How the Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer Works

The Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer is a robust process that uses high temperatures to clean exhaust gases. The air enters the unit at high pressure and then moves through a ceramic media bed that heats and cools the air. After the air passes through the media, the air is then exhausted into the atmosphere.

The operating cost of an RTO varies based on the type and concentration of air pollution, system complexity, and other factors. Depending on the specifics of your chemical process, operating costs can add up to thousands of dollars per year. You should seek professional advice before settling on an RTO.

Thermal oxidizers work by converting airborne volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into water and CO2. The process starts with a natural gas burner that heats the air stream to 1500 degrees Fahrenheit. Industrial exhaust gases are then pushed into the oxidation chamber, and the reaction is completed in a fraction of a second. Once complete, the exhaust gases are then released into the air via the stack.

Regenerative thermal oxidizers are highly effective at controlling air pollution because they decompose hazardous air pollutants, volatile organic compounds, and solvents into water vapor and carbon dioxide. As a result, RTOs can reduce air pollution by as much as 97 percent without harming the environment or the air quality.

Regenerative Thermal Oxidizers are part of an air pollution control system that helps to reduce the emissions of harmful air pollutants, greenhouse gases, and odors. They use extremely high temperatures to break volatile organic compounds into harmless ones. Moreover, they are EPA-approved and help treat contaminated gases and aerosolized solvents.

The primary indicators of thermal oxidizer performance are the outlet exhaust gas VOC concentration, the combustion chamber temperature, the CO and O2 concentrations, and the extra fuel line pressure. The CAM TGD has more details on these parameters. You can also find the monitoring information for different industries on the industry type page.