Fossil Fuel Emissions Control Technologies

5

Nitrogen oxides formation and control

Nitrogen oxide emissions totaled about 13 million short tons in 2013 with stationary fuel combustion accounting for approximately 29% of the total anthropogenic emissions. Of this approximately 3.7 million short tons, electric generating utilities are the largest source of NO_x emissions compared to industry, with electric utilities accounting for 50% or 1.8 million short tons of all NO_x emissions. Nitrogen oxide emissions have, however, decreased approximately 72% for the period 1990 to 2013, primarily due to controls implemented under EPA’s Acid Rain and CAIR NO_x programs. NO_x formation mechanisms are reviewed in this chapter, followed by technologies used to control NO_x emissions. The discussion of NO ...