Global thermal capability

Mobile thermal desorption configurations

Nelson can customize for nearly any material for almost any site. Here are some of our most common mobile thermal configurations that we use on client projects today.

How to choose a configuration

Indirect thermal plant on the Nelson mill scale project. Read the case study.

Thermal desorption: direct-fired and indirect-fired systems

Nelson's planning guideline uses direct-fired treatment below 5% total organics and indirect-fired treatment above 5%. Feed characteristics, site access, project scale, pilot work and permitting confirm the final selection, including material at the boundary.

Direct fire thermal

Direct-fired units bring high-production soil treatment to site.

15 to 70 t/hr across the mobile fleet

Direct-fire case study: Bear Hills

Indirect fire thermal

Indirect-fired arrangements suit high-organic feed and can incorporate hydrocarbon recovery.

Configured to the contaminant and the permit

Indirect treatment case study: mill scale

PCBs, dioxins and chlorinated materials may use either route, depending on loading and project conditions. Compare the two thermal desorption pathways.

Mobile thermal desorption fleet configurations

The mobile fleet brings two thermal approaches to site. Direct-fired RS units treat contaminated soils at high production rates, while the ITD configuration applies indirect thermal desorption to high-organic materials, including wastes with volatile organic compounds.

Plant selection is based on the waste stream and contaminants, project volume, site access, mobilization constraints and equipment availability.

Mobile thermal fleet design envelopes

Unit

Throughput

Scale

Site access

Mobility / logistics

RS-945

50–70 t/hr

Maximum-throughput configuration

Large prepared site footprint

Highest mobilization demand

RS-45

35–50 t/hr

High-output configuration

Access for a larger mobile train

Substantial project volumes

RS-40

30–45 t/hr

Mid-range configuration

Reduced operating footprint

Reduced mobilization demand

RS-20

15–25 t/hr

Compact configuration

Remote or access-restricted sites

Lowest load count

ITD

2–15 t/hr

Specialized high-organic configuration

Footprint scales with one to three drums

Project-configured modular train

Throughput ranges are nominal planning values. Final plant selection is confirmed against the waste stream, site conditions, logistics and equipment availability.

Thermal desorption configuration layouts

Six equipment layouts and the triple-dryer arrangement show standard and optional treatment trains. Unit ratings are listed above; a layout does not establish a separate production rating. The RS-945 and RS-40 are included in the selection table without separate drawings here.

Configuration 01

RS-45 layout

Standard direct-fired thermal treatment train.

RS-45 at Bear Hills

Configuration 02

RS-45 with heat recovery layout

Direct-fired arrangement incorporating heat recovery.

Configuration 03

RS-20 layout

Compact direct-fired thermal treatment train.

Configuration 04

ITD single-drum configuration

Single-drum indirect thermal desorption arrangement.

Configuration 05

Preliminary pyrolysis plant with predryer

Preliminary arrangement with a predryer ahead of pyrolysis. Project-specific engineering determines the final train.

Configuration 06

RS-45 with optional particulate secondary treatment

Direct-fired arrangement with an optional secondary particulate-treatment stage.

Configuration 07

ITD triple-dryer configuration

Three parallel indirect dryers with feed handling, thermal oxidizer, gas conditioning and emissions polishing. The arrangement is engineered to the feed and permit; the drawing carries no separate throughput rating.

Explore the triple-dryer plant

Discuss your site

Thermal desorption process

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