In Focus: Performance Contracts Cut Abatement Costs
Attention is typically given to regenerative thermal oxidizer (RTO) performance by paint and coatings manufacturers only when a specific problem or fault shuts down the system or when the system is out of compliance. Opportunities to reduce the operating cost of an RTO by improving the energy efficiency are often ignored.
Because of the rapidly increasing cost of natural gas, the incentive to evaluate and improve RTO efficiency before any maintenance problems occur has never been greater. If the temperature rise across an RTO is about 110 to 150ºF or greater, energy recovery projects can usually be justified based on the utility savings alone. (Whether an energy efficiency project can pay for itself is a function of temperature rise and pressure drop across an RTO, the air volume being treated, the annual hours of RTO operation and other factors.)