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Title: RTOs favored to bat in cleanup position

Journal Article · · Environmental Solutions; (United States)
OSTI ID:6884425

In the volatile organic compound treatment industry, the regenerative thermal oxidizer is the cleanup hitter. In comparison to recent modest growth in the catalytic and recuperative thermal gas treatment segments, growth in RTO sales has been spectacular. An RTO uses a series of packed ceramic beds operated in a cyclical fashion to store the heat generated by VOC combustion. Heat recovery is achieved by redirecting the gas flow periodically so incoming process gas flows through a media-filled vessel that has been heated by contact with the fully combusted gas. Once the incoming gas has been pre-heated by contact with the hot ceramic media, it proceeds to the combustion chamber. After combustion, this maximally hot gas exits through a different ceramic bed, transferring its residual heat in the process. Degree of heat recovery typically approaches 90 percent, and substantially reduces the amount of supplemental fuel required to maintain the necessary temperature for proper combustion efficiency, resulting in significantly reduced operating costs.

OSTI ID:
6884425
Journal Information:
Environmental Solutions; (United States), Vol. 8:2; ISSN 1077-2537
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English