System and method for flameless thermal oxidation at optimized equivalance ratios

Abstract

A diptube assembly for a flameless thermal oxidizer having a matrix bed of media is provided. The diptube assembly comprises a fuel conduit at least partially positioned within the matrix bed for delivering fuel. An oxidizing agent conduit is at least partially positioned within the matrix bed for delivering oxidizing agents, wherein the oxidizing agent conduit is separate from the fuel conduit. At least one mixing conduit is positioned within the matrix bed and configured to receive fuel from the fuel conduit and the oxidizing agent from the oxidizing agent conduit. The mixing conduit is positioned to deliver the combination of fuel and oxidizing agents into the matrix bed of media.

1 . A diptube assembly for a flameless thermal oxidizer having a matrix bed of media comprising:
 a fuel conduit at least partially positioned within the matrix bed for delivering fuel;   an oxidizing agent conduit at least partially positioned within the matrix bed for delivering oxidizing agents, wherein said oxidizing agent conduit is separate from said fuel conduit;   at least one mixing conduit positioned within the matrix bed and configured to receive fuel from said fuel conduit and the oxidizing agent from said oxidizing agent conduit, wherein said mixing conduit is positioned to deliver the combination of fuel and oxidizing agents into the matrix bed of media.   
     
     
         2 . The diptube assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a fuel plenum, wherein said fuel conduit is positioned to deliver fuel into said fuel plenum. 
     
     
         3 . The diptube assembly of  claim 2  wherein at least a portion of said mixing conduit is positioned within said fuel plenum. 
     
     
         4 . The diptube assembly of  claim 3  further comprising at least one aperture formed in said at least a portion of the mixing conduit positioned within said fuel plenum, wherein fuel from the fuel plenum is delivered through said aperture into an interior region of said mixing conduit. 
     
     
         5 . The diptube assembly of  claim 4  wherein the mixing conduit includes a plurality of apertures positioned to distribute fuel from said fuel plenum into the interior region of said mixing conduit. 
     
     
         6 . The diptube assembly of  claim 1  wherein the mixing conduit is configured to mix the fuel and the oxidizing agents at an oxidizing agent to fuel equivalence ratio of between about 0.5:1 to about 0.8:1. 
     
     
         7 . The diptube assembly of  claim 1  wherein the mixing conduit is configured to mix the fuel and the oxidizing agents at an oxidizing agent to fuel equivalence ratio in a range of between about 0.09:1 to about 4:1. 
     
     
         8 . The diptube assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of mixing conduits configured to receive fuel from said fuel conduit and an oxidizing agent from said oxidizing agent conduit and deliver the combination of fuel and the oxidizing agent into the matrix bed of media. 
     
     
         9 . The diptube assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the effective cross-sectional area of the oxidizing agent conduit to the collective cross-sectional area of the plurality of mixing conduits is between about 2.5:1 to about 6:1. 
     
     
         10 . The diptube assembly of  claim 1  wherein an outlet of said mixing conduit is positioned adjacent to the matrix bed to deliver the combination of fuel and oxidizing agents directly into the matrix bed. 
     
     
         11 . A diptube assembly for a flameless thermal oxidizer having a matrix bed of media comprising:
 a fuel conduit for carrying fuel at least partially positioned within the matrix bed;   a fuel plenum positioned within the matrix bed being configured to receive fuel from said fuel conduit;   an oxidizing agent conduit for delivering oxidizing agents into at least one mixing conduit, wherein at least a portion of said mixing conduit is positioned within said fuel plenum; and   said at least a portion of said mixing conduit includes at least one aperture formed in a surface thereof, wherein fuel from said fuel plenum is delivered into said mixing conduit through said aperture,   wherein a combination of fuel and oxidizing agents are delivered through said mixing conduit into the matrix bed of media of the flameless thermal oxidizer.   
     
     
         12 . The diptube assembly of  claim 11  further comprising a plurality of mixing conduits configured to receive fuel from the fuel conduit and oxidizing agents from said oxidizing agent conduit. 
     
     
         13 . The diptube assembly of  claim 11  wherein an outlet of said mixing conduit is positioned adjacent to the matrix bed to deliver the combination of fuel and oxidizing agents directly into the matrix bed. 
     
     
         14 . The diptube assembly of  claim 11  wherein said mixing conduit comprises two rows of apertures that are each positioned to evenly and uniformly distribute fuel into an interior of said mixing conduit. 
     
     
         15 . The diptube assembly of  claim 11  wherein said fuel conduit is positioned within said oxidizing agent conduit. 
     
     
         16 . The diptube assembly of  claim 11  wherein a fume stream is delivered into said mixing conduit through said oxidizing agent conduit. 
     
     
         17 . A flameless thermal oxidizer comprising:
 a vessel;   a matrix bed of media contained within an interior of said vessel; and   a diptube assembly at least partially positioned within said matrix bed including:
 a fuel conduit for carrying fuel at least partially positioned within said matrix bed; 
 an oxidizing agent conduit for carrying oxidizing agents at least partially positioned within said matrix bed; 
 at least one mixing conduit at least partially positioned within said matrix bed being configured to receive and combine fuel from the fuel conduit and oxidizing agents from the oxidizing agent conduit and to deliver the combination of fuel and oxidizing agents into the matrix bed of media. 
   
     
     
         18 . In a flameless thermal oxidizer having a vessel configured to contain a matrix bed of media, and a fuel conduit and an oxidizing agent conduit each extending into an interior of the vessel at least partially within the matrix bed of media, a method of delivering fuel and oxidizing agents into the vessel comprising the steps of:
 distributing fuel through the fuel conduit;   distributing oxidizing agents through the mixing conduit; and   combining the fuel and the oxidizing agent in a mixing conduit.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising the step of delivering fuel and oxidizing agents within the mixing conduit into the matrix bed of media. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the combining step comprises distributing oxidizing agents into the interior of the mixing conduit through an inlet of the mixing conduit, and distributing fuel into the interior of the mixing conduit through an aperture formed in the mixing conduit.