Description

Catalytic oxidizers use a catalyst to reduce the oxidation temperature. Unlike the 1,400F operating temperature of a thermal oxidizer, a catalytic oxidizer can operate at much lower temperatures such as 600-700F. This lower operating temperature can reduce the operating costs and prove to be the most efficient solution. Catalytic oxidizers can be either direct (no heat exchanger), recuperative, or regenerative. The recuperative style will include either a plate or shell and tube heat exchanger to preheat the incoming air prior to reaching the burner. The regenerative catalytic oxidizer will use ceramic media as the heat exchanger. In a regenerative catalytic oxidizer the design is very similar to the regenerative thermal oxidizer except the top layer of ceramic media is replaced with a catalyst. This catalyst can be in the same shape as the ceramic media, either saddles or structure monolithic block. By utilizing the high thermal efficiency of a regenerative heat exchanger and lowering the oxidation temperature, the catalytic RTO can offer very low operating costs.