Heat recovery in the catalytic elimination of VOCs under temporary emission patterns

MIRANDA F; RODRÍGUEZ, M. LAURA; CADUS LUIS E.; BORIO, DANIEL O.

Karlshrue

Congreso; MODEGAT VI (2019); 2018

VER PUBLICACION EN https://www.itcp.kit.edu/modegat/100.phpAbstractThe success of monoliths as converters of engine emissions has encouraged researchers tocarry out other gas phase reactions using monolithic reactors [1]. Catalytic oxidation for VOC(Volatile Organic Compounds) abatement is an example. In this process, high volumes of air(1700 ? 17000 m3/h) characterized by a very low concentration of organic species (50?2000ppm) must be preheated up to the reaction temperature. To reduce the energy demand inthe treatment of high flowrates, heat recovery is very important. Additionally, in industrialprocesses, VOCs catalytic oxidation often operates under variable emission patterns: feedVOC concentration can fluctuate within wide ranges. In the case of high feed VOCconcentrations, the heat released in the combustion reactions favours VOC abatement.Conversely, for low feed concentrations, auxiliary fuel requirements for preheating may besubstantial, increasing the operating costs. In all the cases, the inlet temperature set pointshould be high enough to prevent forbidden VOC emissions. In order to minimize the heatsupply, it is convenient to maintain the reactor inlet temperature at a minimum value (T0,min),which guarantees the complete VOCs abatement, even in the case of significant changes inthe VOC concentration of the feed stream [2].In this contribution a theoretical study of the dynamic response of a monolithic reactor forVOCs abatement is performed. The reactor is coupled with a gas-gas heat exchanger and anatural gas burner to complete the feed preheating.