What Are Thermal Oxidizers and Who Uses Them?

Thermal oxidizers are special processing units for air pollution control. Chemical plants and factories use them to destroy hazardous gases and other air pollutants. Oxidizers decompose these pollutants from industrial air streams and release them into the atmosphere. 

Typical thermal oxidizers destroy two types of pollutants: Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAP) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC). Most of these pollutants consist of hydrocarbons. Thermal combustion destroys them by changing their chemical makeup to form carbon dioxide (CO2) or water (H2O). 

Combustion Controls Solutions and Environmental Services (CCS&ES) is a good example of a company that provides thermal oxidizer services. Thermal oxidation services use new technologies and innovations to meet the growing demand for a cleaner, greener environment. The most common air pollution control systems include regenerative, recuperative, catalytic and direct fired oxidizers.

Regenerative Thermal Oxidizers

Regenerative thermal oxidizers (RTO) use the most widely accepted air pollution control technologies in the world. These versatile systems can reach 95 percent thermal efficiency. Present in a broad range of industries, they are commonly used for the abatement of solvent fumes and gas odors. 

Recuperative Thermal Oxidizers

Recuperative thermal oxidizers utilize less-used technologies for air pollution control. Their systems have primary and secondary exchangers that preheat incoming dirty air by recuperating heat from clean air. Recuperative oxidizers are also capable of thermal efficiency upwards of 95 percent. 

Catalytic Thermal Oxidizers

Catalytic thermal oxidizers cause a chemical reaction between hazardous hydrocarbons and internal, precious-metal catalyst beds. The catalyst substances accelerate this chemical reaction. Many industrial plants choose these air pollution control systems due to their energy savings and economic benefits. 

Direct Fired Thermal Oxidizers

Direct fired thermal oxidizers (DFTO) use the simplest oxidation technologies. Also called afterburners, these air pollution control systems can destroy hydrocarbons with 99 percent efficiency. They are similar in function to recuperative oxidizers, and they are less expensive than RTO systems.

Other Thermal Oxidizers

Ventilation air methane thermal oxidizers (VAMTO) are used to destroy methane gas in coal and trona mines. Methane is a greenhouse gas, and thermal combustion alters it to a less harmful emission.

To learn more about thermal oxidizers from Combustion Controls Solutions and Environmental Services, visit OxidizerService.com. Recognized for their market leadership, CCS&ES can help industries choose the right air pollution controls for their specific needs.