Tank cleaning facilities are looking for alternatives to flaring. High monthly fuel bills, odorous chemicals, the slow cleaning process to eliminate fugitive emissions, and limited capability of flares are some of the reasons Service Transport Inc, Houston TX, is converting its systems to incorporate a Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO).
With locations in Texas and Louisiana, Service Transport hauls hazardous and non-hazardous chemicals and compressed liquids and operates a full-service cleaning wash rack.
During second-quarter 2000, Service Transport had an RTO commissioned as a replacement for an elevated flare at its Houston location. The RTO was designed and installed by Epcon Industrial Systems Inc to decrease monthly fuel costs and eliminate fugitive emissions. Peter Rozdilsky, vice-president of operations for Service Transport, said, “We immediately recorded 50% reduction in use of natural gas. The problems with odors coming off the RTO when we vented chemicals from the acrylate family were non-existent. In the past with the flare, we had to slow this process so we didn't get fugitive emissions. The RTO also improved the productivity of the wash rack; no waiting for the tanks to be depressured or vented.”
Service Transport offers immediate cleaning for outside transporters due to the cleaning facility's increased speed.
The company could not clean certain products with the flare due to odor problems and the potentially explosive nature of many chemicals. “This is not the case with our RTO,” Rozdilsky said. “The list of chemicals we wash are unlimited. The RTO operates so efficiently that the air returned to the atmosphere is virtually free of emissions. Customers who do terminal visits are very impressed with our technology and can relate to the improved efficiency of the RTO over flaring.”
Epcon is an air pollution equipment manufacturer in Conroe TX. The RTO provided to Service Transport was pre-assembled and pretested at Epcon's fabrication facility and has a DRE greater than 99%. For more details, phone Jason Clavijo at 936- 273-3300, ext 239.