Activated Carbon Adsorber as Backup for Thermal Oxidizer

Activated carbon backup for thermal oxidizer
Courtesy Process Combustion Corporation

Volatile organic compounds (VOC) are one class of air pollutants with emission limits described in law. Industrial plants that produce VOC as part of their processing must take steps for the removal or destruction of the pollutant prior to discharge in the atmosphere.

Thermal oxidization systems are routinely employed to remove volatile organic compounds from industrial emission air streams. The systems deliver some operational advantages.

• Ease of operation
• Flexibility to match process changes
• Continuous operation without need to change disposables
• No byproducts requiring further handling or disposal
• Simple process with small number of components
• Broad application range for VOC

Operation of the thermal oxidation system is essential to maintaining continuance of plant operations, since the oxidizer continually processes plant output. The potential costs associated with a work stoppage due to malfunction or maintenance of the thermal oxidation system may make the installation of a backup VOC processor a prudent business decision.

Activated carbon is a well recognized material for the capture of VOC. Along with the addition of other sorbents, the scavenging profile of the fixed adsorbent bed can be tailored to specific process demands. The activated carbon processor is essentially a filtration unit that traps the target compounds as discharged process air flows through the unit. It is a simple effective system with known performance parameters

An activated carbon adsorber will serve as an effective backup unit for a thermal oxidizer. The limitations of the activated carbon unit are its rated flow rate for which VOC removal is defined, as well as the fixed holding capacity of the adsorbent itself. Once spent, the adsorbent must be regenerated or replaced. In selecting a properly sized backup VOC adsorber, these factors should be taken into account.

Share your VOC pollution control challenges with specialists in the field. The combination of your own process knowledge and experience with their product application expertise will produce effective solutions.

Thermal Oxidation Applied For Emissions Control

Pollution control - Part of successful plant operation

Thermal oxidation is a process employed in a number of diverse industries as a means of pollution and emissions control. Essentially, the process uses heat to promote the breakdown of hazardous air pollutants and volatile organic compounds into less harmful byproducts. Many pollutants are hydrocarbon based and when properly processed will oxidize efficiently and provide an output consisting primarily of H2O and CO2.

The process employs a number of inputs, aside from the subject pollutant stream. A fuel input is needed to maintain the elevated temperature that will force oxidation of the pollutants. Being essentially a combustion operation, there are opportunities to boost efficiency and minimize the expenditure for the fuel inputs. Heat recovery is an essential element of achieving high efficiency levels. This can take many forms, depending upon what the energy needs of the facility might be. One option is a waste heat boiler to produce steam for other plant operations. There are many other options which will be discovered with a thorough review and analysis of the plant operations.

Process Combustion Corporation, a recognized manufacturer of oxidation technology, defines thermal oxidation, as it applies to pollution and emissions control, like this:

Thermal oxidation is the effective employment of a process that provides thorough mixing of an organic substance with sufficient oxygen, at a high enough temperature, for a sufficient time, to cause the organics to oxidize to the desired degree of completion.

Achieving effective utilization of a thermal oxidation system requires the application of experienced engineering talent. Share your emissions and pollution control requirements and challenges with specialists. Combining your knowledge of plant facilities and operation with their pollution control expertise will produce effective solutions.