Thermal Oxidizers
Thermal oxidizers integrate with industrial systems to process pollutants before they are released into the environment. As combustion devices, thermal oxidizers heat fumes to approximately 1500 °F (815 °C). At this temperature, hydrocarbon-based pollutants undergo oxidation, which converts them into heat, water (H2O), and Carbon Dioxide (CO2). These less harmful vapors are then cooled and emitted in lieu of the original HAPs and VOCs.
Types of Oxidizers
The type of thermal oxidizer affects how processing works. The primary subtypes of thermal oxidizers are:
- Direct Fired Thermal Oxidizers (DFTO): Also called fume incinerators, enclosed flares, or afterburners, direct-fired thermal oxidizers are simple, cost-effective units comprising a burner and a combustion chamber. Contaminated exhaust vents directly into the chamber, where it is heated and then released. Anguil’s DFTOs can achieve a destruction rate exceeding 99.9% efficiency.
- Recuperative Thermal Oxidizer: Recuperative oxidizers incorporate heat exchangers to decrease fuel requirements. Pollutant-laden air first passes through the heat exchanger, which preheats the airstream. Since this air enters the combustion chamber at higher temperatures, less fuel is necessary to achieve oxidation. Anguil’s recuperative thermal oxidizers are available in various configurations to accommodate different types of contaminants. They run efficiently with low operating costs, achieving destruction rates over 99.9%.
- Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO): Regenerative oxidizers are the most energy-efficient oxidizers available, using ceramic heat exchange media to recover up to 97% of thermal energy generated in processing. This capacity significantly reduces operating costs and fuel consumption, with the fuel-free operation being possible at very low VOC concentrations.
- Regenerative Catalytic Oxidizers (RCO): Regenerative catalytic oxidizers decrease fuel consumption even further compared to RTOs. Their overall design is the same, with a ceramic heat exchange media recapturing almost all of the heat that is produced. The difference is that the ceramic medium in an RCO contains an added catalyst, which allows combustion to occur at a comparatively lower temperature. This means that even less energy and fuel are required to sustain the necessary oxidation temperature.
- Rotary Concentrators: Emission concentrators are specialized systems that process large quantities of polluted air with low pollutant concentrations. They use zeolite rotors to continuously strip and adsorb VOCs from the airflow. Approximately 95% of the VOCs can be removed from the process stream which are then released back into a smaller and consequently more concentrated airflow that moves into the oxidizer. Not only is this process more efficient for low-concentration polluted airstream, but it is extremely cost-effective, with the oxidizer consuming nearly zero fuel in many cases.
Applications of Oxidizers
Thermal oxidizers can be used in any facility that outputs VOCs and HAPs. Common processes that call for pollutant capture include painting, coating, printing, mining, chemical processing, and more.
Industries that rely on oxidizers to manage air quality include:
- Automotive Manufacturing
- Chemical Processing
- Coating & Converting
- Composites & Carbon Fiber
- Electronics & Semiconductors
- Energy & Heat Recovery
- Food & Beverage Processing
- Metal Coating
- Mining
- Natural Gas
- Painting & Spraying
- Pharmaceutical & Medical Devices
- Printing & Packaging
- Refining & Petrochemical
- Soil & Groundwater Remediation
- Renewable Energy
- Rubber Curing
Tailored Oxidizer Solutions
At Relevant Industrial, we offer specific burners and controls for your industrial needs. Our team of experts collaborates with you to design and implement oxidizer combustion systems that optimize your processes, enhance efficiency, and ensure regulatory compliance. Contact us today to learn how our oxidizer solutions can benefit your operations.