Incineration methods and apparatus for enhanced destruction of volatile organic compounds

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for enhanced destruction of industrial waste gases include coating a high emissivity material onto to at least portions of the vessel walls of a direct fired incinerator, such as a thermal oxidizer, in order to enhance its incineration efficiencies, particularly for the incineration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

1 . A method of increasing a volatile organic compound (VOC) destruction rating of a direct-fired incinerator comprising coating a layer of a high-emissivity (high-E) material on an interior wall of the incinerator in an amount sufficient to increase the VOC destruction rating of the incinerator as compared to the VOC destruction rating of the incinerator without the high-E coating layer.  
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the incinerator has a VOC destruction rating of two-nine without the high-E coating on an interior wall thereof, and wherein the method comprises coating the high-E material on an interior wall of the incinerator sufficient to increase the VOC destruction rating to at least three-nine or greater.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the high-E material is a ceramic material.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the high-E ceramic material has an emissivity at 2000° F. of greater than about 0.70.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the high-E ceramic material has an emissivity of between about 0.70 to about 0.99.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the high-E ceramic material has an emissivity of between about 0.90 to about 0.99.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the high-E ceramic material has an emissivity of about 0.92.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the high-E coating layer has a thickness of between about 1 mil to about 60 mils.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the high-E coating layer has a density of greater than about 65%.  
   
   
       10 . In a direct-fired incinerator having a volatile organic compound (VOC) destruction rating for the incinerated destruction of volatile organic compounds, the incinerator including incinerator walls, a burner for incinerating the VOCs within an interior of the incinerator, and a supply of combustible fuel to the burner, the improvement comprising a coating a layer of a high-emissivity (high-E) material on an interior portion of the incinerator walls in an amount sufficient to increase the VOC destruction rating of the incinerator as compared to the VOC destruction rating of the incinerator without the high-E coating layer.  
   
   
       11 . The incinerator of  claim 10 , wherein the incinerator has a VOC destruction rating of two-nine without the high-E coating on an interior portion of the incinerator walls thereof, and coating layer of the high-E material is sufficient to increase the VOC destruction rating to at least three-nine or greater.  
   
   
       12 . The incinerator of  claim 10 , wherein the high-E material is a ceramic material.  
   
   
       13 . The incinerator of  claim 12 , wherein the high-E ceramic material has an emissivity at 2000° F. of greater than about 0.70.  
   
   
       14 . The incinerator of  claim 13 , wherein the high-E ceramic material has an emissivity of between about 0.70 to about 0.99.  
   
   
       15 . The incinerator of  claim 13 , wherein the high-E ceramic material has an emissivity of between about 0.90 to about 0.99.  
   
   
       16 . The incinerator of  claim 15 , wherein the high-E ceramic material has an emissivity of about 0.92.  
   
   
       17 . The incinerator of  claim 13 , wherein the high-E coating layer has a thickness of between about 1 mil to about 60 mils.  
   
   
       18 . The incinerator of  claim 17 , wherein the high-E coating layer has a density of greater than about 65%.