Oxidizers RTO

Thermal oxidizers have been used for air pollution control for many decades and are one of the most accepted technologies for the destruction of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), and to some degree, odor. These pollutants are generally organic and can be destroyed by oxidation at a high temperature, i.e., converted into CO2 and H2O before being released into the atmosphere.

Thermal oxidizers are sometimes referred to as thermal incinerators. The technology can be compared to a “burner in a box”. They come in many different sizes, shapes, and configurations but all operate on the same basic principle of thermal combustion/oxidation. There are several types of thermal oxidizers that you may hear of in the marketplace but most often there are two types; direct fired thermal oxidizers (DFOs) and regenerative thermal oxidizers (RTOs).

You may also be familiar with catalytic oxidizers, either as regenerative catalytic oxidizers (RCOs) or recuperative catalytic oxidizers. A catalytic oxidizer is simply a thermal oxidizer with an added catalyst that allows effective oxidation at a much lower temperature.

The main purpose of an RTO is the destruction of VOCs and HAPs, commonly referred to as its Destruction Removal Efficiency (DRE). DRE is the percentage of VOCs/HAPs that are destroyed by the RTO. The DRE is determined by comparing the inlet concentration of VOCs/HAPs to the outlet concentration, typically in parts-per-million (ppm). Most RTOs are designed to achieve 95%-99% DRE.

RTOs are the most common and most widely used type of oxidizer today. It is the preferred oxidizer technology designed to destroy VOCs, HAPs, and other airborne pollutants. RTOs are the preferred choice due to their high destruction efficiencies and their ability to recover most of the thermal heat that is generated for the destruction of VOCs and HAPs.

The basic design parameters for any RTO in use today are based on the three “T’s”: Temperature, Time, and Turbulence. These three T’s are the basis of the RTO combustion chamber whereby the

The three “T’s” combined, ensure that all of the VOCs/HAPs are destroyed before exiting the exhaust stack.

The RTO mechanical process operates on the principle of alternating gas flow through multiple “beds” of ceramic heat exchange media. The inlet gas is first drawn into the system and up through the inlet bed where the gas pre-heats by contact with ceramic heat media. As the gas moves up through the ceramic media, the gas reaches temperatures of 1,400°F to 1,475°F. The gas then enters the combustion chamber where a burner (typically natural gas fired) operates to increase the gas temperature to between 1,500°F to 1,750°F. Thus, the previous reference to an RTO as a “burner in a box”.

Combustion Chamber Set Point

This temperature is referred to as “combustion chamber set point” and is the point where nearly all VOC and HAP compounds are destroyed and converted to CO2 and H2O. At this point the process gas, now cleaned of contaminants and heated, is directed downward through the outlet heat exchange media bed. The gas at the combustion chamber temperature relinquishes its heat to the ceramic media as it travels downward through the outlet bed.

After a two- to three-minute period, the RTO cycles so that valves reverse the airflow through the system (see below). This back and forth process, or cycle, is referred to as a regenerative thermal process.

The continual cycling of the RTO beds and subsequent recovery of heat from the ceramic media described above is referred to as Thermal Energy Recovery (TER) and is one of the key aspects of the RTO system. This regenerative process allows for a very high percentage of heat recovery and is rated based upon the percent of heat recovered. Typical TER values of the RTO will be in the 95-97% range.

The result is a clean air composed of CO2 and H2O that is approximately 50-100°F hotter than the incoming air and is then routed through exhaust stack into the atmosphere.

It’s the proven optimized technology supported by the expertise and experience of the LDX Solutions team, as well as the team’s and technology’s historical track record in ensuring long-term environmental compliance.

Our 35+ years of installing GeoTherm® RTO and GeoCat® RCO systems in North America demonstrates our commitment to our customers and to the reliability of our designs. Our installation list demonstrates our ability to meet a wide range of industry needs and ensures that our customers’ needs to optimize energy consumption with a robust, reliable system will be met. Along with our continued efforts of our aftermarket technical team to support installations long after start-up and commissioning have occurred, these advantages go beyond the offering of a cost-effective system.

Simplicity Meets Performance

The GeoTherm® RTO uses a simple, state-of-the-art design to achieve the highest thermal and destruction efficiencies. The intent of an RTO is to decompose volatile organic compounds (VOCs), hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) into innocuous CO2 and H2O by heating the exhaust air to a very high temperature.

The GeoTherm® RTO design is available in multi-canister arrangements for airflows ranging from 2,500 scfm to over 200,000 scfm. Either forced draft or induced draft fan arrangements are utilized depending on the upstream application. The GeoTherm® RTO design utilizes fast acting poppet valves and can include any arrangement/combination of ceramic heat exchange media (structured, or random type). The LDX Solutions engineers select the arrangement of ceramic heat exchange media specifically for the application in order to optimize operating costs and VOC destruction efficiency. This means up to 99% VOC destruction and 97% thermal efficiencies for environmental compliance, year in and year out. In applications with higher VOC loadings the system may even be able to operate in a self-sustaining mode in which no additional fuel is necessary to destroy VOCs.

Fast-Acting Poppet Valves

The GeoTherm® RTO system is a legacy RTO utilizing multiple, fast acting poppet-style diverter valves located at ground level to control the direction of flow through the RTO unit. These valves act together to direct the gas stream into and out of heat recovery chambers located directly above each valve.

Each heat recovery chamber is a vertical section filled with ceramic media. Working in tandem, the diverter valves alternate the direction of flow through the unit on a pre-determined cycle. This back-and-forth, regenerative operation allows the GeoTherm® RTO to recover 95% of the heat generated in the burner chamber and greatly minimizes fuel costs.

Geoenergy® Brand

Our RTOs have been operating successfully for over 26+ years in some of the harshest process environments in the air pollution control industry, serving the industries of:

The next Evolution in RTO design & performance, the EVOlution RTO®. LDX Solutions has developed a state-of-the-art RTO that combines the highest performance and reliability in the marketplace today. No need to compromise – The New Standard is Here.

The EVOlution RTO® is the product of over 35 years of LDX team experience with regenerative thermal oxidation technology. Engineered and tested based on input from RTO users, its design addresses historical shortcomings and incorporates “what works well”. EVOlution RTO® achieves over 99% destruction efficiency (DRE) and up to 97% thermal energy recovery (TER). Designed for maximum shop assembly resulting in higher quality construction and lower installation cost, EVO features innovations that deliver quiet, reliable operation with virtually no impact on the upstream process. Our dedicated and results oriented team will ensure your RTO will efficiently operate resulting in lower utility costs.

Evolution RTO™ owners benefit from the best RTO features currently available – The New Standard. The pre-engineered design combined with the reassurance of industry experts provides an unparalleled customer experience.