What is the difference between a flare and a thermal oxidizer?

What is the difference between a flare and a thermal oxidizer?

A flare is designed for continuous, high concentration VOCs, where it can run in steady-state without any supplemental natural gas. A thermal oxidizer (TO) is designed to operate with some amount of supplemental natural gas, either for low concentration or non-continuous applications.

What does a thermal oxidizer do?

A Thermal Oxidizer (also referred to as a thermal oxidiser or incinerator) is a combustion device that controls volatile organic compounds (VOCs), hazardous air pollutants ( HAPs), and odors by converting (destroying) the emissions into CO2 and H2O through the use of heat before exhausting them to the atmosphere.

Where are thermal oxidizers used?

Thermal oxidizers are typically used to destroy hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from industrial air streams.

How much does a catalytic oxidizer cost?

The cost of an oxidizer can vary from $100,000 USD to over $500,000 USD, depending on system size, installation location, and the type selected.

How does an RTO work?

(1) A regenerative thermal oxidizer (RTO) works by pushing a pollutant-filled airstream through the oxidizer, usually with a system fan. (2) The flow of air through the RTO is controlled by valves that direct the airstream into one of two heat exchangers (chambers containing ceramic media beds).

What is an RTO in manufacturing?

A Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO) is an industrial system that destroys volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) in process exhaust air before it pollutes the environment.

What is oxidizer used for?

Oxidizers have a wide variety of applications including cleaners and disinfectants, agricultural fertilizers, rocket propellant and fuel, and explosives.

How does a regenerative thermal oxidizer work?

What is catalytic oxidizer?

Catalytic oxidizers, also known as catalytic incinerators, are oxidation systems (similar to thermal oxidizers) that control VOC and volatile HAP emissions. Catalytic oxidizers use a catalyst to promote the oxidation of VOCs to CO2 and water (i.e., increase the kinetic rate).

What is an RTO in HVAC?

A regenerative thermal oxidizer (RTO), is a type of air pollution control equipment designed to decompose volatile organic compounds (VOCs), hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), and other airborne solvents into innocuous CO2 and water vapor by heating the exhaust air to a very high temperature, over 1400°F.

What does RTO stand for on an oxidizer?

A Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO) is a combustion device that controls volatile organic compounds (VOCs), hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), and odors by converting (destroying) the emissions into CO2 and H2O through the use of heat before exhausting them to the atmosphere.

What are three common oxidizers?

Common oxidizers include Hydrogen peroxide, Nitric acid, Nitrate and Nitrite compounds, Perchloric acid and Perchlorate compounds, and Hypochlorite compounds, such as household bleach.

What is the most common oxidizer?

The most common reducing agents are metals, for they tend to lose electrons in their reactions with nonmetals. The most common oxidizing agents are halogens—such as fluorine (F2), chlorine (Cl2), and bromine (Br2)—and certain oxy anions, such as the permanganate…

What is an RTO machine?

A regenerative thermal oxidizer (RTO) is a type of air pollution control equipment that destroys hazardous air pollutants (HAP), volatile organic compounds (VOC) and odorous emissions created during industrial processes. RTOs are the most common air pollution control technology in use today.

How does catalytic oxidation work?

Catalytic oxidation are processes that rely on catalysts to introduce oxygen into organic and inorganic compounds. Many applications, including the focus of this article, involve oxidation by oxygen.

How does an oxidizer work?

Oxidizers are solids, liquids, or gases that react readily with most organic material or reducing agents with no energy input. Oxidizers are a severe fire hazard. They are not necessarily combustible, but they can intensify combustion and increase the flammable range for chemicals so they ignite more readily.

What is a recuperative thermal oxidizer?

What is a Recuperative Thermal Oxidizer? A recuperative thermal oxidizer uses a familiar air-to-air metal heat exchanger to recover heat from the hot, cleaned air before it is exhausted to atmosphere. The recovered heat is utilized to pre-heat incoming, dirty air. The heat recovery is typically around 70%.

How does a RTO work?

What is a Class 4 oxidizer?

Class 4: Oxidizers that will cause a severe increase in the burning rate of the combustible. materials with which they come into contact and will undergo an explosive reaction. due to contamination or exposure to thermal or physical shock: Ammonium perchlorate (> 15 micron particle.

What is the strongest oxidiser?

Elemental fluorine, for example, is the strongest common oxidizing agent.

What is the difference between thermal and catalytic oxidizers?

Catalytic oxidizers use a catalyst to promote the oxidation of VOCs to CO 2 and water (i.e., increase the kinetic rate). The catalyst therefore allows oxidation to occur at lower temperatures than for thermal oxidation; catalytic oxidizers generally operate between 650°F and 1000°F.

Where can I find more information about thermal oxidizers?

Other specific information about thermal oxidizers can be found from the EPA Air Pollution Control Cost Manual, Section 3.2, Chapter 2 – Incinerators and from EPA Fact Sheets. For more information, see the box More About Thermal Oxidizers.

How does flow rate affect thermal oxidizer control efficiency?

Thermal oxidizer control efficiency is primarily a function of combustion chamber temperature and residence time, and residence time is a function of exhaust gas flow rate. Consequently, as flow rate increases, residence time decreases and control efficiency also decreases.

What happens to waste heat from a thermal oxidizer?

In some applications, waste heat from the oxidizer can be recovered and used in other processes or converted to electric power. The main types of thermal oxidizers are direct fire, catalytic, recuperative, and regenerative.