EFFECT OF ETHENE $(C_2 H_4)$ ON THE PLASMA $DeNO_X$ PROCESS FROM DIESEL ENGINE EXHAUST

Effect of ethene on the $DeNO_X$ conversion process in a simulated diesel engine operating conditions was investigated experimentally and theoretically. With the addition of even a small amount of ethene the NO to $NO_2$ conversion enhances greatly. The energy required to convert one NO molecule is 27 eV with 250 ppm ethene added, while 137 eV without ethene at 473 K. The effect of energy density, temperature, and the initial concentrations of ethene and oxygen are also discussed and the results show that the increase of the mentioned parameters lead to the promotion of NO oxidation. A kinetic model used in this study shows good agreement with the experimental result. Byproducts like formaldehyde ($CH_2$ 0) and methyl nitrite ($CH_3$ ONO) predicted by model calculation are broken up into CO and $H_2O$ eventually when high energy is delivered to the gas mixture. Sensitivity analysis shows that the main reactions of NO oxidation when ethene is added we: $HO_2+ NO \arrow NO_2 + OH, RO_2 + NO \arrow NO_2 + RO$, where R is a hydrocarbon radical. Also the direct oxidizing reaction of NO with O cannot be neglected.