Thermal oxidizer

A thermal oxidizer (or thermal oxidiser) is a process unit for air pollution control in many chemical plants that decomposes hazardous gases at a high temperature and releases them into the atmosphere.

Principle

Thermal oxidizers are typically used to destroy Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from industrial air streams. These pollutants are generally hydrocarbon based and when destroyed via thermal combustion they are chemically changed to form CO₂ and H₂O.

Regenerative thermal oxidizer (RTO)

One of today’s most widely accepted air pollution control technologies across industry is a Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer, commonly referred to as a RTO. They are very versatile and extremely efficient – thermal efficiency can reach 95%. They are regularly used for abating solvent fumes, odours, etc. from a wide range of industries. Regenerative Thermal Oxidizers are ideal in a range of low to high VOC concentrations up to 10 g/m3 solvent. There are currently many types Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer on the market with the capabitlity of 99.5+% Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) oxidisation or destruction efficiency. The ceramic heat exchanger(s) in the towers can be designed for thermal efficiencies as high as 97+%.^[1]

Regenerative catalytic oxidizer (RCO)

In some applications, the use of a catalyst helps allow oxidation at somewhat reduced temperatures.^[1] For example, the thermal ignition temperature of carbon monoxide is normally 609°C. By utilizing a suitable oxidation catalyst the ignition temperature can be reduced to around 200°C.^[2] This can result in lower operating costs than a Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer. Most systems operate within the 500°F (260°C) to 1000°F (540°C) degree range. Some systems are designed to operate both as Regenerative Catalytic Systems and Regenerative Thermal Oxdizers. When these systems are used special design considerations are utilized to reduce the probability of overheating (dilution of inlet gas or recycling), as these high temperatures would deactivate the catalyst, e.g. by sintering of the active material.

Ventilation air methane thermal oxidizer (VAMTOX)

Ventilation Air Methane Thermal Oxidizers are used to destroy methane in the exhaust air of underground coal mine shafts. Methane is a greenhouse gas and, when destroyed via thermal combustion, is chemically altered to form CO₂ and H₂O. CO₂ is 25 times less potent than methane when emitted into the atmosphere with regards to global warming. Concentrations of methane in mine ventilation exhaust air of coal and trona mines are very dilute; typically below 1% and often below 0.5%. VAMTOX units have a system of valves and dampers that direct the air flow across one or more ceramic filled bed(s). On start-up, the system preheats by raising the temperature of the heat exchanging ceramic material in the bed(s) at or above the auto-oxidation temperature of methane (1,000°C or 1,832°F), at which time the preheating system is turned off and mine exhaust air is introduced. Then the methane-filled air reaches the preheated bed(s), releasing the heat from combustion. This heat is then transferred back to the bed(s), thereby maintaining the temperature at or above what is necessary to support auto-thermal operation.

Thermal recuperative oxidizer

A less commonly used thermal oxidizer technology is a thermal recuperative oxidizer. Thermal recuperative oxidizers have a primary and/or secondary heat exchanger within the system. A primary heat exchanger preheats the incoming dirty air by recuperating heat from the exiting clean air. This is done by a shell and tube heat exchanger or a plate-type exchanger. As the incoming air passes on one side of the metal tube or plate, hot clean air from the combustion chamber passes on the other side of the tube or plate and heat is transferred to the incoming air through the process of conduction using the metal as the medium of heat transfer. In a secondary heat exchanger the same concept applies for heat transfer, but the air being heated by the outgoing clean process stream is being returned to another part of the plant – perhaps back to the process.

Catalytic oxidizer

Catalytic oxidation occurs through a chemical reaction between the VOC hydrocarbon molecules and a precious-metal catalyst bed that is internal to the oxidizer system. A catalyst is a substance that is used to accelerate the rate of a chemical reaction, allowing the reaction to occur in a normal temperature range of 550°F - 650°F (275°C to 350°C).

Direct fired thermal oxidizer - afterburner

A direct-fired oxidizer is the simplest technology of thermal oxidation. A process stream is introduced into a firing box through or near the burner and enough residence time is provided to get the desired destruction removal efficiency (DRE) of the VOCs. Also called afterburners, these systems are the least capital intensive, but when applied incorrectly, the operating costs can be devastating because there is no form of heat recovery. These are best applied where there is a very high concentration of VOCs to act as the fuel source (instead of natural gas or oil) for complete combustion at the targeted operating temperature.

References

^ ^a ^b The CMM Group, Cite error: The named reference "test" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
^ Rasmussen, Søren (2006). "Characterization and regeneration of Pt-catalysts deactivated in municipal waste flue gas". Applied Catalysis B: Environmental. 69: 10–16. doi:10.1016/j.apcatb.2006.05.009.

External links

[test-1] The CMM Group, Cite error: The named reference "test" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).

[2] Rasmussen, Søren (2006). "Characterization and regeneration of Pt-catalysts deactivated in municipal waste flue gas". Applied Catalysis B: Environmental. 69: 10–16. doi:10.1016/j.apcatb.2006.05.009.

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