AM Monday – The Force Behind the Flame: Engineering Care for Auxiliary Power System

AM Mondays: The Force Behind the Flame: Engineering Care for Auxiliary Power Systems

December 15, 2025

Daily & Weekly Checks

Precision Maintenance for Fans, Motors, and Auxiliary Mechanisms

A regenerative thermal oxidizer may appear to function through combustion and hot ceramic beds alone, but its supporting mechanical systems are what determine whether that performance is stable, efficient, and compliant. Fans, blowers, motors, and auxiliary piping quietly deliver the lifeblood of the RTO—consistent airflow, proper VOC movement, and mechanical balance. When these systems fall out of calibration, energy usage spikes, media loads become uneven, and premature component wear accelerates. In many facilities, downtime originates not from the oxidizer itself, but from neglected supporting mechanisms that feed and sustain it.

Preventive care begins with mechanical precision. Fan belts, couplings, vibration dampers, and bearings should be inspected and tension-checked regularly to prevent friction losses, imbalance, or shaft misalignment. Lubrication schedules must follow OEM specifications—too little lubrication causes abrasion and heat, while over-lubrication can lead to seal failure and contamination. Monitoring vibration levels and rotational balance helps detect early structural stress before it leads to motor failure or stoppage.

Air delivery systems matter just as much. Auxiliary piping, dampers, and distribution ducts must be kept free from corrosion, particulate buildup, gasket deterioration, and internal leaks. When airflow diverges from design conditions, destruction efficiency drops, undersized motors overload, and thermal media can see uneven flow distribution that accelerates cracking or fouling. Conducting airflow verification ensures that the system is operating at design CFM and static pressure, a key factor in VOC capture and compliance testing.

Electrical health is essential as well. Motor control panels, drive units, overload relays, and power supplies should be routinely inspected to prevent electrical overheating, nuisance trips, or sudden shutdowns.

SSE Recommendation: Perform semi-annual mechanical audits supported by data—belt tension readings, vibration trends, airflow charts, bearing temperature readings, and drive diagnostics form a reliable baseline. When tracked consistently, these indicators reveal gradual decline long before critical failure.

Why It Matters: Well-maintained ancillary systems support thermal stability, reduce natural gas demand, minimize wear on valves and media, and keep emissions fully compliant. Protecting fans, motors, and mechanical assemblies ultimately protects production uptime, energy budgets, and regulatory performance.

Ensuring these systems receive proper preventive care keeps your RTO operating as intended—efficiently, safely, and worry-free.

Contact us at +1 (562) 997-0233 or email service@shipandshore.com for more information. For urgent oxidizer emergencies, text or call +1 (562) 477-7557 or +1 (562) 400-4439.

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