Patent · US Expired

Regenerative thermal oxidation apparatus and method

US5240403A · kind A · utility

16Cited by
27References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 1, 1992
Grant dateAug 31, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 1, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF23G7/068
  • WIPO fieldEnvironmental technology
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

An improved regenerative thermal oxidizer ("RTO") and improved method of operating same in order to provide a substantially steady-state flow of contaminant-laden air into the RTO. The RTO includes an automatically-operated balancing valve structure for minimizing pressure variations experienced at the inlet of the RTO. The balancing valve is connected to and provides a selectively closeable bypass path for air flow between the high pressure and low pressure sides of an exhaust fan. The balancing valve opens the bypass path whenever flush valves of the RTO are all closed. The RTO further includes a hydraulic control system for minimizing variations in the operation of the RTO due to varying ambient or seasonal temperature conditions to which the RTO may be subjected. The RTO additionally includes a gravity-actuated damper valve structure near the top of a vertically arranged exhaust stack. The damper valve automatically prohibits entry of a stream of cold air into the exhaust stack, while automatically allowing heated processed air to escape the exhaust stack. The RTO is operated according to an improved six-step sequence which provides for the substantially steady-state inlet air …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.