What is a Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer?
A Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO) is an industrial system that destroys volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in process exhaust air before it exits the stack and pollutes the environment. Historically, RTOs have been used extensively in industries producing a high waste stream containing low VOC concentrations such as paint manufacturing, surface coating and finishing processes, advanced materials and chemical manufacturing, wood finishing, printing and food processing, among others.
How a Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO) Works
While the internal mechanics of an RTO are complex, the overall process can be summarized in several key steps:
Exhaust Intake: Process exhaust air containing VOCs is directed through a flow control system into the RTO.
Heat Exchange: The exhaust passes through ceramic heat exchange media, which preheats the air using energy recovered from previous cycles.
Combustion Chamber: The preheated air enters the combustion chamber, where it is held at high temperatures (typically 760–980°C or 1400–1800°F). Here, a chemical reaction—thermal oxidation—occurs, breaking down VOCs into carbon dioxide (CO₂), water vapor (H₂O), and heat.
Energy Recovery: The now-clean, hot air flows through a second ceramic bed, transferring its heat to incoming exhaust and improving overall energy efficiency.
Exhaust Release: Finally, the cooled, purified air is discharged safely into the atmosphere via the exhaust stack.
This regenerative process allows the system to achieve high destruction efficiency (typically 95–99%) while minimizing fuel consumption.
RTOs operate by destroying air pollutants at high temperatures, typically between 815 °C (1,500 °F) and 980 °C (1,800 °F). Their thermal energy recovery (TER) systems achieve efficiencies ranging from 85% to 97%, significantly reducing fuel consumption. Additionally, RTOs commonly deliver air pollutant destruction efficiencies of up to 99%, ensuring effective removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from industrial exhaust streams.