Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO)

Thermal oxidizers are the primary technology used to destroy Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs), and odors.

Regenerative Thermal Oxidizers (RTOs) use ceramic heat exchange chambers to capture and reuse thermal energy while oxidizing pollutants at high temperatures.

Geoenergy® GeoTherm® Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO)

Performance & Efficiency

Destruction Removal Efficiency (DRE): Up to 99%
Thermal Energy Recovery (TER) : 96–97%

The performance of an RTO is defined by the Destruction Removal Efficiency (DRE), which is the value related to the amount of pollutants being destroyed in the system, while the Thermal Energy Recovery (TER) determines the amount of energy recovered during the process.

Suitable Applications

RTO systems are versatile and suitable for a wide range of industries, including wood processing, semiconductor, automotive, recycling, pharmaceuticals, and surface coating, among others. Their flexible design allows for multiple application scenarios.

Maintenance Considerations

RTO systems require minimal maintenance, typically involving inspection of seals, valves, ceramic media, and high-temperature insulation to ensure continued reliable performance.

How an RTO works

RTOs are Thermal Oxidizers working with high temperatures to oxidize pollutants to water vapor and carbon dioxide. The required thermal energy is regenerated to recover over 95% of the heat input added to the system (TER).

RTOs operate on three core principles: Temperature, Time, Turbulence.

Temperature: Heat process exhaust to about 800-1,000°C (1,500–1,800°F) to oxidize VOCs/HAPs.
Time: Maintain temperature long enough to ensure complete destruction.
Turbulence: Mix air and heat for thorough oxidation.

Process

Inlet gas enters through a ceramic heat exchange bed, preheating the stream.
Gas enters the combustion chamber where burners reach the set point temperature.
Cleaned exhaust passes through another ceramic bed, transferring heat for reuse.
Poppet valves switch every 2–3 minutes to reverse gas flow.

RTO Advantages

RTO systems offer stable operation and effectively manage flue gas fluctuations. Their robust main valve design ensures durability, and the inclusion of an automatic bake-out cleaning function support long-term, low-maintenance performance.

The key features of RTO include:

Backed by 35+ years of proven installations, the GeoTherm® RTO delivers high performance with low operating costs.

High Efficiency – Up to 99% DRE, 97% TER.
Custom Media Design – Structured or random ceramic beds tailored for VOC load, chemical resistance, and plugging prevention.
Fast-Acting Single Blade Popped Valves – Located at ground level for easy maintenance and long service life.
Coldface – Robust welded beam design.
Scalable – From 4,500 m³/h to over 500,000 m³/h (2,500 to over 300,000 SCFM) airflow.

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