Modular Rotary Valve RTO/RCO and Performance on Particleboard Dryer, 2001 Environmental Conference Proceedings

Rodney L Pennington, P.E.--Modular rotary valve RTO performance on a particleboard dryer exhaust and the benefits of the specific design features for wood applications with and without pre-filtration. The RTO (regenerative thermal oxidizer) equipment has integrated the ceramic monolithic media into a unique indexing rotary valve and single can (tower) design. The benefits of the modular design provides a substantial reduction in over all operating costs, independent bake out and/or wash out (no production down time), integral wash down system, and 100% production up time capability. In addition, the design also provides:

· a smaller, more compact unit

· controlled cool down and wash out

· smokeless bake out

· 98% destruction removal efficiency

· virtually constant temperature and pressure control

· eliminates oscillating butterfly and/or poppet valves

· shop assembled units with minimum field installation (less than 7 days)

· greater reliability, and improved performance.

All of these features are discussed in detail relative to RTO/RCO equipment operating in the wood industry along with actual performance data of a 20,000 ACFM rotary valve unit on a particleboard dryer exhaust.

The modular rotary valve RTO/RCO provides performance that will meet or exceed the new MACT requirements with flexibility, reliability and 100% production up time capability to meet the wood industry needs for VOC/HAPs control.