This document summarizes sources and control methods for nitrogen oxides (NOx). It discusses that NOx is primarily produced during high-temperature combustion processes from automobiles, boilers, and industrial operations. It has negative health and environmental effects. The document outlines various NOx control technologies including combustion modifications to reduce peak temperatures and residence times, as well as add-on controls like selective non-catalytic reduction, selective catalytic reduction, and dry sorption that chemically convert NOx to less harmful compounds. Wet scrubbers are deemed not suitable for NOx control since nitric oxide is insoluble in water.

1. NOxNOxSources and Control Methods
Presented by
KOMAL AROOSHKOMAL AROOSH
(2010-2012)
CENTRE FOR COALCENTRE FOR COAL
TECHNOLOGYTECHNOLOGY
UNIVERSITY OF THEUNIVERSITY OF THE
PUNJABPUNJAB 1

2. CONTENTSCONTENTS
• Specific sources of NOx
• NOx Effects
• Characteristics of NOx compounds
• NOx Regulation
•NOx Formation
• Control Technologies & Techniques
• Combustion Modification
• Add-On Controls (Flue Gas Treatment )
2

3. SpecificSpecific
sources ofsources of
NONOxx
3

4. 1. Combustion sources
• Automobiles
• Boilers
• Incinerators
2. High-temperature industrial operations
• Metallurgical furnaces
• Blast furnaces
• Plasma furnaces
• Kilns
3. Other sources
• Nitric acid plants
• Industrial processes that use nitric
acid
4

5. 5
NONOxx
EffectsEffects

6.  It is one of the main ingredients involved in the
formation of ground-level ozone, which can
trigger serious respiratory problems
 contributes to nutrient overload that deteriorates
water quality
 contributes to atmospheric particles that cause
visibility impairment most noticeable in national
parks
 reacts to form nitrate particles, acid aerosols, as
well as NO2
, which also cause respiratory
problems
 contributes to formation of acid rain
 reacts to form toxic chemicals
 contributes to global warming
6

7. 7
CharacteristicsCharacteristics
of NOxof NOx
compoundscompounds

8. NO – Nitric oxide
• Colorless and odorless gas
• Insoluble in water (Remember this for later on!)
• Toxic
NO2 – Nitrogen dioxide
• Usually exists as a dimer compound (N2O4) at low
0
C
• Has distinct reddish-brown color
• Moderately soluble in aqueous liquids
• Toxic
• Contributes to brown haze that occurs with smog
8

9. 9
NOxNOx
RegulationRegulation

10. NOx concentrations are relatively low
in the atmosphere, so why are they
regulated?
NO and NO2 react rapidly with other
compounds, creating ozone and other
undesirable compounds. The NO and NO2
may never reach high concentrations, but are
creating other air pollutants.
10

11. 11
NONOxx
FormationFormation

12. • Formed at elevated temperatures during
combustion of fuel in the presence of air.
• Approximately 90 to 95% of the nitrogen
oxides generated in combustion
processes are in the form of nitric oxide
(NO). (Remember this for later on!)
• Once in the atmosphere, the NO reacts
in a variety of photochemical and thermal
reactions to form NO2
.
12

13. • Thermal NOx:Thermal NOx: formed by reaction
betweenN2 and O2 in the air; sensitive to
temperature
• Fuel (or Prompt) NOx:Fuel (or Prompt) NOx: formed from
combustion of fuel containing organic
nitrogen; dependent on local combustion
conditions and nitrogen content in the fuel.
Not all of the fuel nitrogen compounds are
released during combustion. Unlike sulfur,
a significant fraction of the fuel nitrogen
remains in the bottom ash or in the fly ash.
13

14. Location of NoLocation of Noxx formation in a Boilerformation in a Boiler 14

15. 15
ControlControl
TechnologiesTechnologies
&&
TechniquesTechniques

16. NOx control technologiesNOx control technologies
16

17. 1. Modify combustion to suppress NOx formation
• Low excess air operation
• Off-stoichiometric combustion
• Flue gas recirculation
• Natural gas reburning
2. Reduce Nox to molecular nitrogen through
controls (also known as flue gas treatment)
• Selective Non-Catalytic Reduction (SNCR)
• Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR)
• Dry Sorption
17
NOx control TechniquesNOx control Techniques

18. Strategies for Combustion ModificationStrategies for Combustion Modification
Reduce peak
temperatures
of the flame
zone
Reduce gas
residence time
in the flame
zone
18

19. Would wet scrubbers be a good control
technique for NOx
emissions?
Wet scrubbers would not be a good
control technique for NOx
emissions.
Reason
NO is mainly formed during the
combustion process and NO2 is
formed in the atmosphere.
Since NO is insoluble in water, wet
scrubbing would not work very well!
19

20. 20
CombustionCombustion
ModificationsModifications

21. Low excess air operation: Involves a reduction in the
total quantity of air used in the combustion process. By
using less oxygen, the amount of NOx produced is not as
great.
21

22. Off-stoichiometric combustion: Involves the mixing of
the fuel and air in a way that reduces the peak
gas temperatures and peak oxygen concentrations.
 Low NOx burners: Keeps temperatures
down and dissipates heat quickly
 Overfire air (OFA): Keeps mixture fuel rich
and completes combustion process using air
injection nozzles
 Burners out of service (BOOS): Operates
alternate burners in combustion zone as
fuel rich, air rich, and air only
22

23. Off-Stoichiometric Combustion in BurnerOff-Stoichiometric Combustion in Burner
(Low No(Low Noxx Burner)Burner)
23

24. Off-Stoichiometric CombustionOff-Stoichiometric Combustion
(Overfire Air)(Overfire Air)
24

25. Off-Stoichiometric CombustionOff-Stoichiometric Combustion
(Burners-Out-of-Service)(Burners-Out-of-Service) 25

26. Flue gas recirculationFlue gas recirculation
Involves the return of cooled
combustion gases to the burner area
of the boiler. Reduced temperatures
produce less NOx. The process
requires a recirculation fan and duct
system.
26

27. Involves the operation of the main burners in a
boiler at very low excess air (fuel rich
conditions).
A series of overfire air ports are used in this
upper region to provide all of the air needed for
complete combustion.
Fuel ReburningFuel Reburning
27

28. Fuel Reburning:
28

29. 29
Add-OnAdd-On
ControlsControls
(Flue Gas(Flue Gas
TreatmentTreatment ))

30. Selective non-catalytic reduction systems
(SNCR)
Involves the injection of ammonia (NH3
) or urea
into the hot gas zone where reactions leading to
reduction of nitrogen oxides can occur. The
reactions are completed within the boiler, and
no waste products are generated. There is a
risk of ammonia (NH3
) being emitted into the
atmosphere if temperatures are too low,
however. SCNR systems are capable of
reducing nitrogen oxides from 20 to 60%.
30

31. Selective Noncatalytic Reduction (SNCR) Reactions:
OHNOONH
OHNONONH
223
2223
6454
6444
+→+
+→++
Above 1000 o
C
31

32. Example SNCR System for NoExample SNCR System for Noxx Control in a BoilerControl in a Boiler 32

33. Selective catalytic reduction (SCR)
Involves using beds containing ammonia or urea to
reduce nitrogen oxides to molecular nitrogen and water.
Two or three catalysts (usually tungsten and vanadium)
are arranged in honeycomb shapes in the beds so air
can flow through. NOx reduction efficiencies ranging
from 75 to 90% are possible when the amount of
catalyst is sufficient, the catalyst is in good condition,
the ammonia reagent flow is sufficient, and the
ammonia is adequately distributed across the gas
stream.
33

34. Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) Reactions
OHNONHNO
OHNONHNO
22
catalystsupportedOVorTiO
232
22
catalystsupportedOVorTiO
23
6342
6444
522
522
+ →++
+ →++
Temperature ~ 300 - 400 o
C
34

35. Exapmle SCR System for NoExapmle SCR System for Noxx Control in a BoilerControl in a Boiler 35

36. Dry SorptionDry Sorption
◦ Activated carbon (220 ~ 230 o
C)
◦ Shell Flue Gas Treating System (~ 400 o
C)
CuOOCu
OHSOCuHCuSO
OHNONHNO
CuSOSOOCuO
→+
++→+
+ →++
→++
2
2224
22
catalystsasCuSOorCuO
23
422
5.0
22
6444
5.0
4
36