Keys to Thermal Oxidizer Design
The main keys to identify each application are:
Flow rate:
VOCs or composition:
% of each VOC or combustible (high concentration produces plenty of heat so direct TO may be best.)
Oxygen concentration:
% O2 (impacts burner selection and operation.)
Inert concentration:
Inclusion of lots of H2O or CO2 impacts design and burner selection
Temperature:
Slightly over ambient temperature could mean carbon cannot adsorb while much higher temperatures mean less auxiliary fuel required and easier to destroy but accommodations needed for high gas temperature.
Particulate presence:
High Particulate must be dealt with by TO design or auxiliary equipment addition
Acid production/presence:
Acid presence impacts TO design and addition of auxiliary equipment
Auxiliary fuel available:
Type of fuel to be fired impacts burner and TO design
N compound presence:
Nitrogen compounds impact TO design because N compounds can produce high levels of NOx.