Thermal oxidizer removes VOCs from process exhaust

A direct-fired recuperative thermal oxidizer is being used to clean a coating line exhaust stream of organic hydrocarbon contaminants.

Designed and manufactured by Glenro Inc. (Paterson, NJ), the unit processes 21,000 scfm of exhaust and uses primary and secondary heat recovery subsystems to recapture much of the spent heat for process reuse.

Many manufacturers use oxidizers to meet increasingly stringent environmental controls on atmospheric release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The process in question, which Glenro declines to identify, produces both butyl cellusolve and methyl ether ketone (MEK) VOCs.

In the Glenro oxidizer, process exhaust is ducted to a combustion chamber, where a burner raises the air stream to a prescribed temperature.

Contaminants burn to harmless combustion products. Once the oxidizer reaches operating temperature, solvents in the exhaust stream ignite and serve as a heat source for their own destruction. The more solvent present in the exhaust, the lower the oxidizer's fuel requirements.

Th new Glenro oxidizer includes primary and secondary heat recovery capability. The primary recovery subsystem preheats the oxidizer's inlet air stream before it goes to the combustion chamber, which results in significant energy savings.

The secondary heat recovery system, which includes an insulated air mixing enclosure, mixes a controlled portion of the clean, hot, oxidized exhaust air with room air to supply energy to a process oven. The remainder is used to fire a waste heat boiler that produces steam.

According to Glenro, the system has capacity for:

• Primary heat recovery (exhaust preheat): 10,200,000 tu/hr at an air flow rate of 21,000 scfm
• Secondary heat recovery (oven process air): 12,500 scfm of air at 293 F
• Secondary heat recovery (boiler/steam generator): 267 boiler horsepower
• Secondary heat recovery (plant make up air): 50,000 cfm at 75 F

The oxidizer is constructed of high-grade stainless steel and other heavy-duty materials for long service life. Glenro ships it prewired, prepiped, outfitted with insulated ductwork, and skid mounted for easy handling and installation.

Glenro provides process heating engineering and equipment for a wide range of industries and applications.

For more information: Jim Alimena, Marketing Manager, Glenro Inc., 39 McBride Ave., Paterson, New Jersey 07501-1799. Phone: 888-453-6761. Fax: 973-279-9103.

Subscribe to our free e-mail newsletter.

Click for a free Buyer's Guide listing.