Regenerative Thermal Oxidizers (RTO)
A regenerative thermal oxidizer (RTO) is an air pollution control device that destroys VOCs and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) in industrial exhaust air. By using regenerative heat recovery, it achieves high fuel efficiency, often operating with 95% heat recovery.
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RTO Case Studies
RTO Operation
Maintaining an RTO
Selecting an RTO
FAQs
We can evaluate the existing oxidizer capacity and the requirements of the new process and determine the best approach to upgrade the oxidizer. This could include new heat exchanger media, a larger fan or possibly both. We would also evaluate things like the burner system and combustion chamber size to verify it can provide the required destruction levels. Some applications would be a good match for a VOC concentrator that can significantly concentrate (>10:1) airstreams currently exhausting to the oxidizer.
Regenerative thermal oxidizers have a heat recovery (efficiency) of 95% typically. This technology has the lowest operating cost of all thermal oxidizer systems – not to mention the longest service life and highest reliability. It’s even possible for an RTO to operate with no auxiliary fuel use whatsoever if process VOC concentration levels are >3-4% lower flammability limit (LFL).
The term “regenerative” in regenerative thermal oxidizer is drawn from the type of ceramic media heat exchanger used in these systems. It is unique in that it captures heat from the exhausting, clean airstream during one cycle and releases the heat to the incoming, dirty airstream in the next cycle. The heat is captured (and released) from beds of ceramic media. The RTO incorporates switching valves to cycle the direction of the airflow through the RTO heat exchanger beds to enable regenerative heat recovery.
TOX typically have a 0.5 second to 1.0 second dwell time for most applications.
Yes, we can evaluate the heat exchanger whether it be metal (recuperative) or ceramic media (regenerative) and determine whether it can be upgraded to a more efficient type. Or maybe catalyst could be added in this case. In some cases it may be better to replace the current oxidizer with something more efficient. In that case we can look at our inventory and determine whether we have something that will provide better gas efficiency. If not, we can provide a custom system designed specifically for your needs.
