Thermocatalytic Destruction of Volatile Organic Compounds

Abstract

Surface coating and drying operations typically exhaust large air volumes containing low concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOC) with potential adverse environmental impacts. Operating on the principle of catalytic incineration, the SUNKISS Thermoreactor produces infra-red heat for paint drying and curing. Reported benefits include reduced drying time, improved surface coating finish, smaller exhaust air/solvent volumes. and greater energy and economic efficiency. In addition. the SUNKISS Thermoreactor has been reported to reduce VOC emissions due to oxidation of the solvent vapors. This claim was investigated under laboratory conditions at the University of Central Florida (UCF). Primary system components developed as a part of this study included the VOC-in-air flow system, a completely mixed test chamber, and a sampling train which resulted in the generation of data exhibiting a high degree of precision. Design and calibration studies necessary to maintain that accuracy and precision constituted major components of the work performed. Our study showed that an 18 to 48 percent reduction in VOC emissions may be expected from the SUNKISS Thermoreactor. VOC destruction was found to be a function of detention time within the test chamber and not inlet concentrations. Very little difference was observed during experimental runs involving both Hexane and Methyl Ethyl Ketone. Relationships among destruction efficiency, air flow rate, the generation of carbon monoxide and incomplete combustion of the a uxiliary fuel supply were also determined.

Notes

This item is only available in print in the UCF Libraries. If this is your thesis or dissertation, you can help us make it available online for use by researchers around the world by STARS for more information.

Graduation Date

1990

Semester

Spring

Advisor

Cooper, C. David

Degree

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Engineering

Department

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Degree Program

Environmental Engineering

Format

PDF

Pages

140 p.

Language

English

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Masters Thesis (Open Access)

Identifier

DP0027716

Subjects

Dissertations, Academic -- Engineering; Engineering -- Dissertations, Academic

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS