Apparatus and Method for Thermal Destruction of Volatile Organic Compounds

A method for destroying volatile organic compounds that are emitted from workpieces being processed in a furnace, the method comprising:

• providing a flow path in which turbulent flow is created by positioning of a heating module therein;
• allowing a natural draft to pull the volatile organic compounds from the furnace and along the flow path;
• and
• heating the volatile organic compounds, in the flow path, via the heating module, to a temperature necessary to destroy greater than approximately 99% of the volatile organic compounds.

A furnace for processing workpieces that release volatile organic compounds during the processing, the furnace comprising:

• a processing chamber through which the workpieces are conveyed from an inlet to an outlet thereof;
• at least one heating chamber in direct flow-through communication with the processing chamber, each of the at least one heating chamber defining a flow path for the volatile organic compounds that are released from the workpieces being processed in the processing chamber;
• a heating module being mounted within each of the at least one heating chamber and located within the corresponding flow path to create turbulent flow therethrough, the heating module heating the volatile organic compounds to a temperature necessary to destroy greater than 99% thereof;
• and
• an exhaust portion extending from an upper section of each of the at least one heating chamber and being configured to allow a natural draft to pull the volatile organic compounds from the processing chamber and through the flow path defined by each of the at least one heating chamber, the exhaust portion including an exhaust hood connecting the furnace to exhaust ductwork of a facility in which the furnace is employed.