Catalytic Products International (CPI) installed a new Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO) at a Southeastern USA composite automotive parts supplier for the abatement of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).
- Process Type: Automotive Parts paint spray booth, flash-off area, and drying ovens.
- VOC: Automotive paint
- Process Air Volume: 20,000 scfm
- Control Type: Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO)
- Destruction Rate of Efficiency (DRE): 98%
- Installation: CPI installed RTO, inlet ductwork, control house, and stack.
The 20,000 SCFM TRITON-20.95 Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO) controls emissions from a spray booth, flash-off area, and drying oven. The RTO was designed using the same design criteria established for a similar CPI installation at one of the customer’s sister facilities.
The RTO will destroy the VOC emissions with 98% destruction rate efficiency and a thermal efficiency of 95%.
Thermal treatment of VOCs and other air pollutants works by a simple reaction of the harmful hydrocarbon-based air pollutants with oxygen and heat. In this environment, the VOCs are chemically oxidized to form harmless inert by-products like CO2, water vapor (H2O), and usable heat. These harmless by-products are released to the atmosphere or used within primary or secondary energy recovery techniques to further lower the operational cost.
The Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO) system incorporates specialized ceramic media in the regenerator (heat transfer bed) to allow thermal efficiencies up to 97%. RTOs operate by preheating the process air as it passes upward through the first ceramic heat exchange media. This pre-heated air then exits the heat exchange media and enters a combustion chamber where it is heated to the setpoint temperature and oxidization of the VOCs is completed at greater than 98% efficiency. The resultant hot, clean air stream is then passed downward through the second ceramic heat exchange media bed where it is cooled before being released to the atmosphere.
Catalytic Products International (CPI) worked closely with the customer and paint system supplier to design, fabricate, and install the Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO), including booster fan, exhaust stack, compressed air desiccant dryer, fan inlet duct skid with process by-pass T-dampers, and a skid mounted electrical control room. CPI provided a complete engineering package including damper design details and layout, foundation design, and utility requirements. This approach, along with CPI start-up and commissioning, guaranteed that the entire system was installed correctly, returning the customer to fully operational status with minimal downtime.
Established in 1969, Catalytic Products International (CPI) continues as a leading supplier of air pollution control equipment. CPI is at the forefront in providing industries including automotive components manufacturing facilities with solutions to their air pollution control needs.
Today, CPI partners with its customers as a trusted resource in resolving the most complex air pollution and energy conservation problems. We provide our customers with innovative and cost-conscious solutions to their most complex VOC, NOx, and Odor pollution challenges. Our equipment is also at work meeting energy conservation strategies and minimizing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
