Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO) Maintenance │ The CMM Group

Keeping your Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO) clean of unwanted residue can improve efficiency

Regenerative Thermal Oxidizers (RTO) are used to destroy harmful emissions produced by certain manufacturing plants. RTOs heat volatile organic compounds (VOC) present in exhaust streams to high temperatures, leading to combustion. This process is called thermal oxidation. While many volatile compounds are safely destroyed using this method, a benign residue can build up in the combustion chamber and media bed during operation. Residue entering the unit alongside exhaust streams can become stuck to the interior walls of the equipment and affect the machine’s efficiency. In some cases, the formulation of unwanted residue is the result of the combustion process itself and cannot be avoided. Regardless of the cause, RTO components must be properly maintained and media cleaned to keep the unit running smoothly.

What improvements will you see from cleaning your media?

Improved destruction efficiency
Restored thermal efficiency and airflow capacity
Reduction in the increased fuel usage caused by plugging
Increased equipment life by reducing stress on system components

RTO Maintenance

Manufacturers need to meet strict environmental regulations and an effective air pollution control system is vital to ongoing plant operation. The Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO) is one of the most popular and cost-effective systems for emissions control.

Learn how to use Predictive Analysis along with regular visual inspections to properly maintain this critical piece of equipment.

The Importance of RTO Maintenance

Due to high operating temperature and exposure to corrosive chemicals, minor issues in an RTO can manifest into major problems that could bring the entire manufacturing plant to a halt if they are not discovered and dealt with in a timely manner.

Benefits of a Consistent Maintenance Plan:

Ensures components are functioning optimally
Prevents buildup of particulate matter, impacting air flow
Prevents unplanned downtime and lost production time
Simple repairs now could avoid more costly repairs later

The CMM Group offers fast response for conducting a system inspection. Our multi-disciplined technicians can perform an inspection of your oxidizer of any type, checking for insulation damage, valve and burner systems, fans and motors performance.

Common Issues and Points of Failure:

Media failure: if the burner is out of adjustment, the flame can come into contact with the media and cause damage. In addition, silicon compounds can turn into silicon dioxide in the combustion chamber and cause plugging.
Insulation failure: Areas around the burner are common points of insulation failure. In extreme cases, heat can burn a hole through the shell and cause a catastrophic failure.
Cold face support failure: the cold face support system needs to hold up thousands of pounds of delicate ceramic media while tolerating high temperatures and various chemicals emitted in the process.
Switching valve failure: Switching valves are the primary components that contribute to an RTO’s destruction rate efficiency. Such a failure can impact the destruction rate and affect compliance with environmental regulations.

Key Activities to Cover in an RTO Maintenance Inspection:

Look for gaps between the structured blocks and insulation which can allow the extreme heat to reach the cold face support and cause excessive heat damage.
Collect data across the emissions control process and use predictive analysis to measure media bed pressure drops and temperature profiles to identify areas that require attention.
Inspect the cold face support for signs of structural deterioration, condensation buildup and media plugging.
Conduct weekly inspections of the RTO exterior. Heat marks, warped steel, damaged fasteners and discolorations could be signs of insulation failure.
Look for warped or torn metals and plugging in the cold face support, which could be signs of severe cold support failures.
Conduct regular visual inspections of switching valves for excessive wear and tear or alignment issues.

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