What Is a Thermal Oxidizer?
Thermal Oxidizers are air pollution control systems used in many processes to oxidize and decompose hazardous, flammable, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) contained in the exhaust of many manufacturing and processing plants. Oxidizing and decomposing these compounds at high temperatures before they are released into the environment helps reduce smog and air pollution and, in some cases, eliminates fire hazards by preventing these compounds from accumulating at ground level.
In sulfur recovery units, a Thermal Oxidizer (sometimes referred to as an Incinerator) is the final component in the facility (with a few exceptions). The SRU T.O. combusts any residual sulfur-bearing compounds to the relatively less hazardous SO2 before it is emitted to the atmosphere or a flue gas scrubber, depending on the unit design. Thermal Oxidizers play an essential role during the unit start-up, shutdown, and during upset conditions, to ensure hydrogen sulfide and hazardous, flammable compounds are fully decomposed.