Regenerative Catalytic Oxidizer

Regenerative Catalytic Oxidizers (RCO) juxtapose the characteristics of a Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer with that of the low operating temperature of catalytic oxidizers. This duality provides the lowest operating cost VOC oxidation technology available for applications with low VOC concentrations.

As the process gas and VOC contaminants enter the twin bed RCO through the inlet manifold, a flow control valve directs this gas into an energy recovery chamber all while preheating the process stream. Moving towards the catalyst bed, the process gas and contaminants are progressively heated in the stoneware bed.

The VOCs undergo a chemical reaction as they are oxidized, and then converted to heat energy into the second stoneware bed. Thus, reducing any need for auxiliary fuel requirements. The stoneware bed is heated, and the gas is cooled so that the outlet gas temperature is only slightly higher than the inlet temperature. The flow valve switches which alternate the stoneware bed between inlet and outlet phases. If the process gas contains a sufficient amount of VOCs, the energy released from the combustion will self-sustain operation.

For example: an RCO at 95% thermal energy recovery may have an outlet temperature of 77° F, 25° F higher than the inlet, process gas temperature.

In an effort to minimize the dependency of an operator Regenerative Catalyst Oxidizers’ use PLCs, which are digital computers that are automated electromechanical controls.