SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 19, 1998--Thermatrix Inc.
(NASDAQ:TMXI) announced today a major technology breakthrough in the
field of flameless thermal oxidation. The breakthrough came on the
back of six months of full scale field testing which was completed in
December, 1997, followed by detailed analysis of the test results.
The tests were conducted on a 3000-scfm reactor at the Company's
engineering center in Knoxville, Tenn. The reactor was configured to
create an almost spherical flameless reaction front within the
reactor's ceramic matrix. This compares to the planar flameless
reaction front, which has been a signature feature of Thermatrix
technology previously. Patent applications have been filed for the new
configuration.
The Company believes the new development will result in the
following business advantages and design features:
-- A greater than 60% reduction in the size of a typical
non-recuperative flameless thermal oxidizer for the same
processing capability.
-- A hot-wall reactor with the ability to process chlorinated,
sulfonated and fluorinated waste streams without the need for
expensive and exotic materials of construction to prevent
corrosion.
-- The ability to use horizontal as well as vertical vessels extends
the applicable range of non-recuperative oxidizers to over 40,000
scfm.
-- Incorporation of electric-assisted preheat, an added safety
feature for all flameless startup and operation.
-- The horizontal/vertical configuration, coupled with the size
reduction and all electric preheat design, positions Thermatrix
with a viable technology for the control of fumes from diesel
engines, both mobile and stationary.
-- The ability to offer, for the first time, a flameless thermal
oxidizer for the destruction of hazardous liquids by direct
injection into the oxidizer, a superior alternative to
conventional incineration.
-- The ability to offer, for the first time, a flameless thermal
oxidizer using liquid fuels such as diesel, kerosene or waste
solvents rather than, as in previous models, only natural gas or
propane which are not available in all areas.
"We believe the outstanding results of the testing justifies our
decision to invest in the development program," said John T.
Schofield, President and CEO of Thermatrix. "The new technology
configuration is a tribute to the brilliance of our engineers who
conceived, designed and operated the new system. The results were in
line with the predictions of the proprietary software developed for
the project based on the many thousands of operating hours of the 70
commercial systems currently in operation," he said.
Orders for the new configuration for VOC destruction have already
been received for installation in 1998. In addition, these new
developments are expected to significantly advance the timetable for
the introduction of Thermatrix's flameless technology into the market
for treating the emissions from diesel engines. The Company intends to
begin marketing its new hazardous liquids system in March 1998.
Thermatrix is an industrial technology company that has developed
its patented THERMATRIX(R) flameless thermal oxidation technology to
provide the world's leading flameless solution for destroying volatile
organic compounds and hazardous air pollutants. |
