Method and apparatus for the destruction of volatile organic compounds
A system for the destruction of volatile organic compounds while generating power. In a preferred embodiment the system comprises a combustor and a reaction chamber connected to an exit of the combustor. A primary inlet to the combustor supplies a primary fuel to the combustor. A secondary fuel, comprising air and an amount of one or more volatile organic compounds, is supplied to a compressor, which compresses the secondary fuel and directs the secondary fuel to the combustor and the reaction chamber. The system is suitably configured to enable the stoichiometric reaction of the two fuels in a manner sufficient to destroy the volatile organic compounds contained in the secondary fuel and power a turbine engine connected to an exit of the reaction chamber.
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This application is a division of application Ser. No. 08/538,692, filed Oct. 3, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,592,811.
TECHNICAL FIELDThis invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for the destruction of hazardous materials, such as volatile organic compounds, and more particularly, to the destruction of volatile organic compounds through the use of a turbine engine in order to produce power.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIncreasingly over the past half century, air quality has become an issue of public concern. Over this period, the scientific community has steadily improved its understanding of the origins of the air pollution that is apparent over most major U.S. cities. A large part of this air pollution is attributable to the release of volatile organic compounds into the atmosphere. As a result, the reduction of the releases of volatile organic compounds has become an increasingly important part of the overall strategy to improve air quality.
The most familiar volatile compound reduction technique is the control of fuel vaporization by vapor recovery techniques, first on automobiles and now on gasoline stations located in nonobtainment areas. As a result, the steady year over year increase in U.S. releases of these compounds has leveled off and is now even declining.
Manufacturing sites are responsible for approximately 8.5 million tons of volatile organic compound emissions annually. Solvent vaporization or in some cases, hydrocarbon byproducts, are key to the manufacturing process of many of the items used regularly in daily life. The manufacture of familiar consumer products results in the release into the atmosphere of significant amounts of organic compounds such as pentane, ethanol, methanol, ethyl acetate, and many others. The control of volatile organic compounds is essential to the environmentally friendly manufacture of these products, and thus, there remains a struggle with the cost of control versus the loss of competitiveness.
The most common control method in use today is the thermal oxidizer. In connection with this method, the volatile solvent is released in amounts generally less than a few thousand parts per million into the plant air system. This air is then selectively collected and fed into a combustion chamber where it is mixed with enough natural gas to sustain combustion. It is then ignited in a large chamber that incinerates the volatile solvent, as well as, the natural gas, thereby producing carbon dioxide and water vapor as the primary products of combustion. These oxidizers are large, complicated devices that represent a major capital expense and require significant amounts of electricity and gas to operate. While heat can sometimes be recovered, generally speaking, thermal oxidizers represent a significant economic loss to the businesses using them. In a typical U.S. industrial plant, the cost of operating this type of device easily adds 25%, and often much more, to the yearly energy bill.
Another current control technology uses solvent recovery methods that pass the air from the plant through an activated charcoal filter. Periodically, the charcoal is heated, driving off highly concentrated volatile compounds into a chilled condensing system. The output is a liquid organic compound often requiring hazardous waste treatment. The cost of operation, as well as the initial capital costs, are significantly higher than the thermal oxidizer, thereby making this control technology less attractive for the majority of industrial sites.
Accordingly, an efficient and cost effective device for the destruction of volatile organic compounds is needed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA system for the destruction of volatile organic compounds according to the present invention addresses the shortcomings of the prior art.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a system for the destruction of volatile organic compounds comprises a power generator, such as a gas turbine engine, which is provided with a reaction chamber driven by a combustion device. The system further comprises a primary inlet to the combustor for supplying a primary fuel. A secondary fuel is also supplied to the combustor and to the reaction chamber. The secondary fuel comprises air and an amount of a volatile organic compound. The system further includes a compressor, typically the compressor of the power generator, for compressing the secondary fuel. The reaction chamber is preferably connected to an exit of the combustor to allow for stoichiometric reaction of the two fuels after they are mixed together.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, the power generator drives a recovery system that generates electricity.
The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawing figures, wherein like designations denote like elements, and:
While the way in which the present invention addresses the various disadvantages of the prior art designs will be discussed in greater detail hereinbelow, in general, the present invention provides a volatile organic compound (VOC) destruction device which includes a power generator such that the effective elimination of VOC's also results in the co-generation of power. The power so produced can be converted into electricity, which can in part drive the destruction device as well as produce power for other uses.
With reference to
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, power generator 12 preferably comprises a gas turbine engine, for example an AlliedSignal IE-831 engine, which is produced by AlliedSignal Aerospace, Phoenix, Ariz. has been found to be suitable. However, it should be recognized that any suitable engine can be used in the context of device 10, provided such engine can be suitably employed in the generation of power.
With continued reference to
In accordance with the present invention, VOC destruction device 10 can be utilized to concurrently destroy VOC's and realize the fuel value of such VOC's produced from a variety of different environments. In this context, the term “VOC” is used broadly to refer to carbon containing compounds, such as hydrocarbons, dioxins, alcohols, ketinesaldehydes, ethers, organic acids, halogenareated forms of the foregoing and the like. For example, as used herein, the term VOC may refer to pentane, n-ethylmorphilin, toluene, ethanol, methanol, decabromodiphenyloxide, ethyl acetate, benzene, polystyrene and the like. Such VOC's or similar chemical compounds are typically produced from the evaporation of chemicals used in and generated by basic industrial processes to produce plastics, pharmaceuticals, bakery products, printed products and the like. A particularly preferred application of the present invention is in the area of control VOC's produced during the production of expandable polystyrene (i.e. the process to make “styrofoam”) where the primary emission is the VOC pentane.
Device 10 can be employed to destroy VOC's which can be collected from the plant as whole, from special isolated or hooded areas, from dryers or from a VOC concentrator utilized in such plants. In the context of the present invention, air from one or more of these environments or areas is referred to as “VOC laden air”. It should be appreciated that the amount of VOC present in such air may vary from small amounts or none to larger amounts, over time and as conditions in the plant change. As with typical prior art methods of destroying VOCs or such, the present invention may be employed even over periods of time when the VOC level is small or nonexistent. As such, the term VOC laden air includes air that from time to time may not include a significant quantity (or any amount) of a VOC.
VOC laden air, such as air laden with pentane resulting from the manufacture of expandable polystyrene, is first collected and thereafter suitably passed into device 10. While such VOC laden air may be collected in any conventional manner for use in connection with the present invention, preferably, in such a process, the VOC laden air is ducted from the plant via one or more air ducts. These ducts are directly or indirectly connected to an inlet duct 40 (see
In accordance with a preferred aspect of the present invention, power generator 12 draws in such VOC laden air together with fuel, the combustion gases of both which flow at high velocity into turbine 26 and thereby drive turbine 26. As previously briefly mentioned, the primary fuel utilized as the power source in accordance with the present invention may comprise natural gas; alternatively, diesel oil, jet fuel, methane or any other fuel material may be utilized in an amount sufficient to sustain combustion in combustor 16.
The secondary fuel comprising the VOC laden air is generally much leaner than the primary fuel. Generally speaking, the secondary fuel has a VOC concentration in the range of 0% to 1%. This 1% maximum corresponds to approximately 10,000 parts per million, depending on the type of organic compound involved. Typically this will comply with OSHA regulations as the maximum concentration allowed within plant air in order to prevent the possibility of an explosion within the plant, and in the event permissible limits are exceeded, the concentration can be reduced. However, it should be appreciated that system 10 is capable of handling higher VOC concentrations, as may be desirable in some applications.
With reference to
Once the temperature of inlet air A is within a suitable range, such inlet air A is passed through a control valve 46 which is suitably provided with a VOC monitor 48. As will be discussed in greater detail below, monitor 48 measures the level of VOC within inlet air A. This VOC level measurement, as will be described in greater detail below, is utilized to adjust, as appropriate, the ratio of primary and secondary fuels which are fed into combustor 16. Regulator 46 suitably regulates the flow of air which is drawn into compressor 24.
When device 10 is placed in initial operation, generator 20 is utilized to initially drive compressor 24 (as well as turbine 26) to suitably draw inlet air A into compressor 24. As operation of device 10 continues, the power drawn from generator 20, through gearbox 22, may be suitably decreased and thereafter compressor 24 is, at least in part, and preferably entirely driven by the power generated through operation of device 10, and in particular, through the generation of energy effected by turbine 26.
As discussed briefly above, compressor 24 suitably comprises the compressor of power generator 12. With momentary reference to FIG. 5 8, compressor 24 preferably comprises alternate respective sets of rotating blades 56 and stationary blades 58 . Rotating blades 56 are suitably rotated through rotation of shaft 28, which is briefly noted above, is initially activated by generator 20. In accordance with a preferred aspect of the present invention, compressor 24 comprises a multi-stage compressor, more preferably a two stage compressor, i.e. there are at least 2 rotating blades (impellers) 56 within the body of compressor 24 .
As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, inlet air A drawn into compressor 24 is suitably compressed to pressures ranges from about 4 to about 30 atmospheres, and preferably to about 9 atmosphere. This compression raises the temperature of inlet air A, and thus the secondary fuel, to ideally about 600° F., but suitably within the range of about 550° F. to about 650° F. The compressed air B then exits compressor 24 through outlets 57A, 57B and preferably enters reaction chamber 18 through inlets 59A, 59B.
With continued reference to
As shown best in
In a conventional fashion, mixed stream D is directed to turbine 26. Turbine 26 of the type generally described above, is initially started by cranking it over with a starter (not shown) to produce air flow through the compressor. At the appropriate speed, fuel C is permitted to flow into combustor 16. However, once device 10 is in operation, mixed stream D suitably powers turbine 26 in a manner such that the output E from turbine 26 is suitably harnessed and utilized in subsequent operation of device 10, as well as in connection with the production of power for other applications.
With reference to
Reaction chamber 18 preferably comprises a double walled vessel having a main, inner wall 60 and an outer wall 62 that envelopes inner wall 60. The chamber 64 defined by walls 60 and 62 is suitably configured and positioned in proximity to compressor 24 to receive compressed air B. Preferably, and with reference to
With reference to
Combustor 16 may be attached to reaction chamber 18 in any convenient manner. For example, combustor 16 can be fixably attached to chamber 18 such that outlet 86 of combustor 16 directly communicates with an opening of reaction chamber 18 in an in-line manner. However, in accordance with a preferred aspect of the present invention and as shown best in
Combustion within combustor 16 takes place in a generally conventional manner, with the exception that compressed air B, i.e. the VOC laden air introduced into the system, is permitted to mix with the primary fuel C within the later stages of combustor 16. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, near inlet 84, primary fuel C is relatively rich such that it burns under near stoichiometric conditions, typically at a temperature in the range of about 2500° F. to about 3200° F., preferably between about 2800° F. and about 3000° F. and optimally 3000° F. In this region denoted in
The residence time of the gas mixture of primary fuel and secondary fuel within reaction chamber is enhanced due to the preferred configuration of combustor 16 relative to reaction chamber 18. Specifically, and in accordance with a preferred aspect of the present invention, as the combustion gases exit the combustor at outlet 86, such gases are directed toward the opposing wall of reaction chamber 18. The flow pattern which results in the interior of reaction chamber 18 tends to be cyclonic, i.e. creating a spiral pattern.
In accordance with a preferred aspect of the present invention, the fuel mixture, comprising primary fuel and secondary fuel is retained in reaction chamber 18 for a sufficient time to effectively burn, i.e. combust the VOC's contained within the secondary fuel B. Typically, the residence time of the gas mixtures within reaction chamber 18 is on the order of about 0.25 seconds or more. In accordance with a preferred design of the present invention, the tangential orientation of the combustor relative the reaction chamber has been found to not only enhance residence time, but also to cause a degree of recirculation within reaction chamber 18 thus further enabling substantially complete destruction of the VOC's within reaction chamber 18.
In practice, the present invention generally results in an excess of 90%, and typically from between about 95 and 99.5% of the VOC contained within secondary fuel B being effectively broken down into water vapor and carbon dioxide. As will be appreciated, and as will be discussed in greater detail below, through effective operation of device 10, substantially all of the VOC's contained within the inlet air A, and thus compressed air B, are thus effectively destroyed within reaction chamber 18 and/or combustor 16.
Preferably, flow channels 112, 114 of system 110 each comprise respective tubes 116 and 118. Preferably, tubes 116 and 118 are suitably attached to reaction chamber 18 at 116A, 118A and are in fluid communication with chamber 64 at outlets 124 and 126. Tubes 116 and 118 each preferably include respective valves 120 and 122, which may comprise any conventional flow control valve, such as a general poppet-type valve or the like. Tubes 116, 118 are in fluid communication with duct 65, which is in fluid communication with chamber 64, such that when valves 120, 122 are opened, the pressure differential between chambers 18 and 64 pushes a portion of the compressed air B out of chamber 64 through duct 65 and into tubes 116, 118. This portion of compressed air B then travels through the tubes 116, 118 and exits through outlets 124, 126 directly into chamber 60, causing air B to thereby bypass the combustor 16. In a preferred embodiment, when the valves 120, 122 are closed, all of compressed air B enters combustor 16 in the region of openings 67A and 67B via inlets 69.
Preferably, as shown, channels 112 and 114, as well as duct 65, each comprise a single tube that allow for the adequate bypass of compressed air B from chamber 64 directly into reaction chamber 18. However, other arrangements for accomplishing this objective easily can be devised and employed in the context of the present invention. Due to size considerations, generally the number of channels 112, 114 are minimized to two or three, and preferably even one; however, additional channels may be employed as desired.
Inlet air control system 110 can be activated manually or through the computer control associated with control system 150, which will now be described.
Preferably, control system 150 is a computer based system suitably configured and arranged to control, among other things, power generator 12 and fuel supply C, as well as inlet and outlet air from device 10. In general, control system 150 operates in a conventional manner to control power generator 12 including, among other things, compressor 24 and turbine 26. Further, in a conventional fashion, control system 150 operates to start device 10 initially and monitor operation of device 10 as device 10 begins to operate due to the burning of primary fuel A and secondary fuel C.
Control system 150, however, differs from conventional gas turbine and other industrial engine controls in that system 150 operates to monitor and, as necessary, adjust fuel supplies A and C, as well 25 air control system 110 to achieve optimum levels of efficiency and ensure that device 10 safely and effectively remains operative. Any suitable electronic means that is well known in the art may be utilized for control system 150. As previously noted, and with momentary reference to
For example, when the power output of power generator 12 drops below an expected level for the measured full consumption of fuel C, thus indicating, for example, that the fuel mixture within combustor 16 may be becoming too lean, control system 150 may activate control system 110. In such cases, valves 120, 122 will be opened thereby creating a pressure difference sufficient to draw compressed air B out of the chamber 64 and into the bypass flow channels 112, 114, which in turn, direct compressed air B into reaction chamber 18 thus preventing its flow into combustor 16. Operation of control system 150 in this manner prevents the fuel mixture within combustor 16 from becoming too lean, while still allowing for the VOC laden air to be reacted with the primary fuel within reaction chamber 18 to thereby destroy the VOC concentration and retain the VOC fuel value.
Stated another way, control system 150, by monitoring the varying VOC level in inlet air A, and thus the corresponding fuel valve of inlet air, adjusts device 10 for appropriate operation. For example, in the case where inlet air A has a fuel valve in excess of that necessary to drive power generator 12 at idle alone, control system 150 suitably reduces the flow of fuel C and as necessary, activates air control system 110 to prevent generator 12 from operating at excessive speeds and/or combustor from operating at excessively lean or such levels.
Control system 150 may also be employed to compensate for the relatively long lag time between fuel introduction and changes in conditions at inlet 90 to turbine 26 caused by reactions taking place within reaction chamber 18, as well as to monitor or control other aspects of device 10.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, and with reference to
In the event inlet air A is determined to be laden with an unacceptable level of VOC, an inlet bypass device 208 opens to allow fresh air into chamber 203. Preferably, bypass device 208 comprises a shutter valve of conventional design.
In addition, inlet air A is suitably cooled to a temperature within an acceptable range. Preferably, such cooling is effected through a heat exchanger system 205. Preferably system 205 comprises respective heat exchange elements 204, 218, outlet 210 and cooling fan 222. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, element 204 is suitably connected via outlet and duct elements (not shown) to cooling pump 211 and heat exchange element 218 such that cooling fluid is suitably recirculated between elements 204 and 218. In a conventional manner, system 205 allows for the cooling of inlet air A. Inlet air A once cooled, is passed through a centrifugal separator 212 separating the VOC laden air from any large particles. Once separated, the VOC laden air is communicated to devices 10A and 10B, preferably by respective conduits 214 and 216. As previously briefly mentioned, devices 10A and 10B operate in a fashion similar to that of device 10 described above to generate respective exhausts E1, E2 which are released into the plant to provide process heat through respective outlet 230, 232.
With reference to
System 300 is suitably controlled through operation of a control system 350 which may be optionally cooled through operation of a refrigeration device 352. Various other devices such as ventilators, switch and other electronic devices may be also employed, in a conventional fashion, for a effective use of device 10C in connection with mobile system 300.
Preliminary experimental tests of devices embodying the present invention have indicated that by using the VOC laden secondary fuel, the amount of primary fuel needed to operate the engine is reduced without a loss of energy content in the fuel supply. Accordingly, the use of this volatile organic compound destruction system 10 results in substantially complete destruction of the volatile organic compound while reducing the amount of primary fuel required to operate an engine for the generation of electricity.
Thus, it will be appreciated that device 10 provides significant advantages over prior art designs for destruction of VOCs. For example, in accordance with experiments preformed using devices embodying preferred aspects of the present invention, substantial destruction of VOC laden air efficiency (e.g. at rates above 99.5%) at a level of about 6200 ft3/min can be obtained with the production of a nominal 525 kw of electrical power.
To illustrate the overall impact of the present invention, consider a typical plant using 640,000 kw hours per month with a need to consume 12,000 cubic feet per minute of air laden with 3,500 parts per million of a VOC. Consider further that the plant consumes 97,000 therms of fossil fuel each month. Without control, over 800 metric tons per year of VOC's are released into the atmosphere.
While prior art techniques (e.g. use of a thermal oxidizer) may reduce the emission of less than 50 metric tons per year of VOC's, use of such devices increases the plant energy consumption to about 125,000 therms per month.
In contradistinction, through use of a device embodying the present invention, effective VOC control is enabled with less energy. Specifically, in this example, the energy consumed and therefore, total fossil fuels burned, falls to 81,000 therms per month. Not only are the total operating costs for the plant reduced, but there is also a net reduction in the emission of carbon dioxide, nitric oxide and sulfur oxide. The sum effect of use of the present invention to control volatile organic emissions is thus cleaner air, less fossil fuel consumption and resulting lower costs.
It will be understood that the foregoing description is of the preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention, and that the invention is not limited to the specific forms shown. Various modifications may be made in the design and arrangement of the elements set forth herein without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A method of destroying volatile organic compounds (VOCs) comprising the steps of:
- collecting air laden with the VOCs;
- compressing said VOC laden air in a compressor;
- providing a primary fuel stream;
- combusting said primary fuel stream in a combustor to create a first stream of combustion gases;
- directing said first stream of combustion gases to a reaction chamber;
- directing said compressed VOC laden air into said reaction chamber to create a second stream of combustion gases;
- reacting said first and second streams of gases for substantially destroy said VOC's and create a resulting stream of combustion gases;
- directing said resulting stream of combustion gases to drive a power generator; and
- recovering power from operation of said power generator.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:
- controlling the flow of said collected VOC laden air and said primary fuel stream to maintain a substantially stoichiometric reaction in said reaction chamber.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Dec 6, 2001
Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
Assignee: Vericor Power Systems (Alpharetta, GA)
Inventors: Paul R. Dodge (Mesa, AZ), Robert S. McCarty (Phoenix, AZ), Doug Rogers (Visalia, CA), Gail Rogers (San Gabriel, CA)
Primary Examiner: Charles G. Freay
Application Number: 10/008,501
International Classification: F02G 3/00 (20060101); F02B 43/00 (20060101); F23D 14/00 (20060101); B01D 53/34 (20060101);