Method and 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 method of destroying volatile organic compounds (VOCs) comprising the steps of:
 collecting air laden with VOCs;  
 compressing said VOC laden air in a compressor;  
 injecting a primary fuel into a combustor;  
 directing said compressed VOC laden air into said combustor to form a mixture of said primary fuel and said VOC laden air;  
 combusting said mixture in said combustor and directing said combusting mixture from said combustor into a reaction chamber;  
 continuing to combust said mixture in said reaction chamber to substantially destroy said VOCs and create a resulting stream of combustion gas;  
 directing said resulting stream of combustion gas to drive a power generator; and  
 recovering power from operation of said power generator.  
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  further comprising controllably bypassing a portion of said VOC laden air around said combustor and into said reaction chamber to mix and react with said combusting mixture. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2  further comprising the step of:
 controlling the flow of said bypassed VOC laden air and said flow of primary fuel to maintain a suitable ratio of fuel-to-air in said combustor.  
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2  further comprising the step of controlling the flow of said bypassed VOC laden air to maintain said power generator at a suitable operating condition. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4  wherein said operating condition is the speed of said power generator. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 4  wherein said operating condition is the power output of said power generator.