Thermal Oxidizers

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) are the classifications of

pollutants emitted by air streams from industrial processes. These pollutants, mostly made up of

hydrocarbons, are harmful to the environment as well as humans. Thus, thermal oxidizers are placed in

industrial streams to turn the hydrocarbons in VOCs and HAPs from CO2 to H2O.

The block design of thermal oxidizers is composed of an oxidation chamber wherein incoming exhaust

from the process system is treated with high temperature combustion, triggered by an igniter and

air/oxygen-fuel mixture. There is also a blower which manages the flow density of the incoming exhaust

and the time of exposure to combustion before being flushed out (for maximum Destruction & Removal

Efficiency i.e. DRE). The two main configurations of thermal oxidizers are recuperative and regenerative.

Their models can be seen below.

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Regenerative oxidizers are the most widely used type of pollution control technology. They are energy

efficient and have high DRE’s (up to 99%+). Recuperative thermal oxidizers are less common than

regenerative systems. This unit uses a heat exchanger to basically “exchange” clean air with the polluted

air. There is a third type of thermal oxidizer not mentioned above, called an afterburner, which are only

used on occasion. Afterburners are direct-fired units, which are the least-capital intensive, but are only

used in situations in which there are a very high concentration of VOCs.

The major contributors of HAPs and VOCs to the environment are industries involving manufacture of

cement, ceramics, glass, detergents, alcohol, fertilizers, inorganic and organic chemicals,

petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, polymers, resins, PVCs, etc. Thus, thermal oxidizers are needed in

these industries to monitor exhausts and to adhere to stringent emission criteria.

For more information on thermal oxidizers, contact Stelter & Brinck at 513-367-9300 or

http://www.stelterbrinck.com/thermal-oxidizers.htm

Keywords: Thermal Oxidizer, regenerative thermal oxidizer, RTO, air pollution controls, recuperative

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