Mobile Catalytic Thermal Oxidizer for Environmental Remediation of Contaminated Soil
The Challenge
Soil containing contaminates such as petroleum hydrocarbons, with diesel oil, gasoline, aromatic hydrocarbons, a monstrous array of solvents, and a Pandora’s Box of volatile organic compounds – can be nasty enough to ignite a conflagration.
Soil remediation oxidizers and catalytic oxidizers manufactured for soil containing contaminates such as petroleum hydrocarbons must be designed correctly if efficient decontamination is to occur.
Only the most efficient of oxidizer systems can address such issues within soil; if such a system isn’t designed to enhance maximum turn down ratio for varying flow rates or equipped with a modulating burner system to handle fluctuating process stream concentrations.
The Solution
An oxidizer must be flexible and Customization is crucial. Elements such as turnkey fume extraction optimized by a control panel of dazzling intricacy and performance are typically part of the mix, as is trailer mounted soil remediation equipment or skid mounted packages. Safety is always of primary concern, as is control and ease of operation for even the simplest thermal or catalytic oxidation.
The best systems embody fully automatic control panels, user-friendly and self-checking. Operator error is the source of many accidents that are preventable. All displays and color graphics inherent with a state-of-the-art oxidizing system should continually demonstrate operational status and fault/troubleshooting messages. The reason for any shutdown should be known immediately in real time. Messaging is essential to minimize faulty conditions, or wasted time expended in often fruitless troubleshooting efforts.
Another essential to an oxidizing system is that it be provided with some kind of pre-piped and pre-wired IRI/NFPA fuel gas train and pilot train for the burner. Minimally, a state-of-the-art oxidizing system should be equipped with an automatic fuel control valve modulated by a temperature controller with an electric operator, pressure regulator, low and high fuel gas pressure switches, fuel gas safety shutoff valves, gas cocks, pressure gauges, and vent valves.
The Results
The mobile Thermal Oxidizer unit not only destroyed all the toxic VOCs, but provided the flexibility required by the site remediation demands. Additionally, the design and control features provided the necessary controls for ease of safe operations.