SEOUL -- Natural gas is considered a relatively clean fuel. Nonetheless, the usage of natural gas still leads to emissions of hazardous pollutants such as nitrogen oxides. POSCO Energy, an energy producer in South Korea, will adopt a new technology utilizing plasma to reduce harmful gas emissions at its liquefied natural gas power combined power plant.
Plasma treatment for the reduction of nitrogen oxides (NOx) has been developed by the state-run Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM), a state-run research body, and a venture company specializing in environment. It is an eco-friendly facility that quickly vaporizes nitrogen oxides created during the startup of an LNG combined generator by using high-temperature plasma heat sources.
POSCO Energy said that KIMM's technology would be demonstrated at its LNG power plant in the western city of Incheon by October. An LNG power plant generates electricity by receiving sudden power orders when insufficient power is generated. POSCO Energy said it would create a business model to expand the use of plasma treatment if the demonstration is successful.
"Recently, power generation companies are making great efforts to create cleaner energy for future generations," POSCO Energy CEO Chung Ki-seop said.