Ventilation air methane thermal oxidizer
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Ventilation air methane thermal oxidizers (or VAMTOX) are a type of processing equipment used for greenhouse gas abatement related to underground mining operations that destroys gaseous methane at a high temperature.
Ventilation Air Methane Thermal Oxidizers are used to destroy methane in the exhaust air of underground coal mine shafts. Methane is a greenhouse gas that burns to form carbon dioxide (CO2) and water vapour. Carbon dioxide is 25 times less potent than methane when emitted into the atmosphere with regards to global warming. Concentrations of methane in ventilation exhaust air of coal and trona mines are very dilute; typically below 1% and often below 0.5%.[1] Flow rates are so high that ventilation air methane constitutes the largest source of methane emissions at most mines. This methane emission wastes energy and contributes significantly to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.