Direct-fired thermal oxidizers
Direct-fired thermal oxidizers
WHEN OTHER THERMAL OXIDATION UNITS WON’T GET THE JOB DONE
For manufacturers that produce high-VOC emissions, it can be difficult to find the right thermal oxidation system to ensure compliance with the regulations of the EPA or other governing bodies.
Many thermal oxidation solutions aren’t equipped to handle high concentrations of VOCs and HAPs over long periods of time and may fail or be damaged by emissions that contain them. Circumstances like these are common across many industries, thankfully, NESTEC provides a solution for them.
DESTROYING HIGH-CONCENTRATION VOCS
When it comes to achieving prime DRE no matter what, there is simply no substitute for the direct-fired thermal oxidizer. Sometimes called an afterburner, enclosed flare or vapor combustor, these powerful systems are among the simplest in the world of thermal oxidation.
DFTOs work by taking in the process emissions and introducing them to a firing chamber through or near a burner operating at temperatures between 1,800 and 2,200 Fahrenheit. Airflow rates in the firing chamber range between 500 to 50,000 standard cubic feet per minute, but keep the emissions contained until the required DRE is reached. Once the emissions have been processed by the thermal oxidizer, safe air and water vapor are released from the chamber.
Despite the larger size and capabilities of a DFTO, from a production and installation standpoint, these systems are among the least capital intensive. When applied incorrectly, however, operating costs can be extreme, because there is no form of heat recovery. These types of oxidizers are best in environments where they take in a high volume of VOCs, enabling the unit to use those emissions as a fuel source for complete combustion at the targeted operating temperature.
Typical applications include treatment of flare gas or other streams having a BTU/SCF value of 500 or greater, such as landfill methane extraction off-gas; or systems that require the mixing of upper flammability limit (UFL) gases with air to create an oxidizable VOC concentration.
NESTEC has partnered with specialty burner manufacturers to ensure the required DRE and has helped place or improve direct-fired thermal oxidizers for manufacturers across the country.
