Optimum Conditions for Effective Decomposition of Toluene as VOC Gas by Pilot-Scale Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer
Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO) is one of the
best solutions for removal of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)
from industrial processes. In the RTO, VOC in a raw gas are usually
decomposed at 950-1300 K and the combustion heat of VOC is
recovered by regenerative heat exchangers charged with ceramic
honeycombs. The optimization of the treatment of VOC leads to the
reduction of fuel addition to VOC decomposition, the minimization of
CO2 emission and operating cost as well.
In the present work, the thermal efficiency of the RTO was
investigated experimentally in a pilot-scale RTO unit using toluene as
a typical representative of VOC. As a result, it was recognized that the
radiative heat transfer was dominant in the preheating process of a raw
gas when the gas flow rate was relatively low. Further, it was found
that a minimum heat exchanger volume to achieve self combustion of
toluene without additional heating of the RTO by fuel combustion was
dependent on both the flow rate of a raw gas and the concentration of
toluene. The thermal efficiency calculated from fuel consumption and
the decomposed toluene ratio, was found to have a maximum value of
0.95 at a raw gas mass flow rate of 1810 kg·h-1 and honeycombs height
of 1.5m.
[1] Ministry of the Environment Government of Japan, PRTR information
plaza Japan, http://www.env.go.jp/en/chemi/prtr/prtr.html.
[2] Ministry of the Environment Government of Japan, "Cabinet Decision on
a Bill to Control the Emission of VOCs",
http://www.env.go.jp/en/press/2004/0308a.html, 2004.
[3] Ministry of the Environment Government of Japan, "Contents of New
Emission Regulation of Volatile Organic Compounds",
http://www.env.go.jp/en/press/2005/0606a.html, 2005.
[4] Ministry of the Environment Government of Japan, "Summary of VOCs
emission control system",
http://www.env.go.jp/air/osen/voc/seido/001.pdf, (in Japanese).
[5] H. Hayashi, "PSA shiki VOC-VRU souti", Dai 8 kai Toukai-tiku bunnri
gijyutu kouenkai, 2007, pp.1-5, (in Japanese).
[6] Y. Ikeda, "VOC makubunnri kaisyu souti no goshoukai", Dai 8 kai
Toukai-tiku bunnri gijyutu kouenkai, 2007, pp.6-11, (in Japanese).
[7] T. Yamamoto, "Houden wo riyoushita VOC shori gijyutu",
Seidenkigakkaishi, 1995, vol. 19, no.4 pp.301-305, (in Japanese).
[8] Y. Yoshimura, "Netsu kaisyu kouritu ni sugureta tikunetushiki dassyu
souti [RTO] shouenerugi gata seibutu dassyu souti [baio-supa]", Kogio
Toryou, 1998, vol. 150, pp.80-83, (in Japanese).
[9] The Japan Society of Industrial Machinery Manufactures, "VOC shori
gijyutu semina text", 1995, (in Japanese).
[10] A. Tsutida, S. Yamazaki and M. Akiyama, "Dennetsu Kogaku Ensyu",
Gakken, 1965, pp.204-260 (in Japanese).
[11] D. Kunii, "Netuteki Tani Sosa (jyo)", Maruzen, 1976, pp.210-246 (in
Japanese)
[1] Ministry of the Environment Government of Japan, PRTR information
plaza Japan, http://www.env.go.jp/en/chemi/prtr/prtr.html.
[2] Ministry of the Environment Government of Japan, "Cabinet Decision on
a Bill to Control the Emission of VOCs",
http://www.env.go.jp/en/press/2004/0308a.html, 2004.
[3] Ministry of the Environment Government of Japan, "Contents of New
Emission Regulation of Volatile Organic Compounds",
http://www.env.go.jp/en/press/2005/0606a.html, 2005.
[4] Ministry of the Environment Government of Japan, "Summary of VOCs
emission control system",
http://www.env.go.jp/air/osen/voc/seido/001.pdf, (in Japanese).
[5] H. Hayashi, "PSA shiki VOC-VRU souti", Dai 8 kai Toukai-tiku bunnri
gijyutu kouenkai, 2007, pp.1-5, (in Japanese).
[6] Y. Ikeda, "VOC makubunnri kaisyu souti no goshoukai", Dai 8 kai
Toukai-tiku bunnri gijyutu kouenkai, 2007, pp.6-11, (in Japanese).
[7] T. Yamamoto, "Houden wo riyoushita VOC shori gijyutu",
Seidenkigakkaishi, 1995, vol. 19, no.4 pp.301-305, (in Japanese).
[8] Y. Yoshimura, "Netsu kaisyu kouritu ni sugureta tikunetushiki dassyu
souti [RTO] shouenerugi gata seibutu dassyu souti [baio-supa]", Kogio
Toryou, 1998, vol. 150, pp.80-83, (in Japanese).
[9] The Japan Society of Industrial Machinery Manufactures, "VOC shori
gijyutu semina text", 1995, (in Japanese).
[10] A. Tsutida, S. Yamazaki and M. Akiyama, "Dennetsu Kogaku Ensyu",
Gakken, 1965, pp.204-260 (in Japanese).
[11] D. Kunii, "Netuteki Tani Sosa (jyo)", Maruzen, 1976, pp.210-246 (in
Japanese)
@article{"International Journal of Electrical, Electronic and Communication Sciences:51205", author = "S. Iijima and K. Nakayama and D. Kuchar and M. Kubota and H. Matsuda", title = "Optimum Conditions for Effective Decomposition of Toluene as VOC Gas by Pilot-Scale Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer", abstract = "Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO) is one of the
best solutions for removal of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)
from industrial processes. In the RTO, VOC in a raw gas are usually
decomposed at 950-1300 K and the combustion heat of VOC is
recovered by regenerative heat exchangers charged with ceramic
honeycombs. The optimization of the treatment of VOC leads to the
reduction of fuel addition to VOC decomposition, the minimization of
CO2 emission and operating cost as well.
In the present work, the thermal efficiency of the RTO was
investigated experimentally in a pilot-scale RTO unit using toluene as
a typical representative of VOC. As a result, it was recognized that the
radiative heat transfer was dominant in the preheating process of a raw
gas when the gas flow rate was relatively low. Further, it was found
that a minimum heat exchanger volume to achieve self combustion of
toluene without additional heating of the RTO by fuel combustion was
dependent on both the flow rate of a raw gas and the concentration of
toluene. The thermal efficiency calculated from fuel consumption and
the decomposed toluene ratio, was found to have a maximum value of
0.95 at a raw gas mass flow rate of 1810 kg·h-1 and honeycombs height
of 1.5m.", keywords = "Regenerative Heat Exchange, Self Combustion,Toluene, Volatile Organic Compounds.", volume = "2", number = "8", pages = "1587-6", }