。     

NO and SO2 removal in non-thermal plasma reactor packed with glass beads-TiO2 thin film coated by PCVD process

We analyzed the NO and SO₂ removal in the non-thermal plasma discharge process combined with TiO₂ photocatalyst. The non-thermal plasmas were generated by dielectric barrier discharge with glass beads as dielectric materials. The TiO₂ thin films were coated on the glass beads uniformly without crack by a rotating cylindrical plasma chemical vapor deposition reactor. The NO and SO₂ removal efficiencies obtained in non-thermal plasma–TiO₂ photocatalysts hybrid system were higher than those in plasma process only, because of the additional removal of NO and SO₂ by photocatalysts. The NO and SO₂ removal efficiencies become higher, as applied peak voltage, pulse frequency and gas residence time increase, or as the initial NO and SO₂ concentrations decrease. The hybrid system of non-thermal plasma and photocatalyst thin film on glass beads prepared by PCVD process is quite efficient method to remove NO and SO₂.     

Removal of Submicron Silica Particles from tert-Amyl Alcohol by Dielectric/Electric Packed Bed Filtration

Abstract

A packed bed with an applied electric field is used to remove submicron and nanometer particles from a nonconducting or slightly conducting solution. Several studies have shown that the application of an electric field to a packed bed significantly increases the performance of the filtration. To enhance the electric-field filtration efficiency, it is desired that the packing materials have a higher dielectric constant than the solution so that the electric-field lines will be diverted into the packing materials.

In the present studies, a dc voltage of 0 to 8 kV/cm is applied to a packed bed (2.5-cm diameter and 3.0-cm length) filled with 1-mm-diameter glass beads. The filtration medium contains submicrometer or nanometer SiO₂ particles dispersed in tert-amyl alcohol. Two particle sizes are investigated: the average particle sizes are about 300 nm and 50 nm, respectively.

Visible light spectrophotometry is used to estimate the amount of SiO₂ particles in the effluent. The experimental results are presented as a series of breakthrough curves. The effect of the applied electric field on the breakthrough curve on two different particle sizes is presented. Depending on the applied electric field and the conductivity of the system, heating of the packed bed may occur. The operating current and temperature of the packed bed are also presented.     

Continuous flow removal of acid fuchsine by dielectric barrier discharge plasma water bed enhanced by activated carbon adsorption

Continuous processes which allow for large amount of wastewater to be treated to meet drainage standards while reducing treatment time and energy consumption are urgently needed. In this study, a dielectric barrier discharge plasma water bed system was designed and then coupled with granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption to rapidly remove acid fuchsine (AF) with high efficiency. Effects of feeding gases, treatment time and initial concentration of AF on removal efficiency were investigated. Results showed that compared to the N2 and air plasmas treatments, O2 plasma processing was most effective for AF degradation due to the strong oxidation ability of generated activated species, especially the OH radicals. The addition of GAC significantly enhanced the removal efficiency of AF in aqueous solution and shorten the required time by 50%. The effect was attributed to the ability of porous carbon to trap and concentrate the dye, increasing the time dye molecules were exposed to the plasma discharge zone, and to enhance the production of OH radicals on/in GAC to boost the degradation of dyes by plasma as well as in situ regenerate the exhausted GAC. The study offers a new opportunity for continuous effective remediation of wastewater contaminated with organic dyes using plasma technologies.     

错流旋转填料床脱除细颗粒物研究

细颗粒物对环境和人体都会产生较大危害, 传统除尘设备无法高效脱除。超重力旋转填料床复合了多种除尘机制, 除尘效率高, 能耗低。本文采用平均粒径为2.25μm的粉煤灰模拟细颗粒物, 错流旋转填料床为湿式除尘设备, 搭建了中试规模的实验系统。提出了使用激光粒度分析仪测量粉尘粒度分布并计算分级效率的方法, 通过实验考察了转速、液气比和气量对错流旋转填料床分级效率的影响。研究表明, 分级效率随转速、液气比、气量的增大而增大, PM_2.5的脱除效率可达到96%, 为超重力湿法除尘的工业化推广提供有力的数据支撑。对分级效率曲线进行拟合, 相关系数R=0.9808。对比发现, 错流旋转填料床的分级效率高于一般湿式除尘器, 对微米级粉尘也有很高的脱除率, 可以高效脱除气体中的细颗粒物, 应用前景广阔。     

高压脉冲介质阻挡放电协同臭氧溶气降解聚丙烯酰胺模拟废水

利用高压脉冲介质阻挡放电与臭氧联用的上流式反应器,考察了高压脉冲介质阻挡放电、臭氧和二者协同处理聚丙烯酰胺的降解情况以及COD和BOD5/COD的变化趋势;另外研究了反应器内加入TiO2催化剂对处理效果的影响,并探讨了其作用机理。结果表明,停留时间为10min时,放电协同臭氧溶气对聚丙烯酰胺的降解率可达51%,比单独放电和单独臭氧分别提高了27%和4%。加入TiO2催化剂后,COD去除率达到65%,BOD5/COD提高到0.37。     

高压脉冲介质阻挡放电降解土壤中芘的研究

针对我国土壤多环芳烃的污染问题,通过自研的介质阻挡脉冲反应器处理土壤中的芘,研究了放电电压、放电频率、土壤湿度、土壤厚度、空气流速和土壤pH等条件对降解效果的影响。结果表明,随着放电电压和放电频率增加,芘的降解率提高,空气流速和土壤湿度在适宜的范围内,有利于芘的降解,增加土壤厚度和降低pH会降低芘的降解率。最适降解条件为：放电电压12.6 kV、放电频率1.0 kHz、土壤湿度3.0%、土壤厚度1 mm、空气流速2 L/min、土壤pH≥7,芘的降解率为97.04%。通过HPLC-MS和FT-IR分析,间接证明放电产生的活性物质O₃、·OH、NO _x 等导致了芘的降解,提出了芘可能的降解途径。     

高压脉冲介质阻挡放电降解土壤中芘的研究

针对我国土壤多环芳烃的污染问题,通过自研的介质阻挡脉冲反应器处理土壤中的芘,研究了放电电压、放电频率、土壤湿度、土壤厚度、空气流速和土壤pH等条件对降解效果的影响。结果表明,随着放电电压和放电频率增加,芘的降解率提高,空气流速和土壤湿度在适宜的范围内,有利于芘的降解,增加土壤厚度和降低pH会降低芘的降解率。最适降解条件为：放电电压12.6 kV、放电频率1.0 kHz、土壤湿度3.0%、土壤厚度1 mm、空气流速2 L/min、土壤pH≥7,芘的降解率为97.04%。通过HPLC-MS和FT-IR分析,间接证明放电产生的活性物质O₃、·OH、NO _x 等导致了芘的降解,提出了芘可能的降解途径。     

Ozone formation with (V)UV‐enhanced dielectric barrier discharges in dry and humid gas mixtures of O2, N2/O2, and Ar/O2

The effect of (V)UV illumination at 172 run and 253.7 run on ozone formation with dielectric barrier discharges in air‐like mixtures of nitrogen/oxygen and argon/oxygen as function of the water concentration is presented. Although (V)UV at these wavelengths efficiently cleaves ozone, the ozone concentration in a combined (V)UV/dielectric barrier discharge in oxygen‐containing gases is reduced only very little. This corresponds to an enhanced concentration of atomic singlet oxygen, which, in presence of water, increases the production of hydroxyl radicals. This is confirmed by measurements of the removal rates of 2‐propanol and of its byproducts in dry and humid air in a combined (V)UV/dielectric barrier discharge treatment.     

XeI~*准分子紫外光源的发光特性研究

采用石英做介质阻挡层,对高气压XeI*准分子紫外光源进行了实验研究,从放电功率、放电频率、总气压、气体配比等参数分析了光源的工作特性,其最佳工作参数为总气压320Torr、I2分压0.37%,电源频率58.7kHz。在此条件下当放电电压4.6kV、功率66W时,在距光源8.5cm处得到的紫外光辐射强度为31.2μW/cm2。     

Turbulent operation of diesel oxidation catalysts for improved removal of particulate matter

This paper proposes that a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) operating within the fully turbulent flow regime is an efficient means of reducing the contents of particulate matter in the exhaust gases. The suggested mode of operation is in contrast to the fact that the DOCs are typically operated within the laminar flow regime. In the paper, the particle trapping efficiency and pollutant conversion in turbulent ceramic DOCs are calculated using both mass-transfer correlations available in the literature and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). It is shown that a turbulent DOC substantially increases the removal of small particulates from the exhaust gases. This indicates the potential of the aftertreatment system to comply with the forthcoming number-based emission legislations on particulate matter. In addition, the turbulent DOC can be used to optimize the overall performance of a combined system consisting of a DOC and a diesel particulate filter.     

Ozone Generation by Hybrid Discharge Combined with Catalysis

In this paper, combining hybrid discharge with pellet alumina catalyst is used for ozone generation. The hybrid discharge including corona discharge (CD), surface discharge (SD) and dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) may happen in the device. Factors that affect the ozone production efficiency and concentration are studied, such as energy density, power, gas flow rate, frequency, peak voltage and catalysts.     

Penetration of Particles into Buildings and Associated Physical Factors. Part I: Model Development and Computer Simulations

The PM_2.5 standard proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has stimulated research on the relationships between particulate matter concentrations and the exposures and subsequent health responses of sensitive subpopulations, such as the elderly. Since individuals in these subpopulations may spend more than 90% of their time indoors, understanding the relationship between outdoor particle concentrations and those found in indoor microenvironments is critical. This research resulted in a time-dependent indoor air quality model incorporating all potential particle sources and loss mechanisms. Monte Carlo simulations of the model identified the mechanisms, such as particle loss during penetration through the building envelope, that modify the outdoor particle size distribution during transport into the interior of a building, calculated indoor-to-outdoor (I/O) concentration ratios, and estimated penetration factors as a function of particle size. Indoor particle generation and transport of outdoor particles through the HVAC system were the most important contributors to the indoor concentration in residential and commercial buildings, respectively. The most significant removal mechanisms included ventilation through and particle removal by the HVAC filter if an HVAC system was present, or particle deposition on indoor surfaces if an HVAC system was not present. The modeled I/O concentration ratios varied between 0.05 and 0.5, depending on particle size and type of ventilation system, and agreed well with published experimental results. Penetration factors less than unity were calculated for particles with aerodynamic diameters larger than 0.2 θ m if the air exchange rate and steady-state I/O concentration ratio were correlated during the simulations. An additional correlation between the air exchange rate and particle deposition velocity is required if penetration factors less than unity are to be modeled for particles with aerodynamic diameters smaller than 0.2 θ m. These results     

Design and performance evaluation of plasma air cleaning systems for removing yellow sand dust

Yellow sand dust (Asian dust storms) causes harmful damage indoors and outdoors during the springtime, and the removal of Yellow sand dust has become an issue for suitable indoor conditions. An air cleaner is required to remove Yellow sand dust efficiently to improve indoor air quality, and the removal characteristics of Yellow sand dust should be studied. The size distribution and mass concentration of Yellow sand dust observed in China and Korea are analyzed, and the removal efficiency of a plasma air cleaning system based on the principle of electrostatic precipitation is evaluated by using Yellow sand dust. Mass median diameter of Yellow sand dust sampled in Beijing and Seoul ranges from 7.0 to 8.0 μm with a mass concentration of 300-1,462 μg/m³. For a single-pass test, the efficiency of dust removal increases with increasing particle size and decreasing flow rate. The removal efficiency of Yellow sand dust in a plasma air cleaning system at a face velocity of 1.0 m/s is higher than 80%. For a multi-pass test in occupied spaces, the operation time required to reduce Yellow sand dust concentration from an initial concentration of 300 μg/m³ to 150 μg/m³ is 10 minutes for a test room of 27 m³.     

ENVIRONMENTAL TOBACCO SMOKE REMOVAL CAPABILITY OF ACTIVATED CARBON

Removal of gaseous and vapor constituents of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) by activated carbons in a packed bed arrangement was studied under dynamic conditions and was compared with that by silica gel and molecular sieve 13X. ETS is a mixture of sidestream smoke and exhaled mainstream smoke, and it consists of various organic and inorganic compounds, trace heavy metals, and particulate matters. Due to the complex nature of ETS-air mixture, its removal from indoors is a challenging task. For experimentation in a laboratory, the ETS was produced from a specially designed smoking apparatus that simulated the puffng of a cigarette by a person. Air containing ETS was passed through a bed containing about 25 grams of activated carbon at room temperature. The flow rate of air-ETS mixture through the bed was 4000 cm3/min. The relative humidity of the air was 50% and contained about 35 to 40 ppm of hydrocarbons as measured as methane-equivalent. The number of particles in the inlet air stream were in the range of 30,000 to 35,000 particles/cm3. About 60% of hydrocarbons present in ETS were removed at these operating conditions for a period of about 70 hours. Based on 15 adsorption and regeneration cycles, it was noted that the carbon bed did not loose its capacity for ETS significantly as indicated by the BET surface area and water adsorption data. At the beginning of an adsorption cycle, the carbon bed captured a significant number of particles. However, the bed rapidly lost its particle capture effciency as the experiment progressed. The number of particles in the outlet air stream was found to be the same as that of the inlet stream within five minutes.     

Environmental tobacco smoke removal capability of activated carbon

Removal of gaseous and vapor constituents of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) by activated carbons in a packed bed arrangement was studied under dynamic conditions and was compared with that by silica gel and molecular sieve 13X. ETS is a mixture of sidestream smoke and exhaled mainstream smoke, and it consists of various organic and inorganic compounds, trace heavy metals, and particulate matters. Due to the complex nature of ETS-air mixture, its removal from indoors is a challenging task. For experimentation in a laboratory, the ETS was produced from a specially designed smoking apparatus that simulated the puffng of a cigarette by a person. Air containing ETS was passed through a bed containing about 25 grams of activated carbon at room temperature. The flow rate of air-ETS mixture through the bed was 4000 cm3/min. The relative humidity of the air was 50% and contained about 35 to 40 ppm of hydrocarbons as measured as methane-equivalent. The number of particles in the inlet air stream were in the range of 30,000 to 35,000 particles/cm3. About 60% of hydrocarbons present in ETS were removed at these operating conditions for a period of about 70 hours. Based on 15 adsorption and regeneration cycles, it was noted that the carbon bed did not loose its capacity for ETS significantly as indicated by the BET surface area and water adsorption data. At the beginning of an adsorption cycle, the carbon bed captured a significant number of particles. However, the bed rapidly lost its particle capture effciency as the experiment progressed. The number of particles in the outlet air stream was found to be the same as that of the inlet stream within five minutes.