Should You Consider a 3-Chamber RTO For Your Application?

The most common type of Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO) is a 2-chamber design. However, the 3-chamber design is becoming increasingly popular, particularly on challenging application that require the highest possible destruction efficiencies. Why consider a 3-chamber RTO? Is it right for your application?

First, what is an RTO?

The Anguil Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO) destroys Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and odorous emissions that are discharged from industrial processes. Emission destruction is achieved through the process of high temperature thermal oxidation, converting the pollutants to carbon dioxide and water vapor while reusing the thermal energy generated to reduce operating costs.

In the operation of a 2-chamber RTO, the solvent laden air (SLA) flow direction is switched at regular intervals between two chambers by the automatic diverter valves on demand from the PLC control system. This periodic flow direction shift allows a very small amount of air to escape untreated. That minor “puff” of air limits the 2-chamber design to 99% destruction.  

Why 3-Chamber RTO?

A 3-chamber RTO consists of three, reinforced, insulated chambers filled with high temperature structured ceramic energy recovery media.

The odd bed design allows for the RTO to be continually purged. At any time one bed acts as an inlet, one as an outlet and one bed is purged. After serving as an inlet chamber, a chamber is purged with warm air drawn down from the chamber during the next cycle. It then becomes an outlet chamber during the next cycle.

The odd bed design fully eliminates any inlet/outlet bypass during valve switching.

The means the most demanding destruction efficiency requirements are achievable with a 3-chamber design.

• Six controlled butterfly valves
• Third chamber is purged following valve change to direct untreated VOCs into purification chamber
• 90 second cycle time per bed
• Shorter cycle time leads to higher thermal efficiency
• Higher destruction efficiencies than 2 chamber design
• Higher capital cost than 2 chamber

What Applications Can Benefit from a 3-Chamber Design?

Consider a 3-chamber RTO design if your application requires one or more of the following:

• The highest of destruction efficiencies – 99.5%+
• Guaranteed destruction of hazardous pollutants
• Odorous emissions
• Large airflows

Anguil’s 3-chamber RTO design has been successfully applied on several applications across many different industries for VOC, HAP, and odor abatement—capable of 99+% destruction efficiency.

Contact our engineering experts today to get started on your application.

Solutions in Action

Europe’s second largest steel producer was looking for high destruction efficiencies and a low carbon footprint for emission control on their paint coating processes. Anguil proposed a 3-Chamber RTO achieving 99%+ DRE without visible emissions and 85%+ heat recovery for energy-efficient operation.