Dependence of N₂O/NO Decomposition and Formation on Temperature and Residence Time in Thermal Reactor

• Main Authors: Sang Ji Lee, Jae Geun Yun, Han Min Lee, Ji Yeop Kim, Jin Han Yun, Jung Goo Hong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-02-01
• Series: Energies
• Subjects: nitrous oxide (N₂O); nitric oxide (NOx); argon (Ar) ambient; thermal decomposition; residence time; rate of progress
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/4/1153

Nitrogen dioxide (N₂O) is a greenhouse gas that is harmful to the ozone layer and contributes to global warming. Many other nitrogen oxide emissions are controlled using the selective non-catalytic reaction (SNCR) process, but N₂O reduction methods are few. To avoid future air pollution problems, N₂O reduction from industrial sources is essential. In this study, a N₂O decomposition and NO formation under an argon atmospheric N₂O gas mixture were observed in a lab-scale SNCR system. The reaction rate and mechanism of N₂O were calculated using a reaction path analyzer (CHEMKIN-PRO). The residence time of the gas mixture and the temperature in the reactor were set as experimental variables. The results confirmed that most of the N₂O was converted to N₂ and NO. The change in the N₂O reduction rate increased with the residence time at 1013 and 1113 K, but decreased at 1213 K due to the inverse reaction. NO concentration increased with the residence time at 1013 and 1113 K, but decreased at 1213 K owing to the conversion of NO back to N₂O.