#TechTalk:  DFTOs: Not Just a Backup Plan — For Biofuel, the Only Plan

#TechTalk – 7/15/25

#TechTalk:  DFTOs: Not Just a Backup Plan — For Biofuel, the Only Plan

As biofuel and biogas production expands, many facilities face a rising challenge: emissions too hot, corrosive, or chemically complex for standard VOC abatement systems.

That’s where Direct-Fired Thermal Oxidizers (DFTOs) come in—especially for processes like anaerobic digestion, pyrolysis, or organics-to-energy where sulfur, nitrogen, or moisture levels are too extreme for regenerative systems.

At Ship & Shore Environmental, we engineer DFTOs to destroy these tough emissions—without compromising uptime, safety, or compliance.

Why Use a DFTO Instead of an RTO?

RTOs are best for clean, dry exhaust with consistent VOC levels.

DFTOs are built for:

• – High VOC concentrations
• – Sulfur- and nitrogen-rich off-gas
• – Wet, sticky, or tar-laden streams
• – Faster startup and simpler operation

With direct flame combustion, DFTOs achieve 99%+ destruction efficiency for hazardous organics and corrosive compounds—without ceramic beds, valve sequencing, or energy loss from fouling.

Real Application: Southern California Biofuel Facility

One of the largest organics-to-energy operations in the U.S. needed to treat:
– 35,000 ACFM at 750°F
– High levels of mercaptans, SOx, and nitrogen compounds

S&SE delivered a 102-ton DFTO system with:
– Integrated NOx abatement
– Vertical stack and heat recovery
– Full design-to-startup execution
This system now keeps them compliant with Inland Empire AQMD standards—and fully scalable for future expansion.

DFTOs by Design — Key Features:

– >99% DRE for tough organics
– High-temperature flame zone (up to 1,800°F)
– No ceramic media to clog or foul
– Simple logic controls for safer startup/shutdown
– Compatible with wet scrubbers, heat exchangers, and CO₂ recovery

Our DFTO systems are fully customizable—from fuel type and control integration to heat recovery and permit support.

Whether you’re upgrading a compliance plan or building a facility from scratch, we handle it all—in-house.

#DFTO #Biofuel #VOCControl #ThermalOxidizer #ShipAndShore #CleanAirSolutions #ComplianceEngineering

Categorised in: #Biofuel, #CleanAirSolutions, #MadeInAmerica, #VOC Control, 25Years of S&SE, DFTO, DirectFired, Ship & Shore, Technical, TechTalk, ThermalOxidizer, VOC Abatement