HDP - Plasma technology for air pollution prevention and control.

Schenck Process Norge AS is developing high-density non-thermal plasma (HDP) technology for efficient air pollution prevention and control of both particulate and gases. The technical challenges related to pollutant decomposition chemistry, generation of high-energy high-density plasma, and process controll is being resolved in collaboration with Norwegian Defence Research Establishment, University of Oslo, and Westcontrol Robertson AS. Air pollution caused by economic activities such as industry, transport, energy, and household activities such as heating, is harmful to our health and the environment. Conventional methods to treat exhaust gasses and particulates are expensive and energy consuming. Non-thermal plasma (NTP) is thought to become the best available technology for treatment of certain emissions. However, the available NTP technology today has limited chemical processing power and the energy applied is therefore partly wasted. Schenck Process Norge has identified an opportunity to increase the plasma density by utilization of high frequency power supply and thereby increase the reaction potency. The HDP system has during the project shown the potential to become the ultimate technology for industrial air pollution and control worldwide. In particular the efficiency on reducing odorous organic sulfur compounds and amines is much improved, and product studies are being conducted in order to demonstrate chemical safety. A pilot system has been operating for 2 months at one of IVAR's sewage pumping stations. The pilot functionality was shown excellent, but the results on odour reduction will have to be repeated in a more smelly location as to quantify the odour reduction. This pilot has also been improved, and demonstrated up to 98% odour reduction from fumes from fish feed production. This pilot has been installed at a protein factory for demonstration of performance. Initial analysis with GC/MS-O show high odour intensity and interesting chemical compositions in the emission. We decided to install a small water scrubber downstream the HDP-pilot to improve abatement efficiency on water soluble VOCs. We also checked whether it was possible to use a TOF online with odour sampling. Emission samples were taken and analysed at UiO, which confirmed that it was possible to use the TOF. Unfortunately, the acidic environment destroyed the power supply and the pilot is currently out of operation pending repair. Further experiments at the wind tunnel will decide if we do more trials at the protein factory or on other emissions. A larger pilot is installed at FFI, and this has made it possible to document the chemical mechanisms of action. To be able to study harmful substances some changes to the wind tunnel at FFI were required. These changes have led to several months? delay, however the pilot is now back in operation. Results show that free radicals are created in the plasma, and that the radicals react with organic compounds similar to what is happening to atmospheric pollution, but at a rate of some 10 000 times faster. The reactions are mainly well known, and it is possible to predict both efficiency ratio and bi products of organic compounds with the pilot unit. The planned wind tunnel experiments at FFI have been finalized. Due to the previously described delays, reporting and potential publication of results remain and will be finalized in the first quarter of 2020. In addition, some of the planned pilot testing at customer sites has not been finished and will be followed on our own account. Temporary results show that the HDP has good efficiency on the treatment of biogenic hydrocarbons and organic sulphur-based compounds, which are reduced to more water soluble compounds that can be treated in a second stage. Schenck Process Norge AS consider the preliminary results to be so promising that the HDP is planned to be piloted/commercialized, starting spring of 2020.

Foreløpige resultater viser at HDP effektivt bryter ned biogene hydrokarboner og organiske svovelforbindelser til mer vannløselige forbindelser som er lettere å fjerne i påfølgende rensetrinn. Schenck Process Norge AS vurderer de foreløpige resultatene som så gode at en pilotering/kommersialisering av HDP planlegges og vil starte opp i løpet av våren 2020.Betinget suksess i pilot- og kommersialiseringsfaser vil HDP kunne gi vesentlig bedring i rensing av enkelte utslippstyper til luft, både mht rensegrad og kostnad.

Schenck Process Norge AS will develop high-density non-thermal plasma (HDP) technology for efficient air pollution prevention and control of both particulate and gases. The technical challenges related to pollutant decomposition chemistry, generation of high-energy high-density plasma, and process controll will be resolved in collaboration with Norwegian Defence Research Establishment, University of Oslo, and Westcontrol Robertson AS. Air pollution caused by economic activities such as industry, transport, energy, and household activities such as heating, is harmful to our health and the environment. Conventional methods to treat exhaust gasses and particulates are expensive and energy consuming. Non-thermal plasma (NTP) is thought to become the best available technology for treatment of certain emissions. However, the available NTP technology today has limited chemical processing power and the energy applied is therefore partly wasted. Schenck Process Norge has identified an opportunity to increase the plasma density by utilization of high frequency power supply and thereby increase the reaction potency. The described HDP system has the potential to become the ultimate technology for industrial air pollution and control worldwide.