An incinerator is a structure designed to burn waste, processing the by-products (bottom and fly ash) so that their impact on the environment and persons is strictly controlled. Many incinerators now recover waste in the form of electricity or thermal energy. Catalytic incinerators (also known as catalytic oxidizers or catalytic reactors) and thermal incinerators (also known as recuperative incinerators, direct flame incinerators, thermal oxidizers) essentially oxidize and deplete fumes from industrial ovens.
Catalytic incinerators offer fixed-bed or fluid-bed systems and are used to combat VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and particulates. Industries such as petroleum, coal, chemical, primary metals, electronics, gas, sanitation, stone, clay, glass, mining, paper, surface coating and printing often rely on this method.
Thermal incinerators diminish the waste-gas VOCs from industrial dryers, kilns and ovens. Industries that commonly use thermal incinerator include graphic arts, hazardous waste treatment storage and disposal, paint, petroleum, plywood manufacture, rubber, surface coating, and synthetic organic chemical.