Abstract: Electrostatic precipitators, including wet electrostatic precipitators, having a bank of conductive tubes which receive a gas stream having entrained particulates and an electrode connected to an electric current, wherein the tubes each include an internal restriction creating a hydrostatic pressure more evenly distributing the gas flow between the tubes eliminating the requirement for flow distribution devices, such as air straighteners and perforated plates.

Abstract: A method of burning off accumulated contaminants from heat sink media of a regenerative oxidizer having a plurality of segments containing media arranged around a central axis and a rotary valve which includes repeatedly rotating the rotary valve 180 degrees to alternatively direct waste gas through a first plurality of segments, direct the hot gas through a second plurality of segments and purge gas through a third segment to burn off the contaminants, then indexing the rotary valve one segment and repeating the burn-off process of all segments.

Abstract: An improved regenerative thermal oxidizer ("RTO") and improved method of operating same in order to provide a substantially steady-state flow of contaminant-laden air into the RTO. The RTO includes an automatically-operated balancing valve structure for minimizing pressure variations experienced at the inlet of the RTO. The balancing valve is connected to and provides a selectively closeable bypass path for air flow between the high pressure and low pressure sides of an exhaust fan. The balancing valve opens the bypass path whenever flush valves of the RTO are all closed. The RTO further includes a hydraulic control system for minimizing variations in the operation of the RTO due to varying ambient or seasonal temperature conditions to which the RTO may be subjected. The RTO additionally includes a gravity-actuated damper valve structure near the top of a vertically arranged exhaust stack.