Regenerative Thermal Oxidizers (RTO)

How often ceramic media needs to be replaced depends on several factors such as whether there are any acids or particulates present in the airstream, VOC (volatile organic compound) concentration, RTO airflow, and the type of media in use. When not exposed to adverse operating conditions, ceramic media beds can have a life of 5-10 years. When adverse conditions are present, the media may need to be replaced more often. Contact our service department to schedule an inspection.

Yes, our RTOs are typically skid-mounted and pre-assembled to minimize field welding and on-site labor. This simplifies installation and helps reduce overall turnkey project costs.

The term “regenerative” in regenerative thermal oxidizer (RTO) is drawn from the type of ceramic media heat exchanger used in these systems. It is unique in that it captures heat from the exhausting, clean airstream during one cycle and releases the heat to the incoming, dirty airstream in the next cycle. The heat is captured (and released) from beds of ceramic media. The RTO incorporates switching valves to cycle the direction of the airflow through the RTO heat exchanger beds to enable regenerative heat recovery.

Using a bake-out feature can help prevent and remove organic compound buildup in the ceramic media, reducing the risk of plugging and maintaining efficient operation. A preheater or recirculatioin loop are also possible mitigation methods.

Some signs of ceramic media plugging include inability to reach and/or maintain the RTO operating temperature, increased pressure pulse from the RTO back to the process, reduced airflow capacity through the RTO, increasing fuel consumption, tripping of pressure switches at the emission source or during poppet valve actuation, and more. Contact our service department to schedule an inspection.