This article analyzes. Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer An application case at a printed circuit board laminate material manufacturing plant demonstrates that the regenerative thermal oxidation system is effective for high-concentration Organic waste gas The treatment performance is remarkable, with a TVOC removal rate exceeding 99% and the ability to recover thermal energy. This system not only effectively purifies organic waste gases but also meets the requirements of clean production.

A regenerative thermal oxidizer (RTO) is a highly efficient device for the treatment of organic waste gas pollution, comprising a ceramic heat-storage bed, automatic control valves, a combustion chamber, and a control system. Its main features include: automatic control valves at the bottom of the heat-storage bed are connected respectively to the inlet manifold and the outlet manifold; the heat-storage bed alternates between heat absorption and heat release via a reversing valve, capturing the heat from the high-temperature gases exiting the combustion chamber and preheating the incoming organic waste gas; ceramic heat-storage materials are used to absorb and release heat; the preheated organic waste gas then undergoes an oxidation reaction in the combustion chamber, producing carbon dioxide and water and thereby achieving purification [1]. At the same time, leveraging the high-temperature resistance, rapid heat absorption, and quick heat dissipation characteristics of the heat-storage ceramics in the combustion chamber, the recovered clean waste heat is reused in production processes, thus reducing energy consumption. RTO Heat recovery efficiency typically exceeds 80%, and the technology is now widely employed in exhaust gas treatment across industries such as electronics, automotive, coatings and chemicals, and pharmaceuticals.

1. Application Examples of Regenerative Thermal Oxidation Systems

1.1 Study Subjects

This paper takes a printed circuit board (PCB) laminate material manufacturer as a case study and analyzes the effectiveness of its application of a regenerative thermal oxidizer for treating high-concentration organic waste gases, focusing on treatment performance and heat recovery.

1.2 Production Processes and Analysis of Organic Waste Gas Pollution Sources

The production process for laminated materials used in printed circuit boards is relatively simple: first, the adhesive formulation (such as epoxy resin adhesive) is mixed with organic solvents—primarily N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), acetone, and others—in the appropriate proportions and thoroughly stirred; next, the resulting mixture is uniformly coated onto glass-fiber cloth; finally, after drying, cutting, and quality inspection, the finished product is obtained. Since all the organic solvents used in the process volatilize during coating and drying, a large volume of organic waste gas is generated, with pre-treatment TVOC emissions of approximately 160–190 kg/h.

1.3.1 Process Flow Diagram

1.3.2 Main Process Parameters

(1) Air handling capacity: 20,000 m³/h;

(2) Combustion chamber temperature: 850–1100°C;

(3) Maximum solvent load in the combustion chamber: 300 kg/h;

(4) Heat release rate: 5,688,144 kJ/h;

(5) Combustion supporter: diesel fuel (higher heating value of 43,054 kJ/m³);

(6) TVOC removal efficiency: greater than 99%;

(7) Chimney exhaust gas temperature: 100–150°C.