Apparatus for the destruction of volatile organic compounds

Abstract

A system for the destruction of volatile organic compounds while generating power. In a preferred embodiment the system comprises a combustor and a reaction chamber connected to an exit of the combustor. A primary inlet to the combustor supplies a primary fuel to the combustor. A secondary fuel, comprising air and an amount of one or more volatile organic compounds, is supplied to a compressor, which compresses the secondary fuel and directs the secondary fuel to the combustor and the reaction chamber. The system is suitably configured to enable the stoichiometric reaction of the two fuels in a manner sufficient to destroy the volatile organic compounds contained in the secondary fuel and power a turbine engine connected to an exit of the reaction chamber.

1. A system for the destruction of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) comprising:
 a reaction chamber, said reaction chamber having a central axis;  
 a combustor attached to said reaction chamber substantially perpendicular to sail central axis;  
 an engine connected to said reaction chamber;  
 wherein said system is configured to receive a primary fuel and a secondary fuel, said secondary fuel comprising VOC laden air, and wherein said primary fuel is combusted in said combustor and said secondary fuel is combusted in said combustor and said reaction chamber.  
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1  further comprising a compressor. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2  wherein said system further comprises an air inlet duct, said inlet duct operatively connected to said compressor and enabling the communication to said compressor of said secondary fuel. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3 , wherein said compressor is operatively connected to said combustor and said reaction chamber. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 4  wherein said reaction chamber defines a passageway, said passageway communicating with a compressor outlet and an interior of said reaction chamber. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 5  further comprising a bypass system operatively connected to said passageway, said bypass system configured to at least partially prevent flow of compressed secondary fuel to said combustor when said system is activated. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6  further comprising means for activating said bypass system. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7  wherein said activation means comprises means for monitoring VOC levels in said secondary fuel, means for monitoring the flow of said primary fuel and means for monitoring performance of said engine. 
     
     
       9. A system for the destruction of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and the co-generation of power comprising:
 a power generator including a compressor and a turbine;  
 a reaction chamber having a first section, a second section, and an interior, said first section communicating with an outlet of said compressor and said second section communicating with an inlet to said turbine;  
 a combustor attached to said reaction chamber, said combustor having an inlet configured to receive a primary fuel supply and an outlet configured to direct combustion gases from said combustor into said reaction chamber in a manner effective to achieve a substantially cyclonic flow pattern of said combustion gasses; and  
 an air inlet connected to said compressor such that operation of said compressor draws in air laden with at least one VOC; wherein  
 said compressor, in operation, compresses said inlet air to produce an amount of compressed inlet air;  
 said first section of said reaction chamber communicates with said interior of said reaction chamber and with said combustor such that a first portion of said compressed inlet air is directed by said first section of said combustor and a second portion of said compressed inlet air is directed by said first section to said reaction chamber; and  
 said combustor and said reaction chamber are configured to destroy said at least one VOC and to direct said combustion gasses from said reaction chamber into said turbine inlet to drive said turbine.  
 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein said power generator comprises a gas turbine engine. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10 , wherein said air inlet includes an air inlet sensor configured to measure the amount of said at least one VOC in said inlet air; said primary fuel supply is provided by a primary fuel system, said primary fuel system including a flow sensor configured to measure the flow of said primary fuel supply directed to said combustor; said power generator includes a speed sensor configured to measure the speed of said turbine; and said inlet sensor, said flow sensor, and said speed sensor provide information for controlling the operation of said system. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11  further comprising a bypass system including at least one duct means attached to said first section of said reaction chamber for preventing said compressed inlet air from being directed into said combustor. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , further comprising a computer control system configured to receive said sensor measurements and initiate operation of said bypass systems.