Novel Platform for NOx Reduction from Furnaces

描述（由申请人提供）：氮氧化物是众所周知的环境污染物。他们一直是包括《清洁空气法》在内的广泛法规的主体。氮氧化物统称为NOx，是一氧化氮（NO）和二氧化氮（NO2）的总量。二氧化氮是两者中危害更大的一种，与许多形式的呼吸系统健康影响有关。吸入后，NO2可以通过在短时间内增加低浓度的气道阻力来抑制肺功能。它还可以增加对细菌和病毒性肺部感染的易感性。某些亚群体暴露于氮氧化物的风险很高，这要么是因为在较低浓度下的敏感性，要么是因为效应的影响较大。这些群体包括哮喘、COPD、儿童和老年人。该程序解决了高温下燃烧过程中的NOx排放问题，因为在高温下氮气和氧气会产生NOx。发电设施是氮氧化物的主要来源。产品概念（PC）采用现有的燃烧器技术和富氮空气（NEA）来减少NOx排放。模拟工作项目300倍的氮氧化物排放减少使用PC。计划重点将放在氮氧化物减排工艺的试点示范上。燃煤电厂需要86%的NEA;燃气燃烧器需要83%的NEA。初步估计表明，PC比现有的选择性催化还原（SCR）系统便宜。该程序对许多商业窑炉具有广泛的价值。第一阶段将证明小型燃气炉系统的工艺可行性。燃气轮机被视为主要的电力消耗增长领域。结果将与现有的SCR NOx净化进行比较。紧凑型膜系统（CMS）已经建立了重要的工业和国家实验室关系。这些关系应该有助于CMS在这个SBIR和随后的商业化。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Oxides of nitrogen are well-known environmental pollutants. They have been the subjects of extensive regulations including the Clean Air Act. Nitrogen oxides are collectively referred to as NOx, which is the total amount of nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Nitrogen dioxide is the more harmful of the two, associated with many forms of respiratory health effects. Upon inhalation, NO2 can inhibit lung function by increasing airway resistance at low concentration over short periods of time. It can also increase susceptibility to bacterial and viral pulmonary infections. Certain sub-populations are at high risk to NOx exposure, either because of susceptibility at lower concentrations or greater impact of effects. These groups include asthmatics, COPD, children, and the elderly. This program addresses NOx emissions from combustion processes at high temperatures, since at temperature nitrogen and oxygen generate NOx. Electrical power generation facilities are major NOx sources. Product concept (PC) uses existing burner technology plus nitrogen enriched air (NEA) to reduce NOx emissions. Modeling work projects 300-fold NOx emissions reductive using PC. Program focus will be on pilot demonstration of NOx reduction process. Coal fired plants require 86% NEA; gas burners require 83% NEA. Preliminary estimates suggest PC is less expensive than existing selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems. Program has broad value for many commercial furnaces. Phase I will demonstrate process feasibility on small gas furnaces systems. Gas turbines are seen as major electrical power consumption growth area. Results will be compared to existing SCR NOx cleanup. Compact Membrane Systems (CMS) has established key industrial and national laboratory relationships. These relationships should help CMS in this SBIR plus subsequent commercialization.