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Dielectric Barrier Discharge for Ammonia Production

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Abstract

The leading after-treatment technology for NOx removal process in Diesel engines for stationary and mobile applications is the selective catalytic reduction of oxides of nitrogen [NOx] by ammonia [NH3]. A novel non-thermal plasma electrode with a needle array in a dielectric barrier discharge reactor, powered by a high frequency neon transformer, is used for the thermal decomposition of solid urea [(NH2)CO(NH2)] to produce ammonia. The thermolysis of urea produces iso-cyanic acid [HNCO] as a byproduct, besides ammonia, which can react with water in the gas phase, thus giving carbon dioxide and more ammonia. The presence of water fed before and/or after the plasma reactor was studied to assess its effect on the amount of produced ammonia. Results clearly showed that water fed to the entrance of the reactor can efficiently promote the reaction of iso-cyanic acid to produce ammonia and this result can be improved when air is used as carrier gas for 115 V of input voltage to a neon transformer and with a gas flow rate of 4 L/min.

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Acknowledgments

Authors would like to acknowledge: (1) Dr. Adrian Mihalciou for his contribution to the design of the reactor as well as for carrying on part of the experimental runs during the first stage of the present research. (2) The Department of Environmental and Life Sciences, Applied Electrostatic Laboratory, Toyohashi University of Technology, Tempaku-cho, Toyohashi, 441-8580 Japan, where all the experimental work was developed. (3) Dr. Hideaki Hayashi from the Department of Environmental and Life Sciences, Applied Electrostatic Laboratory, for the voltage and current waveforms measurements. (4) Professor Virginia E. Hawkes, from the English Department, Faculty of Exact Sciences and Technology, National University of Tucuman, Argentine Republic, for her great help with the English language.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department Environmental and Life Sciences, Applied Electrostatic Laboratory, Toyohashi University of Technology, Tempaku-cho, Toyohashi, 441-8580, Japan

    Graciela Prieto, Kazunori Takashima & Akira Mizuno

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Chemical Reactors Laboratory, National University of Tucuman, Argentine Republic, Ave. Independencia 1800, 4000, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina

    Oscar Prieto & Carlos R. Gay

Authors
  1. Graciela Prieto
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  2. Kazunori Takashima
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  3. Akira Mizuno
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  4. Oscar Prieto
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  5. Carlos R. Gay
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Graciela Prieto.

Additional information

Graciela Prieto: On leave from the Department of Chemical Engineering, Chemical Reactors Laboratory, National University of Tucuman, Argentine Republic, Ave. Independencia 1800, (4000) San Miguel de Tucuman, Argentina

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Prieto, G., Takashima, K., Mizuno, A. et al. Dielectric Barrier Discharge for Ammonia Production. Plasma Chem Plasma Process 33, 337–353 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11090-012-9428-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11090-012-9428-2

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