Sulphur granulation apparatus and process

Abstract

A portable apparatus for producing sulphur granules includes a granulator with a rotatble drum having distinct zones for seed generation and product growth. The seed generation zone has an intense water spray pattern for each sulphur spray nozzle with intersecting water sprays to solidify molten sulphur and create seeds. The growth zone has a moderate, non-intersecting water spray pattern to allow sulphur nozzles to coat and grow a curtain of seeds into granules. The granulator's exhaust air is filtered either by a heated cyclone separator to recapture residual sulphur particles and moisture before venting, and / or by a granular air filter which uses the produced granules to filter the granulator's exhaust air. A two piece collar enhances maintenance of the granulator's drive system.

Description

technical field [0001] This invention relates to apparatus and methods for granulating liquefied substances, and more particularly to forming substantially spherical sulfur particles from molten sulfur. Background technique [0002] Sulfur is a by-product of acidic petroleum products, usually oil and natural gas. Previously, extracted sulfur was typically dried and solidified (ie, "frozen") into large blocks for on-site storage, which were then broken up for shipment elsewhere. Such blocks are awkward to handle, generate a lot of excess dust, and are not compacted effectively for transport because they create too many voids. Therefore, methods were developed as far back as the 1970s to produce spherical sulfur particles, since such particles allow for easier handling, less dusting in the process, and due to higher volumes when pouring and filling Density (ie less unnecessary voids) allows for better storage and more efficient transport. [0003] However, these earlier gra...

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Problems solved by technology

[0003] However, these earlier granulation methods and the apparatus for carrying them out had a number of disadvantages

Some require several passes through the equipment to form the product, or drums that are seeded from other sources, while others do not adequately control the quality of the finished product due to inadequate control of seed or particulate formation

Microparticle manufacturing facilities have also been constructed to produce extremely high throughputs (e.g. 55-60 tons / hour), these facilities have a relatively large footprint and are relatively expensive to manufacture and operate

This limits or eliminates their desirability in small production and refining facilities

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