NOx ADSORPTION AND NTP DESORPTION-REDUCTION

NOx emissions have multi-fold hazards for both environment and human health, due to their role in the formation of fine particles, ozone smog, acid rain and eutrophication. The increasing level of emissions and the improved comprehension of NOx toxicity have led to a progressive reduction of allowed emissions from stationary and mobile anthropic sources. NOx emissions can be controlled by altering the combustion process (e.g. Selective Non-Catalytic Reduction) or by post-combustion treatment of the flue gases (e.g. Selective Catalytic Reduction). These two technologies are the most commonly used for industrial processes in a wide range of applications. SCR has a higher capital cost than SNCR but allows a superior reduction of NOx concentration and it is the preferred technique in many industrial applications when high-quality standards are required. Due to the recent stricter European regulations for NOx emissions, SNCR is almost inadequate for the new standards, and cost-effective and alternative methods to SCR are under investigation. The NOx adsorption and non-thermal plasma desorption/reduction strategy was proposed and it is investigated in this thesis. The process consists of the adsorption of NOx on a sorbent material followed by the sorbent regeneration using non-thermal plasma in N2 flushing. The presence of the plasma has the double effect of promoting the NOx desorption from the sorbent surface and reducing the NOx desorbed to N2 and O2. A further reduction of NOx can be performed in a DBD plasma reactor. The desorption and reduction are promoted by the high reactive nitrogen gas discharge particles that react with NOx. A granular activated carbon (GAC) was investigated for NOx adsorption from simulated flue gases. The adsorption capacity for NOx was negligible (less than 4mg/g) if a mixture of NO diluted in N2 was considered; however, it was possible to calculate the adsorption isotherms at 30 and 120°C. A great improvement in the adsorption capacity was calculated as oxygen was fed (up to 66mg/g). The tests demonstrated that part of the NO was catalytically oxidized to NO2 in the presence of oxygen, with a consequent improvement in NOx adsorption. Even the adsorbent impregnation with copper (GAC-Cu) played a positive role in the NO oxidation, hence improving the capacity to remove NOx from the gas stream. Dielectric Barrier Discharge reactors demonstrated a high efficiency (up to 100%) in NOx reduction. The configurations with one and two dielectrics were investigated, highlighting the high performance of the one dielectric barrier discharge reactor and the high flexibility of the two dielectric barriers discharge. A numerical analysis was performed to model the plasma condition promoted in the realistic reactors. The results in terms of electric parameters were consistent with those estimated in the gas discharge, e.g. electric field, electron density and electron temperature. Cyclic tests of adsorption and sorbent regeneration plasma-assisted demonstrated the effectiveness of the process by using GAC-Cu for NOx removal. The amount of NOx adsorbed during the adsorption stage was desorbed and converted during the desorption plasma-assisted process. Higher effectiveness (≈100%) was estimated in the case of GAC-Cu of commercial size (1.5-3mm), while the effectiveness decreased in the case of lower granular size (0.3-0.6mm). The possibility to perform the process at low temperature makes this technology suitable for those gas treatment plants that require a retrofit to accomplish the new regulations. The gas would be treated with the designed reactor to obtain further NOx reduction, without risks of ammonia slip that represents the main problem of high-efficiency conventional technologies

Current Air Quality Issues

Air pollution is thus far one of the key environmental issues in urban areas. Comprehensive air quality plans are required to manage air pollution for a particular area. Consequently, air should be continuously sampled, monitored, and modeled to examine different action plans. Reviews and research papers describe air pollution in five main contexts: Monitoring, Modeling, Risk Assessment, Health, and Indoor Air Pollution. The book is recommended to experts interested in health and air pollution issues

Managing the environment

'Managing the environment' was originally written to cover the IOSH (Institution of Occupational Health & Safety) course 'Managing Environmental Responsibilities'. It provides underpinning knowledge to the NEBOSH (National Examination Board in Occupational Safety & Health) Environmental courses, The British Safety Council Diploma in Environmental Management and the IEMA (Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment) Associate Certificate. It has a UK bias but is useful for international versions of the above courses. It is useful as a primer to anyone with a business or general management role and is offered free in the spirit of wishing to raise understanding of workplace environment issues and the advancement of workplace professionals

Energy: A continuing bibliography with indexes, issue 34

This bibliography lists 1015 reports, articles, and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system from April 1, 1981 through June 30, 1981

Sustainable energy for a resilient future: proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Sustainable Energy Technologies

Volume I, 898 pages, ISBN 9780853583134 Energy Technologies & Renewables Session 1: Biofuels & Biomass Session 5: Building Energy Systems Session 9: Low-carbon/ Low-energy Technologies Session 13: Biomass Systems Session 16: Solar Energy Session 17: Biomass & Biofuels Session 20: Solar Energy Session 21: Solar Energy Session 22: Solar Energy Session 25: Building Energy Technologies Session 26: Solar Energy Session 29: Low-carbon/ Low-energy Technologies Session 32: Heat Pumps Session 33: Low-carbon/ Low-energy Technologies Session 36: Low-carbon/ Low-energy Technologies Poster Session A Poster Session B Poster Session C Poster Session E Volume II, 644 pages, ISBN 9780853583141 Energy Storage & Conversion Session 2: Heating and Cooling Systems Session 6: Heating and Cooling Systems Session 10: Ventilation and Air Conditioning Session 14: Smart and Responsive Buildings Session 18: Phase Change Materials Session 23: Smart and Responsive Buildings Session 30: Heating and Cooling System Session 34: Carbon Sequestration Poster Session A Poster Session C Poster Session D Policies & Management Session 4: Environmental Issues and the Public Session 8: Energy and Environment Security Session 12: Energy and Environment Policies Poster Session A Poster Session D Volume III, 642 pages, ISBN 9780853583158 Sustainable Cities & Environment Session 3: Sustainable and Resilient Cities Session 7: Energy Demand and Use Optimization Session 11: Energy Efficiency in Buildings Session 15: Green and Sustainable Buildings Session 19: Green Buildings and Materials Session 24: Energy Efficiency in Buildings Session 27: Energy Efficiency in Buildings Session 28: Energy Efficiency in Buildings Session 31: Energy Efficiency in Buildings Session 35: Energy Efficiency in Buildings Poster Session A Poster Session D Poster Session

Nuclear Power - Operation, Safety and Environment

Today's nuclear reactors are safe and highly efficient energy systems that offer electricity and a multitude of co-generation energy products ranging from potable water to heat for industrial applications. At the same time, catastrophic earthquake and tsunami events in Japan resulted in the nuclear accident that forced us to rethink our approach to nuclear safety, design requirements and facilitated growing interests in advanced nuclear energy systems, next generation nuclear reactors, which are inherently capable to withstand natural disasters and avoid catastrophic consequences without any environmental impact. This book is one in a series of books on nuclear power published by InTech. Under the single-volume cover, we put together such topics as operation, safety, environment and radiation effects. The book is not offering a comprehensive coverage of the material in each area. Instead, selected themes are highlighted by authors of individual chapters representing contemporary interests worldwide. With all diversity of topics in 16 chapters, the integrated system analysis approach of nuclear power operation, safety and environment is the common thread. The goal of the book is to bring nuclear power to our readers as one of the promising energy sources that has a unique potential to meet energy demands with minimized environmental impact, near-zero carbon footprint, and competitive economics via robust potential applications. The book targets everyone as its potential readership groups - students, researchers and practitioners - who are interested to learn about nuclear power

Energy: A continuing bibliography with indexes, issue 20

A bibliography is presented which lists 1250 reports, articles, and other documents introduced into the NASA Scientific and Technical Information System from October 1, 1978 through December 31, 1978

Integrated Waste Management

This book reports research on policy and legal issues, anaerobic digestion of solid waste under processing aspects, industrial waste, application of GIS and LCA in waste management, and a couple of research papers relating to leachate and odour management