Method and afterburner apparatus for control of highly variable flows

An apparatus comprising:

• one or more sources of gas streams containing VOC emissions;
• an oxidizer having an inlet and an outlet;
• piping means for delivering the one or more gas streams containing VOC emissions to the inlet of the oxidizer;
• an afterburner having:
• (a) an inlet port connected to the outlet from the oxidizer;
• (b) an outlet port;
• and
• (c) a section located between the inlet port and the outlet port, said section including a matrix bed of inert ceramic heat resistant material, said material having a surface that does not substantially catalyze the oxidation of the volatile organic compounds at temperatures below 1400.degree. F., and comprising an upstream side in flow communication with the inlet port and a downstream side in flow communication with the outlet port;
• bypass means for delivering the one or more gas streams containing VOC emissions from the one or more sources to the upstream side of the matrix bed;
• and
• control means for allocating the gas streams containing VOC emissions between the piping means for delivery to the inlet of the oxidizer and the bypass means for delivery to the upstream side of the matrix bed.

An apparatus for destruction of volatile organic compounds from process fumes comprising:

• an oxidizer having an inlet and an outlet;
• a pipe connected to the inlet of the oxidizer;
• an afterburner having a top and a bottom and further having:
• (a) an inlet port at the top of the afterburner connected to the outlet from the oxidizer;
• (b) an outlet port at the bottom of the afterburner;
• (c) a section located between the inlet port and the outlet port, said section including a matrix bed of inert ceramic heat resistant material, said material having a surface that does not substantially catalyze the oxidation of the volatile organic compounds at temperatures below 1400.degree. F.;
• (d) a void space between the matrix bed and the top of the afterburner;
• and
• (e) a plenum located between the inlet port and the matrix bed;
• a bypass conduit connected to the inlet port of the afterburner;
• a control valve connecting the bypass conduit to the pipe and capable of controlling the amount of a gaseous stream within the pipe that is delivered to the oxidizer and the amount that is diverted to the bypass conduit set to allow only a set amount of gaseous stream to enter the inlet of the oxidizer;
• one or more matrix bed temperature sensors;
• and
• a control device for controlling the control valve in response to temperatures sensed within the matrix bed by the temperature sensors.