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SNCR deNOx process by urea decomposition system and evaluation of CO2 reduction

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Abstract

In Japan, a Waste To Energy (WTE) plant with a strict NOx emission limit value of 50 ppm (O2 12%-dry) has been operated with selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR). Ammonia or urea is used as a media for SNCR, but urea is safer than ammonia and is easy to use. However, urea has a problem of lower NOx removal efficiency than ammonia. Therefore, a technology to convert urea to ammonia on-site is necessary. In this work, the basic performance of this urea decomposition system, the operation results of SNCR, and the CO2 reduction by SNCR were studied.The urea decomposition system was a catalytic reactor, and when the catalytic temperature was above 250 °C and the space velocity was below 6000 h−1, the conversion to ammonia was almost 100%. The NOx removal ratio of SNCR was 20% at an ammonia equivalence ratio of 0.4 and about 40% at an equivalence ratio of 0.6, a performance level similar to other plant. Furthermore, it was estimated that CO2 emissions were reduced by 3.1% by applying SNCR instead of SCR, and when combined with other CO2 reduction measures of this plant, CO2 emissions were reduced by 16.2%.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the work of the Regional Cleaning Union of the city of Ota and three towns and all the parties concerned.

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  1. TAKUMA CO., LTD, 2-2-33 Kinrakuji-Cho, Amagasaki, Hyogo, 660-0806, Japan

    Munechika Ito & Masahiro Tozaki

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  1. Munechika Ito
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Correspondence to Munechika Ito.

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Ito, M., Tozaki, M. SNCR deNOx process by urea decomposition system and evaluation of CO2 reduction. J Mater Cycles Waste Manag 26, 435–443 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-023-01840-3

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