Direct Fired Thermal Oxidizer with Enhanced Safety Measures for Chemical Gas Processing Application

The Challenge

A multi-national repeat customer, awarded Epcon the opportunity to design and manufacture a Direct Fired Thermal Oxidizer (DFTO) to process streams contaminated with complex and heavy VOC content, including high concentrations of Xylene and Toluene. One of the key challenges is to ensure explosive safety measures and these complex gases in high concentrations and low volumes require high temperatures to achieve complete oxidization levels.

The Solution

This is an ideal application for a Direct Fired Thermal Oxidizer; low exhaust volume, but high concentration of VOCs.

The safety aspects of the DFTO design needed to be very comprehensive as the process stream has an LEL (Lower Explosive Limit) close to 25%. Flame Arrestors and Detonation Arrestors were utilized through out to safeguard against explosions and ensure that there is no flashback hazard. The system was fully tested at Epcon’s plant, prior to shipment reaching target temperatures for proper VOC destruction at 1800 °F.

The Results

This DTFO was able to remove the process emissions as required to meet all environmental operating standards with DRE of 99.99%+ . Additionally, the extensive controls have provided operator the necessary safety measures.