I wonder if it is possible to have a VOCs combustion/removal powered with electricity instead of natural gas. As of now, the gas is used for burning VOCs from flue gas of a paint shop, but I would like to get rid of natural gas from the process. Is it possible to power the combustion chamber e.g. with electricity? Perhaps electric arc furnace? Or to remove VOCs in other way, powered by electricity?
Yes, there exist industrial size catalytic VOC treatment units that are heated up by electric heating and if concentration of the pollutant is high enough, they keep up running autothermally with the help of reverse-flow technology. See for example: https://www.genano.com/voc
The simple answer is, yes, you can do it; however, burning natural gas enhances the effectiveness without consuming an excessive amount of energy and can also have lower overall, long-term maintenance cost and effort, which is why it is often done that way.
Dear Dr Dudley J Benton , thank you for your answer. I am aware that burning VOCs is effective with gas-powered units, but apparently my question was not precise enough. Fortunately, Dr Satu Ojala has read my mind and proposed the RCO technology to remove the VOCs instead of RTO, and for that - many thanks!
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