Tecam is an environmental technology company, focused on emissions treatment and waste-to-energy solutions for the industrial sectors that are most sensitive to environmental impact, such as chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical and oil & gas. Tecam has proven international experience and provides turn-key projects to customers worldwide.
Tecam helps companies manage their environmental challenges. They like to think in terms of reducing resources consumption, reducing costs, improving equipment efficiency and compliance with the highest legislative and safety standards.
Interview with Borja Maestro, Founder & Sales Director at Tecam.
Easy Engineering: What are the main areas of activity of the company?
Borja Maestro: At Tecam we are focused on industrial emissions treatment and waste-to-energy solutions for several sectors, such as chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical and oil & gas.
Each industrial sector requires different solutions for the elimination of pollutant gases and the treatment and recovery of hazardous and special waste. We are familiar with the production processes and technical requirements of most industries due to our extended experience.
Regarding emissions treatment, Tecam covers the needs of large industries, regardless of the magnitude of their problems or requirements. As an environmental business partner, we offer support during any stage in the production process that may require assistance.
We have the knowledge and capacity to address complex technical and logistical needs, make the most efficient decisions, anticipate problems and develop the technologies to solve them.
In terms of waste valorization, Tecam will develop specific, custom-made solutions to solve customers’ problems using the most effective technologies.
We will accompany you throughout every stage of the process, from diagnostics through to the development and commissioning of the equipment that is required in order to meet your needs.
E.E: What’s the news about new products?
B.M: Tecam’s Electrically-heated Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO).
RTO equipment usually works with burners that use gas or fuel to heat up the oxidation chamber during start-up so that oxidation of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) can take place.
In the case of electrically-heated RTOs, there is no burner and therefore no flame and no NOx emissions generated. The oxidation chamber gets heated up via several electrical resistances placed inside.
During start-up, the electric resistances will work at 100 % to be able to heat the RTO oxidation chamber up to the required temperature (eg. 850 ºC, 1100 ºC). During operation, the consumption of electricity will depend on the VOC concentration at the inlet and its calorific value. If the concentration is above the autothermal point, resistances will turn off. Otherwise, if the concentration is lower than this point, the thyristors will modulate the resistances power to maintain the oxidation chamber temperature at the required temperature (eg. 850 ºC, 1100 ºC) to guarantee the oxidation of VOCs.
Regarding the advantages of Electrically-heated RTO equipment, we can list the following:
- Very High VOC elimination rate
- High thermal efficiency
- Once it reaches operating temperature, the system runs on auto thermal mode, with zero electricity consumption
- No flame and therefore no NOx associated to combustion
- Reduction of CO2 emissions, zero if renewable energy is used
- Equal features and performance as Tecam conventional RTOs
- Less noise around the equipment, due to the lack of a burner fan
- Easier to do the installation and commissioning
- Low operating costs
- Simple and robust design
- Almost no maintenance required
Due to the current world situation, energy transition and taking into account the European Union objectives, recently there has been a shift in the demand of how companies want to heat up the oxidation chambers of their Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer systems for Volatile Organic Compounds emissions removal at their production plants.
The trend has gone from burner-powered to electric-powered or to other forms of power, therefore flameless, and therefore without any NOX emissions derived from the burner, for a greener output.
E.E: What are the ranges of products?
B.M: Tecam offers a wide range of environmental solutions for emissions abatement, such as Regenerative Thermal Oxidizers (RTO), Electrically-heated RTO, Gas Scrubbers, Activated Carbon Filters, Vapours Recovery Units (VRU), Baghouse filters, Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR), Selective Non-Catalytic Reduction (SNCR), etc. As for Tecam’s waste valorization business unit, we offer technology solutions such as waste incineration plants, waste pyrolysis, waste-to-energy solutions, waste-to-fuel solutions for the generation of biofuels from plastic waste, etc.
E.E: At what stage is the market where you are currently active?
B.M: We belong in the environmental sector, a market very much experiencing growth since some decades now. And we are very active in the markets of our customers: chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, oil & gas, tank storage, automotive, etc. in order to help them manage their environmental challenges with bespoke technology solutions that fit their needs.
E.E: What can you tell us about market trends?
B.M: Environmental awareness and environmental policies have been going up worldwide since the past decades and are increasing every day with decisive strength. So the trend is for this market to continue growing at a fast pace.
E.E: What are the most innovative products marketed?
B.M: Currently any technology that helps fight against environmental damage is welcome by companies and society in general.
In particular, generating biofuels from plastic waste is becoming more and more interesting, and is both technically and financially viable. That makes it an excellent opportunity to give plastic waste a second life, avoid plastics getting into the ocean and in the end obtaining a sustainable fuel for aviation consumption, contributing to making the air we breathe cleaner.
E.E: What estimations do you have for 2023?
B.M: We foresee a positive growth trend of environmental technology solutions in the main industrial sectors, such as chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, and oil & gas.
Environmental protection is, without any doubts, a booming market with much room for growth and opportunities to make a cleaner, safer, more sustainable world.
