Regenerative thermal oxidizing towers (RTOs) depend on the ceramic media within to optimize the tower's performance and efficiency. The selection of ceramic media type can make a significant difference throughout the lifespan of the RTO in terms of time and costs. There are differences and nuances among ceramic media choices. Understanding these differences can help operators and plant managers make a well-informed decision that helps reach target goals for pollutant removal and air quality control while cutting maintenance time and sparing energy expenditures.

The average lifespan of a regenerative thermal oxidizer (RTO) can vary between ten to 20 years or even more. In fact, a well-designed RTO can outlast the personnel working at the facility. However, suppose you think a 20-year-old piece of capital equipment is outdated and not up to par with current operational demands, regulations or the newest efficiency equipment. In that case, the good news is that there are ways to update the RTO process to meet current trends.

What is escaping from your regenerative oxidizing tower (RTO)? Wasted energy could release profits while you strive to capture volatile organic compounds (VOCs). A variety of factors can impact the thermal efficiency of your RTO. The choice of RTO packing material for the ceramic bed can play a critical role in optimizing thermal efficiencies. Optimizing thermal efficiencies directly correlates to energy savings—your choice of ceramic media matters.

Many industries require a regenerative thermal oxidizing (RTO) tower to remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to meet environmental compliance standards. The ceramic heat transfer media within the tower acts as an essential element to enable efficient operations. The best tower build or retrofit enables “set it and forget it” operations—requiring little maintenance while supplying trouble-free performance for years to come.

As a previous part of Koch Industries, the second largest privately held company in the United States, many doors opened while our company was part of the Koch Engineered Solutions group. After a divestiture to High Street Capital in December of 2021, we became a new venture under the name Knight Material Technologies. Yet, our central location has always been in northeast Ohio. This new divestiture has also opened doors for us to expand our offerings in innovative solutions, services, and new infrastructure. We also have a blank slate to develop our unique culture and invest in community outreach. And it all started with our sponsorship of a major event over Labor Day weekend this September.

Extremely corrosive processing applications, such as those for sulfuric acid production or hydrometallurgy, require resistant interior linings on equipment to help prevent leaks and corresponding hazardous consequences, including environmental contamination or damaged equipment. Knight Material Technologies (KMT) offers its proprietary PYROFLEX^® sheet membrane liner as an integral part of its system for corrosion protection in autoclaves, chemical processing vessels and equipment that require materials resistant to sulfuric acid.

Increase efficiencies, reduce energy costs and avoid unplanned shutdowns by making the right choice of ceramic media in your regenerative thermal oxidizing (RTO) towers. Both random and structured media from Knight Material Technologies supply the industry’s most effective engineered design to absorb heat, ensure low pressure drop and avoid plugging.