VOC removal through carbon absortion
VOC removal through carbon absortion
(OP)
We have an paint application room on steel strip and ventilate this room through use of fans to keep the VOC levels from solvents below exposure standards . On one of our plants this air (around 20 000cfm) is then passed to an incinerator fired with natural gas to destroy the VOC content. This costs millions of dollars annually to our business and creats a lot of greenhouse gases. We are considering a third plant and are looking for good practices but have been told using carbon absorption is not cost effective due to capex for this flowrate, and dealing with the waste VOC stream from steam or vacuum regeneration of the carbon.
Does anyone have other suggestions or contacts who may be able to point to working examples of technology other than incineration for this application at these high flowrates
solvents are typically aromatics (BTX), n-butanol, MEK and some acetone, but there is a wide variety depending on different paint types.
thanks
kiah
Does anyone have other suggestions or contacts who may be able to point to working examples of technology other than incineration for this application at these high flowrates
solvents are typically aromatics (BTX), n-butanol, MEK and some acetone, but there is a wide variety depending on different paint types.
thanks
kiah





RE: VOC removal through carbon absortion
BobPE
RE: VOC removal through carbon absortion
RE: VOC removal through carbon absortion
There are options and each one has a cost. Cheapest way out is to substitute the carriers to a less hazardous compound.
But a scrubber may be a good start.
RE: VOC removal through carbon absortion
RE: VOC removal through carbon absortion
BobPE
Our incinerators are MAXON type direct fire with temperature control to 700degC.
Vintage70
We are in Australia, and have EPA agreements for discharge of other hazardous waste, dealing with the waste stream isn't too hard as we have a bug plant on site for waters contaminated with this type of compound from the caol and coke plant.
kiah
RE: VOC removal through carbon absortion
RE: VOC removal through carbon absortion
(561) 567 1320 and ask them if their CADRE process is applicable?
This is a carbon adsorption- regeneration process which uses the hot gas from the thermal oxidizer, which is part of the package, to regenerate the bed.
RE: VOC removal through carbon absortion
Sutcliffe speakman offer these in the UK.
RE: VOC removal through carbon absortion
RE: VOC removal through carbon absortion
About reclaiming the heat for other purposes-that could save you a lot of money?
One possibility stated in the above comments about scrubbing w/ water should be further investigated with activated charcoal filters immersed in the scrubbing water. When the activated charcoal filters are loaded then you can clean them and burn the concentrated vapor.
RE: VOC removal through carbon absortion
Savings are obtained this way : your main RTO fuel burner doesn't have to stay burning at full or half capacity as in a catalitic oxidiser, because a lot of the combustion energy required to pre-heat up the organic gases is now delivered by those RTO heated up bed sections. If your organic material is very calorific , you may still have high enough exit gas temperature to install a heat exchanger after the RTO , in order to heat up another energy medium , that then can be used in another part of your process. I used this heat exchanger after the RTO , to heat up 38 000 Nm^3/h of fresh outside air to 350°C , air that then served to heat up a hot air oven , oven used to dry an impregnated glasfiberweb. I basically used the solvents evaporated in the hot air oven as a fuel for the whole process , saving on natural gas and saving on waste removal bills.
You could use this surplus hot air on the exhaust of the RTO to produce superheated steam or warm water for office building heating during winter . . .
RE: VOC removal through carbon absortion
The other components you listed would not pose a problem.
RE: VOC removal through carbon absortion
Sincerely yours,
KD
RE: VOC removal through carbon absortion