Regenerative thermal oxidizer for the reduction or elimination of supplemental fuel gas consumption

Abstract

The present invention provides a regenerative thermal oxidizer system, comprising: a recuperative heat exchanger that receives process exhaust gas from an anaerobic digestion process and boosts an inlet temperature of the gas to a second gas temperature; and a regenerative thermal oxidizer that receives the gas from the heat exchanger, further heats/combusts the gas to a third gas temperature, and feeds the gas back through the recuperative heat exchanger, which recoups heat from the gas such that the gas exits the heat exchanger at a fourth gas temperature.

1 . A method for using a regenerative thermal oxidizer, comprising:
 receiving at a recuperative heat exchanger process exhaust gas from an anaerobic digestion process or a landfill gas system;   boosting an inlet temperature of the gas to a second gas temperature;   receiving at a regenerative thermal oxidizer the gas from the heat exchanger;   further heating the gas to a third gas temperature;   feeding the gas back through the recuperative heat exchanger; and   recouping heat from the gas such that the gas exits the heat exchanger at a fourth gas temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet temperature of the gas is about 90° F. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second gas temperature is about 400° F. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the third gas temperature is about 1200° F. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fourth gas temperature is about 500° F. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein boosting the inlet temperature of the gas to the second gas temperature comprises allowing the thermal oxidizer to operate without the use of additional fuel. 
     
     
         7 . A method, comprising:
 receiving a process exhaust gas at a recuperative heat exchanger;   boosting an inlet temperature of the gas to a second gas temperature;   receiving the gas from the heat exchanger at a regenerative thermal oxidizer;   further heating the gas to a third gas temperature;   feeding the gas back through the recuperative heat exchanger; and   recouping heat from the gas such that the gas exits the heat exchanger at a fourth gas temperature.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the process exhaust gas is received from an anaerobic digestion process. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the process exhaust gas is received from a landfill gas system 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the inlet temperature of the gas is about 90° F. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the second gas temperature is about 400° F. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the third gas temperature is about 1200° F. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the fourth gas temperature is about 500° F. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein boosting the inlet temperature of the gas to the second gas temperature comprises allowing the thermal oxidizer to operate without the use of additional fuel.