Petrochemical Industry Treatment Solutions

Regenerative Thermal Oxidizers (RTOs) provide efficient VOC and hazardous air pollutant control in petrochemical operations, achieving over 99.5% destruction efficiency. They handle high-concentration and variable exhaust streams from processes like refining, tank venting, and chemical synthesis. With integrated heat recovery systems, RTOs significantly reduce fuel consumption and operational costs. Their robust design ensures reliable compliance with environmental regulations while supporting sustainable production goals.

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  • Characteristics of waste gas: large fluctuations in waste concentration, high waste gas concentration, no production shutdown throughout the year, and high safety level requirements.
  • Source of waste gas: production plant waste gas, tank farm waste gas, loading and unloading vehicle waste gas.
  • Waste gas components: benzene homologues, asphalt smoke and benzo [a] pyrene, alkanes C1-C6, light oil, ethers, phenols, etc.
  • Process scheme: low temperature diesel adsorption + desulfurization + mixed air dilution + RTO
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    Petrochemical industry 3D drawing

    Process Design

    The proposed treatment process is engineered to manage complex waste gas streams through an integrated multi-stage system:

    1. Low-Temperature Diesel Adsorption: This initial stage captures heavier hydrocarbons through low-temperature diesel adsorption, effectively removing larger pollutant molecules and reducing the load on downstream treatment units.
    2. Desulfurization: Sulfur compounds are eliminated in this phase to prevent acid formation and equipment corrosion, essential for ensuring system durability and operational integrity.
    3. Mixed Air Dilution: The waste gas is diluted with ambient air to lower pollutant concentrations, improving handling efficiency and preparing the stream for the final treatment step.
    4. Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO): In this ultimate stage, the diluted gas is treated in the RTO, where high-temperature oxidation converts remaining VOCs into harmless byproducts such as carbon dioxide and water vapor, ensuring compliance with stringent emission standards.

    By incorporating this comprehensive approach, petrochemical facilities can achieve efficient waste gas management, meeting environmental regulations while maintaining process safety and reliability.

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    Waste gas treatment process flow chart of tank farm and loading and unloading vehicle

    Advantages of waste gas treatment technology

    Space-Saving Advantage of RP Techniek BV Rotary Valve RTO

    In a typical 100,000-ton maleic anhydride production project, the conventional chamber-type RTO requires 2,100 square meters (3 Chinese mu) of space. In contrast, our rotary valve RTO occupies only 1,350 square meters (2 Chinese mu), reducing the footprint by approximately one-third for equivalent processing capacity. This compact design significantly saves valuable plant area while maintaining high treatment efficiency, making it an ideal solution for space-constrained industrial sites.

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    Pretreatment: Double-bag gas-liquid separator

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    Pretreatment: Saddle ring filter

    Triple Safeguard: Oil Removal, Clogging Prevention, and Fire Protection

    Exhaust gases from ABS, maleic anhydride, and asphalt processes contain oily aerosols, which can cause oil accumulation in the low-temperature zone at the bottom of the RTO and clog the lower-layer regenerative ceramics. Such oil buildup significantly increases the risk of fire—an issue that has occurred multiple times in existing RTO projects. RP Techniek BV employs a triple protection technology integrating oil removal, clogging prevention, and fire protection to ensure safe and reliable operation of the system!

    1. Reducing Oil Accumulation

    The system minimizes oil accumulation by elevating the inlet gas temperature to prevent cold condensation and oil formation. Key components including the natural gas pipeline, combustion air supply, main fan, and purge air work in coordination to ensure efficient operation. The rotary RTO unit, equipped with an emergency vent valve, further employs temperature elevation and reverse blowing techniques to reduce冷凝油 formation, enhancing operational reliability and safety.

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    2. Rapid Clogging Cleaning

    The system minimizes oil accumulation by elevating the inlet gas temperature to prevent cold condensation and oil formation. Key components including the natural gas pipeline, combustion air supply, main fan, and purge air work in coordination to ensure efficient operation. The rotary RTO unit, equipped with an emergency vent valve, further employs temperature elevation and reverse blowing techniques to reduce冷凝油 formation, enhancing operational reliability and safety.

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    3. Oil Drainage and Fire Prevention

    The RTO furnace structure is specifically designed to facilitate easy drainage of accumulated oil, effectively preventing oil retention within the chamber. By eliminating oil buildup, the system completely avoids potential fire hazards, ensuring long-term operational safety and compliance with industrial safety standards.

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