A VOC Abatement System relies upon the concept of a chemical reaction – when involving organic hydrocarbons the process is called oxidation. In an oxidation process, the compounds within the air stream – VOC pollutants – are broken down from their original composition and reformed into new compounds. In the VOC Oxidation Process, enough heat and oxygen are added to the hydrocarbons to create the oxidation reaction – this process is called Thermal Oxidation. By breaking the original composition of the VOC Hydrocarbons – carbon and hydrogen – we allow the two constituents to reform naturally into carbon dioxide and water vapor while releasing heat energy. The heat energy is then recuperated into the system by use of a heat exchange device, while the now clean air stream of carbon dioxide and water is discharged to atmosphere.

In order to determine the most appropriate VOC Abatement technology available to best suit the application, the process exhaust stream must be characterized. The first step in characterizing the exhaust stream is to establish the current operating parameters of the plant – i.e. volumetric flow, volatile organic compound loading, and any other inorganic contaminants that might exist.

By determining the existing operating conditions for the plant, a technology can then be selected based upon the major criteria associated with the equipment:

• Initial Capital Cost for VOC Plant
• Annual Operating Cost for VOC Plant (natural gas and electricity)
• Annual Maintenance Cost for VOC Plant
• Reliability of Plant Equipment vs. Plants Requirements for Process Run Time
• Required Destruction Rate Efficiency for Compliance with Regulations
• Flexibility for Future Operation of the Plant’s Process