초록 ▼

Apparatuses for treating gas streams containing variations in VOC concentration whereby the VOC's are destroyed in a combination non-catalytic/catalytic oxidation system are disclosed. A non-catalytic destruction matrix composed of inert ceramic materials that enhance process mixing and provide ther

Apparatuses for treating gas streams containing variations in VOC concentration whereby the VOC's are destroyed in a combination non-catalytic/catalytic oxidation system are disclosed. A non-catalytic destruction matrix composed of inert ceramic materials that enhance process mixing and provide thermal inertia for process stability is used when VOC concentrations are high and a catalytic oxidizer is principally used when VOC concentrations are low. The exhaust from the non-catalytic destruction matrix is passed through the catalytic oxidizer to maintain proper catalytic oxidizer operating temperatures. Supplemental fuel and air are added as appropriate upstream or downstream of the non-catalytic oxidizer to maintain proper heat values in each portion of the system.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus for destruction of volatile organic compounds comprising: a source of one or more gas streams having uncontrolled volatile organic compound content; a flameless, non-catalytic oxidizer having: (a) an inlet port in flow communication with the gas stream source; (b) an outlet po

1. An apparatus for destruction of volatile organic compounds comprising: a source of one or more gas streams having uncontrolled volatile organic compound content; a flameless, non-catalytic oxidizer having: (a) an inlet port in flow communication with the gas stream source; (b) an outlet port; and (c) a section located between the inlet port and the outlet port including a matrix bed of non-catalytic, heat-resistant material comprising an upstream side in flow communication with the inlet port and a downstream side in flow communication with the outlet port; a catalytic oxidizer containing catalyst and having an inlet and an outlet; a connection between the outlet port of the flameless, non-catalytic oxidizer and the inlet of the catalytic oxidizer such that the downstream side of the matrix bed is in flow communication with the catalytic oxidizer; means for selectively adding supplemental fuel and air to the flow on the upstream side of the matrix bed; means for selectively adding air to the flow in the connection; a bypass conduit directly connecting the connection to the gas stream source such that the one or more gas streams are in direct flow communication with the inlet of the catalytic oxidizer; and a control system for selectively controlling the amount of the one or more gas streams delivered to the flameless, non-catalytic oxidizer and the amount diverted through the bypass conduit directly to the catalytic oxidizer. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control system selectively delivers portions of the one or more gas streams to the flameless, non-catalytic oxidizer or directly to the catalytic oxidizer depending upon the concentration of VOC's in the one or more gas streams. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the matrix bed is constructed such that it can thermally destroy volatilized contaminants without use or creation of a flame. 4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising control means that controls the amount of supplemental fuel and air added to the flow on the upstream side of the matrix bed so that the temperature within the hottest portion of the matrix bed is maintained between about 1400° F. (760° C.) and about 3500° F. (1925° C.). 5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising control means that controls the amount of air added to the flow in the connection so that the temperature at the outlet of the catalytic oxidizer is maintained below the thermal deactivation temperature of the catalyst. 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control system selectively delivers a portion of the one or more gas streams to the flameless, non-catalytic oxidizer or directly to the catalytic oxidizer in response to temperatures sensed within the matrix bed or the connection by one or more temperature sensors. 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the heat-resistant material comprises ceramic balls, ceramic saddles, ceramic pall rings, ceramic rashig rings, ceramic foam, ceramic wool, metal foam or metal wool. 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the matrix bed comprises at least two layers of heat-resistant material wherein the layers are comprised of differently sized heat-resistant material and wherein the section of the flameless oxidizer is configured to create a flow pattern from the inlet to the outlet that causes any flow to pass through the layer of smaller sized materials first. 9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the matrix bed has a void fraction from 0.3 to 0.9. 10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the material in the matrix bed has a specific surface area of from 40 m 2 /m 3 to 1040 m 2 /m 3 . 11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a preheater capable of preheating the matrix bed to a temperature above the autoignition temperature of the volatile organic compound in the one or more gas streams. 12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flameless, non-catalytic oxidizer further comprises a plenum located between the inlet port and the matrix bed. 13. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plenum means for mixing any air added to the flow in the connection and any gas flow from the downstream side of the matrix bed prior to the entry of such flows into the catalytic oxidizer. 14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bypass conduit for the one or more gas streams and means for selectively adding air to the flow in the connection are configured to add such gas streams and air at a plurality of points around the circumference of the connection prior to the entry of such flows into the catalytic oxidizer. 15. An apparatus comprising: a gas stream containing volatile organic compound; a flameless, non-catalytic oxidizer having a gas inlet port in flow communication with the gas stream, a gas outlet port, and a matrix bed of non-catalytic, heat-resistant material located between the inlet port and the outlet port and comprising an upstream side in flow communication with the inlet port and a downstream side in flow communication with the outlet port; a catalytic oxidizer having an inlet and an outlet wherein the inlet is in flow communication with the downstream side of the matrix bed through a connection; means for selectively adding fuel and air to the flow on the upstream side of the matrix bed; means for selectively adding air to the flow between the downstream side of the matrix bed and the inlet to the catalytic oxidizer; a bypass conduit providing direct flow communication between the gas stream and the inlet of the catalytic oxidizer; and a control system controlling each of the amount of the gas stream delivered to the flameless, non-catalytic oxidizer, the amount of the gas stream diverted through the bypass conduit directly to the catalytic oxidizer, the amount of fuel or air added to the flow on the upstream side of the matrix bed, and the amount of air added to the flow between the downstream side of the matrix bed and the inlet to the catalytic oxidizer. 16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the control system selectively delivers some or all of the gas stream to the flameless, non-catalytic oxidizer or directly to the catalytic oxidizer depending upon the concentration of volatile organic compounds in the gas stream. 17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the control system is configured to determine the concentration of volatile organic compound in the gas stream using temperatures sensed within the matrix bed or connection by one or more temperature sensors. 18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the matrix bed is constructed such that it can thermally destroy volatilized contaminants without use or creation of a flame. 19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the control system controls the amount of fuel and air added to the flow on the upstream side of the matrix bed to maintain the temperature within the hottest portion of the matrix bed between about 1400° F. (760° C.) and about 3500° F. (1925° C.). 20. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the control system controls the amount of air added to the flow between the downstream side of the matrix bed and the inlet to the catalytic oxidizer to maintain the temperature at the outlet of the catalytic oxidizer below the thermal deactivation temperature of the catalyst. 21. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the heat-resistant material comprises ceramic balls, ceramic saddles, ceramic pall rings, ceramic rashig rings, ceramic foam, ceramic wool, metal foam, or metal wool. 22. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a plenum means for mixing any air added to the flow in the connection and any gas flow from the downstream side of the matrix bed prior to the entry of such flows into the catalytic oxidizer. 23. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the bypass conduit and means for selectively adding air to the flow between the downstream side of the matrix bed and the inlet to the catalytic oxidizer are attached in flow communication with the connection through a plurality of injection points around the circumference of the connection. 24. An apparatus for destruction of volatile organic compounds comprising: a source of one or more gas streams having uncontrolled volatile organic compound content; a flameless, non-catalytic oxidizer having: (a) an inlet port in flow communication with the gas stream source; (b) an outlet port; and (c) a section located between the inlet port and the outlet port including a matrix bed of non-catalytic, heat-resistant material comprising an upstream side in flow communication with the inlet port and a downstream side in flow communication with the outlet port; a catalytic oxidizer containing catalyst and having an inlet and an outlet; a connection between the outlet port of the flameless, non-catalytic oxidizer and the inlet of the catalytic oxidizer such that the downstream side of the matrix bed is in flow communication with the catalytic oxidizer; a preheater capable of preheating the matrix bed to a temperature above the autoignition temperature of the volatile organic compounds in the one or more gas streams; means for selectively adding supplemental fuel and air to the flow on the upstream side of the matrix bed; means for selectively adding air to the flow in the connection; a control means that controls the amount of supplemental fuel and air added to the flow on the upstream side of the matrix bed so that the temperature within the hottest portion of the matrix bed is maintained between about 1400° F. (760° C.) and about 3500° F. (1925° C.); a second control means that controls the amount of air added to the flow in the connection so that the temperature at the outlet of the catalytic oxidizer is maintained below the thermal, deactivation temperature of the catalyst; a bypass conduit directly connecting the connection to the source of one or more gas streams such that the one or more gas streams are in direct flow communication with the inlet of the catalytic oxidizer wherein the bypass conduit and the means for selectively adding air to the low in the connection are configured to inject any gas streams and air at a plurality of points around the circumference of the connection prior to the entry of such flows into the catalytic oxidizer; and a control system for selectively controlling the amount of the one or more gas streams delivered to the flameless, non-catalytic oxidizer and the amount diverted through the bypass conduit directly to the catalytic oxidizer, wherein the control system selectively delivers the one or more gas streams depending upon the concentration of VOC's in the one or more gas streams as determined from temperatures sensed within the matrix bed or connection by one or more temperature sensors.