Reducing the size of a flameless thermal oxidizer by oxygen enhancement

Abstract

A flameless thermal oxidizer includes a container in which a ceramic matrix is contained, and a diptube having a passageway extending therethrough, the diptube positioned in and in communication with the ceramic matrix and in which a plurality of gaseous streams are present for combustion at the ceramic matrix, the plurality of gaseous streams including a vent stream and an oxygen stream. A related method is also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A flameless thermal oxidizer (FTO), comprising:
 a container in which a ceramic matrix is contained; and   a diptube having a passageway extending therethrough, the diptube positioned in the ceramic matrix and in which a plurality of gaseous streams are present for combustion at the ceramic matrix, the plurality of gaseous streams including a vent stream and an oxygen stream.   
     
     
         2 . The FTO of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first inlet connected to and in communication with the passageway for introducing the vent stream into the passageway, and   a second inlet connected to and in communication with the passageway for introducing the oxygen stream into the passageway.   
     
     
         3 . The FTO of  claim 2 , wherein the first inlet is separate from the second inlet. 
     
     
         4 . The FTO of  claim 2 , wherein the second inlet comprises a pipe sized and shaped to extend into and through a length of the passageway, a distal end of the pipe having an outlet upstream of an opening at a lower end of the diptube. 
     
     
         5 . The FTO of  claim 1 , further comprising another pipe connected to and in communication with the passageway, the another pipe comprising an air stream therein for mixing with the oxygen stream in the another pipe for providing an oxygen-airstream mixture to be provided to the passageway. 
     
     
         6 . The FTO of  claim 1 , further comprising another pipe connected to and in communication with the passageway, the another pipe comprising an air stream, a fuel stream, the vent stream, and the oxygen stream for providing a mixture to be provided to the passageway. 
     
     
         7 . A method of operating a flameless thermal oxidizer (FTO), comprising:
 introducing a plurality of gaseous streams into a heated ceramic matrix contained within the FTO, the plurality of gaseous streams including at least a vent stream and an oxygen stream.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the vent stream and the oxygen stream are introduced separately. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising mixing the vent stream and the oxygen stream after the introducing. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of gaseous streams further comprises an air stream and a fuel stream. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the vent, oxygen, air and the fuel streams are introduced separately. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising introducing the oxygen stream into the vent stream proximate the ceramic matrix. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising mixing the air stream and the oxygen stream for providing an air-oxygen mixture upstream of the vent and fuel streams, and introducing the air-oxygen mixture into the vent and fuel streams. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising mixing the separately provided vent, oxygen, air and fuel streams for providing a mixed stream, and introducing the mixed stream into the heated ceramic matrix.