Environmental

A key component to any regenerative thermal oxidizer (RTO) is using proper heat transfer media to mitigate potential problems while ensuring reliable, economical and safe operation. Our structured and random media can resolve your RTO problems, like pressure drop, energy usage, alkali attack, particulate accumulation or a combination of issues.

Products

TER (Thermal Energy Recovery efficiency)

  
150 SCFM /ft2 200 SCFM /ft2 250 SCFM /ft2 300 SCFM /ft2 350 SCFM /ft2
FLEXERAMIC® 28 Structured Packing 95.54% 95.12% 94.77% 94.46% 94.19%
1" LPD® Random Packing 93.46% 92.86% 92.35% 91.91% 91.53%
1" FLEXISADDLE® Random Packing 93.46% 92.86% 92.35% 91.91% 91.53%

Pressure Drop (inches wc through inlet and outlet beds)

  
150 SCFM /ft2 200 SCFM /ft2 250 SCFM /ft2 300 SCFM /ft2 350 SCFM /ft2
FLEXERAMIC® 28 Structured Packing 3.8" 6.8" 10.6" 15.3" 20.9"
1" LPD® Random Packing 4.7" 8.3" 13.0" 18.8" 25.7"
1" FLEXISADDLE® Random Packing 5.9" 10.6" 16.6" 23.9" 32.6"

Conditions: based on two 8’ deep beds with 70°F inlet, 1500°F combustion, and 180 second switch time. Fuel is natural gas with 0% excess combustion air added.

Regenerative Thermal Oxidizers Markets and Applications

New types of industrial processing can challenge companies to comply with increasingly stringent emissions regulations. Those include industries that involve high gas flow rates, low VOC concentrations and intermittent or variable VOC emissions, such as those found in the printing, coating and chemical industries. Various equipment types can be employed to supply air pollution control. However, an RTO presents an effective solution for companies that need to control emissions from multiple process streams with different VOC compositions, as the system can handle a wide range of VOC concentrations and flow rates.

RTOs are a widely used technology for air pollution control, particularly for industrial applications that emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The market for RTOs is estimated to grow through 2027 in response to rapid industrialization and the need to comply with the regulatory policies of individual countries or municipalities.

Typical industries that utilize RTOs to comply with emissions regulations include:
  • Printing and packaging. These use a variety of solvents and inks that emit VOCs.
  • Chemical manufacturing. This industry might be most closely associated with VOCs, encompassing many products and processes, such as plastics, rubber, cleansing agents or adhesives.
  • Automotive. Painting and coating operations associated with automotive manufacturing contribute to VOC emissions.
  • Semiconductor manufacturing. Semiconductor fabs utilize a wide range of solvents and chemicals during manufacturing.
  • Pulp and paper. Manufacturing many different types of wood products includes chemicals that can omit VOCs.
  • Pharmaceuticals. Depending on the end product, processing may involve solvents or other chemicals that emit VOCs.
Emerging industries and growing VOC emissions

In the last ten years, emerging or growing industries can be added to the list of applications requiring an RTO for emissions control. As each industry grows and processing facilities increase in size or production capacity, an RTO can capture the VOC emissions and pollutants.

Multiple benefits associated with the right RTO installation include greater RTO energy efficiency and energy savings, enabling compliance with local and federal emissions regulations, and further, promoting brand image associated with a company’s sustainability efforts related to environmental issues.

Installation of an RTO to capture pollutants for the betterment of the environment could be considered eco-innovation. The phrase refers to any corporate effort to foster sustainability and green business practices. Companies that invest in eco-innovation efforts typically experience better growth rates than companies that do not, according to one market research study.

A few up-and-coming industries that must deal with VOCs can include:
  • Additive manufacturing. Additive manufacturing or 3D printing processes is growing an average of 30% per year. Processes associated with this manufacturing technology can emit VOCs, particulate matter or other pollutants related to the materials and solvents used during the additive printing process. These can vary depending on the type of process used. Total VOC emission rates were higher from stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing than fused filament fabrication (FFF).
  • Cannabis. The cannabis industry provides another example of a relatively new industry that may require an RTO for emissions control. Cannabis cultivation and processing can involve using solvents such as butane, propane and ethanol for extraction, which can emit VOCs and other pollutants into the environment. This industry is currently governed on a state-by-state basis. Individual states and some local municipalities have enacted emissions regulations that might require control technologies with a high VOC destruction efficiency. This industry has a projected CAGR of 26.2% through 2030, with an anticipated market size for legalized cannabis of 135 billion.
  • Biomass energy conversion. Another industry of note is biomass conversion for energy or other purposes. Biomass pellet plants, for example, can emit formaldehyde, a hazardous air pollutant. Larger pellet plants are prescribed RTOs to control VOC emissions emanating from wood dryers. The global biomass power market alone has a CAGR of 5.73% through 2030.

Geometrically arranged corrugated blocks such as FLEXERAMIC® structured packing media from Knight provide greater fouling resistance. This highly engineered design can shave height off the RTO tower to cut initial construction costs and ongoing maintenance. The system design supplies high capacity, greater RTO energy efficiency and lower pressure drop compared to random ceramic packing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The media used in a regenerative thermal oxidizer (RTO) consists of various ceramic packing materials or structured components which are placed inside the tower or chamber along with other engineered internal components. The selected RTO media creates a large surface area for heat exchange and pollutant absorption during the treatment of industrial exhaust gases. Proper media selection and placement promote efficient heat recovery and pollutant removal, which enables companies to meet emissions requirements.

The types of media used in a regenerative thermal oxidizer (RTO) typically include ceramic saddles, structured packing or other random packing materials. These media are used in the RTO bed to create a large surface area for heat exchange and pollutant removal during the treatment of industrial exhaust gases.

In the context of a regenerative thermal oxidizer (RTO), the media for heat transfer typically refers to the packing materials used within the RTO tower. These materials, such as random ceramic saddles or structured packing, are strategically arranged to facilitate efficient heat exchange between hot and cold gas streams. This serves the twin purpose of helping to preheat incoming pollutants while also reducing energy consumption during the oxidation process.

The choice of the best heat transfer medium for regenerative thermal oxidizers (RTOs) depends on various factors such as operating temperature, specific application requirements and efficiency goals. The selection often involves consideration of materials such as ceramic saddles or structured metallic packing. These both serve to optimize heat exchange and thermal efficiency within the RTO system.

One disadvantage of structured metallic packing compared to ceramic saddles is that metallic materials are typically more susceptible to corrosion when exposed to certain aggressive or corrosive gases and environments. This susceptibility to corrosion can lead to a shorter lifespan and the need for more frequent replacement or maintenance of structured metallic packing, which can increase operational costs.

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