Regenerative thermal oxidizers (RTO)

AB has designed two ranges of RTOs for the treatment of off-gas from biogas upgrading to biomethane, capable of ensuring methane emissions into the atmosphere in line with sustainability targets.

These solutions are engineered to treat the off-gas produced during biogas upgrading processes, which feature different membrane configurations for separating methane and CO₂. Depending on the process, the residual methane content in the off-gas can range from higher values (around 5–7%) to very low percentages (0.5–1%).

The systems are based on heat recovery chambers filled with ceramic material, operating cyclically to provide highly efficient heating and cooling. The oxidation chamber reaches temperatures between 850 and 950 °C, required for the oxidation of methane compounds. Start-up can be carried out using a biogas-fired burner or, in more compact versions, with electric heaters, avoiding the use of auxiliary fuels.

Thanks to intrinsic heat recovery and the energy content of the off-gas, operation continues in a self-sustaining thermal regime after ignition, without any additional external energy input.

Regenerative thermal oxidizers (RTO) are the ideal solution for the abatement of volatile organic substances present in industrial emissions.

The heat recovery efficiency of RTOs can reach up to 94%, drastically reducing the consumption of support fuel and, consequently, the plant’s operating costs.