US-12624833-B2 - Regenerative thermal oxidizer, system comprising a regenerative thermal oxidizer and method of operating a regenerative thermal oxidizer

US12624833B2US 12624833 B2US12624833 B2US 12624833B2US-12624833-B2

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a regenerative thermal oxidizer comprising at least a first transfer chamber and at least a second transfer chamber, wherein the first transfer chamber comprises a first bed and the second transfer chamber comprises a second bed; at least one reaction chamber in fluid flow communication with the first transfer chamber and with the second transfer chamber, wherein waste gas is introducible into the regenerative thermal oxidizer to flow through the first bed to the reaction chamber or to flow through the second bed to the reaction chamber; and one or more first oxygen-containing gas inlet for introducing oxygen-containing gas into the regenerative thermal oxidizer positioned between at least a portion of the first bed and at least a portion of the reaction chamber or positioned between at least a portion of the second bed and at least a portion of the reaction chamber.

Inventors

Wolfgang Klaus
Michael Lorra
Gernot Schwarting

Assignees

John Zink KEU GmbH

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20230302
Priority Date: 20220324

Claims (20)

1 . A system comprising a regenerative thermal oxidizer, wherein the regenerative thermal oxidizer comprises: at least a first transfer chamber and at least a second transfer chamber, wherein the first transfer chamber comprises a first bed, and the second transfer chamber comprises a second bed; at least one reaction chamber in fluid flow communication with the first transfer chamber and with the second transfer chamber, wherein waste gas is introducible into the regenerative thermal oxidizer to flow through the first bed to the at least one reaction chamber or to flow through the second bed to the at least one reaction chamber; and one or more first oxygen-containing gas inlets through which oxygen-containing gas is introduced directly into a bed of the regenerative thermal oxidizer, wherein the one or more first oxygen-containing gas inlets are positioned upstream of the at least one reaction chamber.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the regenerative thermal oxidizer comprises a heater, wherein the one or more first oxygen-containing gas inlets are positioned closer to the first bed than to the heater.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises: a waste gas tube for connecting a waste gas source with the first transfer chamber and the second transfer chamber; an oxygen-containing gas tube for connecting an oxygen-containing gas source with the regenerative thermal oxidizer; and a controller, wherein the controller is configured to: direct waste gas via the waste gas tube through the first bed to the at least one reaction chamber, such that the waste gas is preheated by the first bed, wherein the waste gas includes at least one oxidizable compound; and direct oxygen-containing gas via the oxygen-containing gas tube to the regenerative thermal oxidizer such that the oxygen-containing gas enters the regenerative thermal oxidizer downstream of at least a portion of the first bed.
4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein, during a first cycle, the controller is configured to: direct the waste gas via the waste gas tube through the first bed to the at least one reaction chamber, such that the waste gas is preheated by the first bed; and direct the oxygen-containing gas via the oxygen-containing gas tube to the regenerative thermal oxidizer, such that the oxygen-containing gas enters the regenerative thermal oxidizer downstream of at least a portion of the first bed; and wherein, during a second cycle, the controller is configured to: direct the waste gas via the waste gas tube through the second bed to the at least one reaction chamber, such that the waste gas is preheated by the second bed, and direct the oxygen-containing gas via the oxygen-containing gas tube to the regenerative thermal oxidizer, such that the oxygen-containing gas enters the regenerative thermal oxidizer downstream of at least a portion of the second bed.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein, during the first cycle, the controller is configured to: direct the oxygen-containing gas via the oxygen-containing gas tube to the regenerative thermal oxidizer, such that the at least one oxidizable compound of the waste gas is oxidized and flue gas is produced in the at least one reaction chamber; and direct the flue gas from the at least one reaction chamber through the second bed such that the flue gas is cooled by the second bed; and wherein, during the second cycle, the controller is configured to: direct the oxygen-containing gas via the oxygen-containing gas tube to the regenerative thermal oxidizer such that the at least one oxidizable compound of the waste gas is oxidized and flue gas is produced in the at least one reaction chamber; and direct the flue gas from the at least one reaction chamber through the first bed such that the flue gas is cooled by the first bed.
6 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the system further comprises a bypass tube for connecting a heat exchanger with the regenerative thermal oxidizer, wherein the controller is configured to direct gas from the regenerative thermal oxidizer to the heat exchanger such that the gas is cooled by the heat exchanger.
7 . The system of claim 4 , wherein: the regenerative thermal oxidizer comprises at least a third transfer chamber, wherein the third transfer chamber comprises a third bed; the at least one reaction chamber is in fluid flow communication with the third transfer chamber; and during a third cycle, the controller is configured to: direct the waste gas via the waste gas tube through the third bed to the at least one reaction chamber such that the waste gas is preheated by the third bed; and direct oxygen-containing gas via the oxygen-containing gas tube to the regenerative thermal oxidizer, such that the oxygen-containing gas enters the regenerative thermal oxidizer downstream of at least a portion of the third bed.
8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein: during the first cycle, the controller is configured to: direct the oxygen-containing gas via the oxygen-containing gas tube to the regenerative thermal oxidizer, such that the oxidizable compound of the waste gas is oxidized and flue gas is produced in the at least one reaction chamber; and direct the flue gas from the at least one reaction chamber through at least one of the second bed and the third bed such that the flue gas is cooled; during the second cycle, the controller is configured to: direct the oxygen-containing gas via the oxygen-containing gas tube to the regenerative thermal oxidizer such that the oxidizable compound of the waste gas is oxidized and flue gas is produced in the at least one reaction chamber; and direct the flue gas from the at least one reaction chamber through at least one of the first bed and the third bed such that the flue gas is cooled; and during the third cycle, the controller is configured to: direct the oxygen-containing gas via the oxygen-containing gas tube to the regenerative thermal oxidizer such that the oxidizable compound of the waste gas is oxidized and flue gas is produced in the at least one reaction chamber; and direct the flue gas from the at least one reaction chamber through at least one of the first bed and the second bed such that the flue gas is cooled.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the system further comprises a bypass tube for connecting a heat exchanger with the regenerative thermal oxidizer, wherein the controller is configured to direct gas from the regenerative thermal oxidizer to the heat exchanger such that the gas is cooled by the heat exchanger.
10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the waste gas comprises less than 20.0 vol.-% oxygen.
11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the regenerative thermal oxidizer comprises a heater, wherein the heater is configured to heat at least a portion of the regenerative thermal oxidizer, and wherein the heater comprises a burner and/or an electrical heating element.
12 . A system comprising a regenerative thermal oxidizer, wherein the regenerative thermal oxidizer comprises: at least a first transfer chamber and at least a second transfer chamber, wherein the first transfer chamber comprises a first bed, and the second transfer chamber comprises a second bed; at least one reaction chamber in fluid flow communication with the first transfer chamber and with the second transfer chamber, wherein waste gas is introducible into the regenerative thermal oxidizer to flow through the first bed to the at least one reaction chamber or to flow through the second bed to the at least one reaction chamber; and one or more first oxygen-containing gas inlets through which oxygen-containing gas is introduced into the regenerative thermal oxidizer, wherein the first oxygen-containing gas inlets are positioned between at least a portion of the first bed and at least a portion of the at least one reaction chamber or positioned between at least a portion of the second bed and at least a portion of the at least one reaction chamber, wherein the one or more first oxygen-containing gas inlets are positioned between at least a portion of the first bed and at least a portion of the at least one reaction chamber, and the regenerative thermal oxidizer further comprises one or more second oxygen-containing gas inlets through which oxygen-containing gas is introduced into the regenerative thermal oxidizer, wherein the one or more second oxygen-containing gas inlets are positioned between at least a portion of the second bed and at least a portion of the at least one reaction chamber.
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein: the regenerative thermal oxidizer further comprises at least a third transfer chamber, wherein the third transfer chamber comprises a third bed; the at least one reaction chamber is in fluid flow communication with the third transfer chamber; and the regenerative thermal oxidizer further comprises one or more third oxygen-containing gas inlets through which for oxygen-containing gas can be is introduced into the regenerative thermal oxidizer, wherein the one or more third oxygen-containing gas inlets are positioned between at least a portion of the third bed and at least a portion of the at least one reaction chamber.
14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the regenerative thermal oxidizer comprises at least two oxygen-containing gas inlets per transfer chamber.
15 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the regenerative thermal oxidizer comprises a heater, wherein the one or more first oxygen-containing gas inlets are positioned closer to the first bed than to the heater.
16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the regenerative thermal oxidizer comprises at least four oxygen-containing gas inlets per transfer chamber.
17 . A method of operating a regenerative thermal oxidizer, the method comprising the steps of: directing waste gas through a first bed of a first transfer chamber of the regenerative thermal oxidizer to a reaction chamber of the regenerative thermal oxidizer, such that the waste gas is preheated by the first bed, wherein the waste gas includes at least one oxidizable compound; and directing oxygen-containing gas to the regenerative thermal oxidizer, such that the oxygen-containing gas enters the regenerative thermal oxidizer downstream of at least a portion of the first bed.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the method comprises: during a first cycle, the steps of: directing the waste gas through the first bed of the first transfer chamber of the regenerative thermal oxidizer to the reaction chamber of the regenerative thermal oxidizer, such that the waste gas is preheated by the first bed; and directing the oxygen-containing gas to the regenerative thermal oxidizer, such that the oxygen-containing gas enters the regenerative thermal oxidizer downstream of at least a portion of the first bed; and wherein the method comprises, during a second cycle, the steps of: directing the waste gas through a second bed of a second transfer chamber of the regenerative thermal oxidizer to the reaction chamber of the regenerative thermal oxidizer, such that the waste gas is preheated by the second bed; and directing the oxygen-containing gas to the regenerative thermal oxidizer, such that the oxygen-containing gas enters the regenerative thermal oxidizer downstream of at least a portion of the second bed.
19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising: during the first cycle: directing the oxygen-containing gas to the regenerative thermal oxidizer such that the oxidizable compound of the waste gas is oxidized and flue gas is produced in the reaction chamber; and directing the flue gas from the reaction chamber through the second bed such that the flue gas is cooled by the second bed; and during the second cycle: directing the oxygen-containing gas to the regenerative thermal oxidizer such that the oxidizable compound of the waste gas is oxidized and flue gas is produced in the reaction chamber; and directing the flue gas from the reaction chamber through the first bed such that the flue gas is cooled by the first bed.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the waste gas and the oxygen-containing gas are mixed in the regenerative thermal oxidizer to allow oxidation of the oxidizable compound of the waste gas by oxygen of the oxygen-containing gas.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to European Patent Application Number 22164241.6, filed Mar. 24, 2022, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates to a regenerative thermal oxidizer, a system comprising a regenerative thermal oxidizer and a method of operating a regenerative thermal oxidizer. BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Several types of regenerative thermal oxidizers (RTOs) are known in the art. RTOs are typically used for oxidation (combustion) of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in waste gas streams. RTOs often include two separated beds that are in fluid communication with a common reaction room. Waste gas is introduced into the RTO to flow through one of the beds to preheat the waste gas. In the reaction room, VOCs are oxidized and the produced flue gas flows through the other one of the beds and transfers thermal energy to the bed. After a certain time period, the gas flow is switched such that waste is introduced into the RTO to flow through the bed that was previously heated by the flue gas and flue gas produced in the reaction room is directed through the bed that was previously used to preheat the waste gas. Due to the design of RTOs, a substantial amount of (thermal) energy can be recovered. For a typical RTO, the waste gas stream to be oxidized will be mixed and diluted with air prior to entering the RTO. The waste gas often contains burnable compounds, such as VOCs, hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide. In some countries, a minimum dilution of the waste gas is to maintain less than 25% of the lower explosion limit of the mixture (waste gas and air). For example, this is required by BS-EN 12753. Especially when the waste gas contains hydrogen, the required amount of air for the dilution of the waste gas is substantial. In some countries, the dilution is set by regulation, in other countries the decision is made in accordance with good engineering practice. As a result, known RTOs are physically large, expensive to operate and require measurement equipment for measuring or determining the lower explosion limit. It is an object of the present disclosure to provide an RTO that is physically small. Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an RTO that is inexpensive to manufacture. Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide an RTO that is inexpensive to operate. Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide an RTO which reduces energy consumption. Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide an RTO that reduces carbon dioxide and/or nitrogen oxide emission. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE One or more of the above objects are solved by the combination of features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are provided in the respective dependent claims. Features of an independent claim may be combined with features of one or more claims dependent on the independent claim, and features of one or more dependent claims can be combined with each other. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a regenerative thermal oxidizer is presented. The regenerative thermal oxidizer may comprise at least a first transfer chamber. The regenerative thermal oxidizer may include at least a second transfer chamber. The first transfer chamber may comprise a first bed. The second transfer chamber may comprise a second bed. The regenerative thermal oxidizer may include at least one reaction chamber. The reaction chamber may be in fluid communication with the first transfer chamber. The reaction chamber may be in fluid communication with the second transfer chamber. Waste gas may be introducible into the regenerative thermal oxidizer to flow through the first bed to the reaction chamber. Alternatively or additionally, waste gas may be introducible into the regenerative thermal oxidizer to flow through the second bed to the reaction chamber. The regenerative thermal oxidizer may comprise one or more first oxygen-containing gas inlet for introducing oxygen-containing gas into the regenerative thermal oxidizer. The one or more first oxygen-containing gas inlet may be positioned or disposed between at least a portion of the first bed and at least a portion of the reaction chamber. Alternatively or additionally, the one or more first oxygen-containing gas inlet may be positioned or disposed between at least a portion of the second bed and at least a portion of the reaction chamber. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a system is presented. The system may comprise a regenerative thermal oxidizer. The regenerative thermal oxidizer may be any herein disclosed regenerative thermal oxidizer. For example, the regenerative thermal oxidizer comprises at least a first transfer chamber. The regenerative thermal oxidizer may comprise at least a second transfer chamber. The first transfer chamber may comprise a first bed. The second transfer