Volatile organic compound recovery by Brayton cycle Heat Pump. Final report

Technical Report · Mon Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1993

OSTI ID:10146150

Organic solvent emissions from industrial processes are a major source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs contribute to the formation of photochemical ozone, a major component of smog. Over 90 percent of the organic solvents used in industry are emitted. Not only does this represent a significant source of air pollution, but it also represents a waste of energy resources. A pound of solvent requires an average of 23,000 Btu of energy to produce, in the form of the feedstock and processing energy expenditures. In 1988, the total amount of solvents emitted in the United States was over 4 billion pounds and represent 100 trillion Btu in energy loss. In the mid-1970`s, the 3M Company began developing the Brayton Cycle Heat Pump for solvent recovery (BCSRHP). In 1979, the US Department of Energy (DOE) began a project to fabricate and install a BCSRHP in a 3M plant in Hutchinson, Minnesota. DOE has continued sponsoring the development of a large BCSRHP system with 3M, and NUCON International (NUCON). In 1989 DOE and NUCON, with cosponsorship from the Electric Power Research Institute and Southern California Edison Company began development of a small-scale system for use by small emitters. To obtain data for design of the small-scale system, a small, mobile pilot plant was built by NUCON. Between 1990 and 1991, the pilot plant was demonstrated at four industrial sites in Southern California. The operation of the pilot plant was continuously monitored during the demonstrations, and its ability to remove VOCS, utility consumption and other operating characteristics were recorded and its performance quantified.

• Research Organization: Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States); Southern California Edison Co., Rosemead, CA (United States); Applied Utility Systems, Inc., Santa Ana, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States)
• OSTI ID: 10146150
• Report Number(s): EPRI-TR--102130; ON: UN93012610
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320303
320305
42 ENGINEERING
425001
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
BRAYTON
BRAYTON CYCLE
CHEMICALS MONITORING AND TRANSPORT
DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS
EQUIPMENT AND PROCESSES
HEAT PUMPS
INDUSTRIAL WASTE MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS RECOVERY
NAPHTHA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PENTANE
PERFORMANCE
SOLVENTS
VOLATILE MATTER
XYLENES