Economic incinerators with heat recovery

Figure 3. Economics of operating large modular refuse incinerators with heat recovery and particulate control...

R Fraunfelker. Small Modular Incinerator Systems with Heat Recovery. A Technical Environmental and Economic Evaluation. Executive Summary, Report SW-797, US Environmental Protection Agency, 1979. 

The reviews by Spivey [3] and by Jennings et al. [156] are excellent sources for further details on catalytic incineration of volatile organics emissions. Spivey [3] describes two types of techniques for removal of VOC from off-gases, namely one without preheater and one with a direct flame preheater. From an economically point of view it is more beneficial to carry out the catalytic oxidation at lower temperatures. In a catalytic incinerator, sometimes called an afterburner, VOCs are oxidized into carbon dioxide and water. The efficiency is about 70-90%. The incinerator has a preheat burner, a mixing chamber, a catalyst bed, and a heat recovery equipment. Temperatures of about 590 K are sirfficient for the destruction of VOCs. Various catalyst geometries have been used metal ribbons, spherical pellets, ceramic rods, ceramic honeycombs, and metal honeycombs. Precious metals such as platinum and palladium are often used in catalytic incinerators. 

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